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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Humankind survives inside giant space beasts, but when they take too much and the beast starts to die, their way of life must be re-evaluated. Two friends/lovers who were torn apart must work together
This book was different and interesting. I really enjoyed it. The only thing that stopped me from giving 5 stars is that the time jumps were a little weird. I definitely recommend though.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Read as a part of #Blackathon22
The premise of this story was really unique! I enjoyed all the ideas surrounding the beasts/zenzee and the underlying discussion of exploitation/population control/ecological impact of human life.
I really think this story can pick up in the next book(s) of this series, now that the base premise is fledged out. Somehow it was lacking depth. The pacing and the character developments seemed a bit jumpy at times. It felt like this story took place in the part of a few days, but I think it was supposed to bee around a year or so.
I really enjoyed Drayden's creativity and the reference of different beliefs and cultural practices in a sci-fi setting. I also appreciated the casual queer rep and the disploring of a matriarchal society. Was a bit thrown off by the "striving to make men equals again" as it seemed like a lot of history from earth times were just brushed off. But I understand in the context of the book, that men are the oppressed and so naturally will strive towards equality.
Overall I enjoyed my time with the book, even though as a non native speaker, some of the obscure anatomical terms + neologisms made it a bit hard. But that would go for any sci-fi so that's more a me problem. Struggling with the rating, as in some areas it just fell a little flat. I still hope to read more of this author's work and that they will continue to explore their ideas!
The premise of this story was really unique! I enjoyed all the ideas surrounding the beasts/zenzee and the underlying discussion of exploitation/population control/ecological impact of human life.
I really think this story can pick up in the next book(s) of this series, now that the base premise is fledged out. Somehow it was lacking depth. The pacing and the character developments seemed a bit jumpy at times. It felt like this story took place in the part of a few days, but I think it was supposed to bee around a year or so.
I really enjoyed Drayden's creativity and the reference of different beliefs and cultural practices in a sci-fi setting. I also appreciated the casual queer rep and the disploring of a matriarchal society. Was a bit thrown off by the "striving to make men equals again" as it seemed like a lot of history from earth times were just brushed off. But I understand in the context of the book, that men are the oppressed and so naturally will strive towards equality.
Overall I enjoyed my time with the book, even though as a non native speaker, some of the obscure anatomical terms + neologisms made it a bit hard. But that would go for any sci-fi so that's more a me problem. Struggling with the rating, as in some areas it just fell a little flat. I still hope to read more of this author's work and that they will continue to explore their ideas!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
There is a lot to like about Escaping Expdus! Very unique science fiction world, and a very unique spin of space opera (I guess I can classify this as such?). And a very different but familiar spin on Afrofuturism (I think I can call it that too?). But some of the pacing felt a bit erratic at times, and the ending felt…abrupt? Rushed isn’t the right word. Abrupt feels closer to accurate. I may adjust my rating later, but for now 3.75 feels like a good place.
This would've been a 2, I liked some parts of the world building but other than that there was so much that I didn't like about the world, the writing, the characters, and the negotiations with the other leaders just made me cringe.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This one wasn't for me, the world building was really cool and filled to the brim with unique concepts, but i didn't get along with the main characters at all. I never felt i understood thier motivations or choices, and i frankly didn't find myself rooting for them most of the time. The tone of the book felt halfway caught between an almost grim dark one and a much softer classic YA and it jerked between them in a way that i found jarring. The pacing of the book was strange, i felt left behind many times as we jumped from point to point with much missing character development in the middle. I really wanted to like this book, especially because the concepts are so intriguing, and I'm a sucker for gay shit, but it just fell apart for me.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense