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mactammonty's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
One of the things I look for in my reads is a diversity of characters. There are still an overwhelming amount of books in this genre specifically that are dominated by male characters. This series does that well.
There are several female characters in both leadership roles, non gender characters in leadership and support roles and non human characters that are well written. The AI acts like an AI not a person. The POV changes between several characters, including the AI, make the distinct personalities come through. (There is also no romantic angst)
The main question of this book is how should large wars be avoided. Who should make those decisions? The "greater good" and self atonement also pop up as themes. I liked the nuanced opinions.
What I did not like was some of the repetitiveness. The characters restate plot points later in the book. I am not sure if this novel was first released in parts and this was not edited out of the finished book. This rehashing of those points are not needed. The world has already been built, that piece has been explained, no need to redo it again later.
There are several female characters in both leadership roles, non gender characters in leadership and support roles and non human characters that are well written. The AI acts like an AI not a person. The POV changes between several characters, including the AI, make the distinct personalities come through. (There is also no romantic angst)
The main question of this book is how should large wars be avoided. Who should make those decisions? The "greater good" and self atonement also pop up as themes. I liked the nuanced opinions.
What I did not like was some of the repetitiveness. The characters restate plot points later in the book. I am not sure if this novel was first released in parts and this was not edited out of the finished book. This rehashing of those points are not needed. The world has already been built, that piece has been explained, no need to redo it again later.
burns_cheadle's review against another edition
4.0
3.5—4 stars: entertaining, albeit in the vaguely unresolved fashion that often afflicts the middle book in a trilogy—strongly recommended for those who intend to read the entire Embers of Wars series.
souloftherose's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars - I'm still trying to figure out what I enjoy as an audio book and I'm not sure this one worked for me.
otherwyrld's review against another edition
4.0
A worthy successor to the first novel in the series.
journeymouse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
atex6371's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
cornosaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
diesmali's review against another edition
3.0
I'm kind of waiting for this story to take off, but it never really does. Stuff happens, sure, but it doesn't really grab me. There are some good ideas, some re-hashed ones. There is enough to keep me going. But there is also a lot of better stuff out there.
trackofwords's review against another edition
4.0
The sequel to the BSFA Award-winning novel Embers of War, this picks up where its predecessor left off and delivers another slice of wildly imaginative, character-driven space opera. After the climactic battle at the Gallery and the discovery of the Marble Armada, the Trouble Dog and her crew are on sabbatical trying to come to terms with recent events, while Ona Sendak languishes on death row. An urgent distress call sets Sal Konstanz and the Trouble Dog back in motion, however, while the Marble Armada is about to reveal its true purpose to the wider galaxy.
If Embers of War felt instantly familiar with its Banksian sentient ships and relatable characters then this feels like reuniting with old friends, but it’s not simply more of the same. The top-level plot isn’t dissimilar to Embers, revolving around a rescue mission with unforeseen consequences and the crew of the Trouble Dog finding themselves caught up in the lingering after-effects of war, but this time the stakes are higher and the tone growing darker. The Marble Armada – the titular Fleet of Knives – adds a new layer of complexity (both physical and moral) as its intentions become clear, and as Powell digs down into the wider implications of human conflict, and the consequences of power, he starts to expand upon the scope of both the setting (including some grisly non-human enemies) and the overall story arc.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/04/26/fleet-of-knives-gareth-l-powell/
If Embers of War felt instantly familiar with its Banksian sentient ships and relatable characters then this feels like reuniting with old friends, but it’s not simply more of the same. The top-level plot isn’t dissimilar to Embers, revolving around a rescue mission with unforeseen consequences and the crew of the Trouble Dog finding themselves caught up in the lingering after-effects of war, but this time the stakes are higher and the tone growing darker. The Marble Armada – the titular Fleet of Knives – adds a new layer of complexity (both physical and moral) as its intentions become clear, and as Powell digs down into the wider implications of human conflict, and the consequences of power, he starts to expand upon the scope of both the setting (including some grisly non-human enemies) and the overall story arc.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/04/26/fleet-of-knives-gareth-l-powell/
raxus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0