Reviews

Becky Chambers has a gift that I didn't realize I was missing in my life. She can craft societies, people, races, ect. that are vastly different from our own. In many ways they do not feel human. But they still feel comfortable, they still feel like people. The first book in this series explores that somewhat, but the focus on the charecters in this book add another dimension to that. We explore the way non human minds operate, and it does feel alien, but not scary. I am brought to understand everything that motivates the people who move through this world.

She also has a way of world building so naturally. I learned a lot about this world that I didn't know from the previous book, but I don't remember learning it. All of the information comes naturally through the characters, and how their societies differ. Basically read this book, it is very good.

imoskowitz's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cclift1114's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It took me a bit to warm up to this book, but by the end it was amazing how well Chambers made me care deeply for all the characters, especially the AI ones. I will see it was a bit harder to get into the Sidra chapters for a while because there just wasn’t as much plot happening there. The Jane chapters, though, were really well done. Chambers captured how it might be to so differently socialized as a child, how such a child would think and then how that child growing up would go through a rebellious teenage phase. Once again, the character development and world building were fantastic.

riji_toulouse's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

4.25

savaging's review

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4.0

Loved Pepper's backstory. Less interested in Sidra's story. Maybe this is because as an AI, she reaffirms all the metaphors the tech bros have made connecting their work with minds (everything from 'artificial intelligence' and 'neural networks' to even the basic idea of 'memory'). I'm starting to feel we shouldn't take them at their word -- minds are wilder than what they are making.

But also maybe my disinterest is because Sidra's a little basic compared to the other characters.

Either way, really like Pepper.

marievelden's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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