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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Listen. This book had me at the cover. But then it's about living in octopus-like space beasts with queer women of color? Well, not only did I pre-order, I signed up for the promotional team.
My expectations were so sky-high that maybe it would have been impossible to meet them, but this book was still a fun and absorbing read. Delightfully weird world-building as workers shape wild space beasts into suitable spacecraft from the inside with knives and the creature's own biochemistry. The beasts' internal microflora can be classed as helpful, hazards, or sometimes pets. Add class dynamics, secrets, novel (but rigid!) family structures, queer tentacly almost-porn, sort of generation ship dynamics except they keep changing ships, coded braiding patterns, and did I mention the FUCKING WEIRD obscenely biological world-building?
Delightful, even though it wobbled (for me) in a few places. Must prioritize reading Drayden's other work.
My expectations were so sky-high that maybe it would have been impossible to meet them, but this book was still a fun and absorbing read. Delightfully weird world-building as workers shape wild space beasts into suitable spacecraft from the inside with knives and the creature's own biochemistry. The beasts' internal microflora can be classed as helpful, hazards, or sometimes pets. Add class dynamics, secrets, novel (but rigid!) family structures, queer tentacly almost-porn, sort of generation ship dynamics except they keep changing ships, coded braiding patterns, and did I mention the FUCKING WEIRD obscenely biological world-building?
Delightful, even though it wobbled (for me) in a few places. Must prioritize reading Drayden's other work.
**This whole review contains spoilers, and there were too many to spoiler tag so read at your own risk!**
The pacing of this book kind of threw me, and left me with some pretty mixed thoughts. The beginning was pretty slow and it took a little while to get used to the grossness, but by the middle I was really enjoying it, but the ending started to slow again.
The pacing of this book kind of threw me, and left me with some pretty mixed thoughts. The beginning was pretty slow and it took a little while to get used to the grossness, but by the middle I was really enjoying it, but the ending started to slow again.
There were also some things throughout that I didn’t really love, in particular, Seske. I just hate it when a person in a story inherits their power, and is super aggressive about “their right” to rule, and even pushes someone more qualified out of any potential power and accuses them of trying to “steal” what is “rightfully” theirs, but then balks at the idea that they will have to continue the hereditary line through arranged marriage and children they don’t want. Like… yes, hereditary power is a bad system of government for those involved, but when you inherit your power it comes with the territory. This is something Seske would have known since birth and it makes me kind of dislike her that she wants the power her bloodline grants her, but isn’t willing to make the sacrifices that power like that demands. It just makes her look naive and immature. It was also a little strange that there were so many things that Seske didn’t know that were apparently common knowledge, like the other colonized beasts, or the existence of the grisettes. Again, it just makes her look really unqualified for the job she supposedly wants so badly. Overall, I just didn’t see why she should rule and not Sisterkin. I was also much more interested in Adalla’s revolution and the class war I thought was coming, so I was bummed when the story became much more about Seske and her plans.
I also couldn’t figure out what we were supposed to think about Doka. Seske’s feelings about him were all over the place, and at times it seems like she was disgusted by him for no reason. I also don’t love Adalla and Seske’s relationship, especially since Seske literally maimed Adalla and then acted like she did her a favor. The whole thing started out cute and great but turned pretty bad very quickly. I also find it very frustrating that this book sets it up from the beginning that polyamorous relationships are the norm in this society, so when Whyett, Doka, and Laisze were all introduced into Adalla and Seske’s lives I was excited for a poly relationship involving some combination of these 5 characters. But then Whyett and Laisze sacrifice themselves for the plot and Seske realizes she doesn’t have feelings for Doka, leaving Seske and Adalla to ride off into the sunset together. Don’t get me wrong- I love a ride-off-into-the-sunset ending for a sapphic couple, but it felt like this story was primed for a healthy, interesting, poly relationship and I’m really bummed we didn’t get it.
The actual ending was very strange to me, pacing-wise. It seemed like everything wrapped up within the last 5 pages, but there were a lot of dangling threads left. I know there is going to be a second book, but this feels less like the first book in a series and more like a book with an unfinished ending.
BUT I did really enjoy the middle of this book. There was a point, particularly when Adalla was first getting to know the boneworkers, when I couldn’t put it down. I just wish the story had focused more on Adalla and the poor working conditions of the beastworkers and their community building between different types of workers in an attempt to… dare I say…. Unionize? Collectively bargain? Overthrow the monarchy? rather than Seske ruining her life and also the lives of everyone around her.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
When this book was recommended by @bowtiesandbooks and @starlahenjoys, I knew it wouldn’t disappoint because they never steer me wrong with their SFF recommendations. So when the opportunity to read this came up for #blackathon2022, I jumped at it.
Set 100s of years from now, humans have destroyed earth and now reside in space upon space ships that cannot host their growing population, until they discover a herd of Space Beasts and decide to not only capture them, but inhabit them. It sounds strange, I know, but once you get that concept wrapped around your head, you can then get to the meat of the story.
Seske Kaleigh is the heir to the throne in a matriarchal society that seems open in comparison to the previous patriarchal one that they have replaced, but as Seske becomes more involved in the happenings on their beast, she soon finds that society’s issues remain front and centre just hidden from the prevue of those born in positions of power like Seske, a woman of the right lineage.
This story will highlight the issues we see in society from a refreshing angle, that without much fanfare, highlights that replacing one system with another isn’t necessarily the right solution and the that the right one is probably going to be difficult to implement but worth it in the long run.
This was an easy listen on @scribd, and I definitely will look out for the physical copy for me to re-read this in the future. You’ll enjoy this for the diverse representation, if you enjoy Sci-Fi, especially when set in space, or if you want a little escape from reality that will stimulate your mind in a good way.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
What an adventure this book took me on! I can admit that I don't read fantasy. This imagined world had me confused as all hell starting out. But 2-3 chapters in, I got acclimated with the ship, the citizens, and the matriarchy. The book follows two teenagers who come from two different worlds/backgrounds but love each other. They can't be together but not because they're both female. It's due to their class standing. One is royalty and one is a part of the working class. Not only does this community not allow the intermixing of classes, they do not allow men to hold office or own property. Basically, they're treated like women are today. Oh they live inside a beast. Read as they navigate organs, bones, and bodily systems. And just like any living thing, the beast will not live forever which will force them to look for a new home. This book is full of romance, betrayal, and secrets that will keep you entertained. And what the hell happened to Sisterkin?
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
'Escaping Exodus' by Nicky Drayden is a creative science fiction novel that tells of a matriarchal society living aboard a large space beast.
We follow Seske and Adalla, two girls within this society. Seske is air to the matriarchal society while Adalla is a beast worker, who helps excavate and prepare the beast. From two separate stations, they begin to fall in love as they learn more about the truth of their society and their host.
Drayden has created a fascinating world that hinges on the parasitic relationship between a matriarchal society and the beast that they call home. The world building in this book is fascinating and incredibly unique. Drayden pairs this with a dual perspective that weaves between two very different characters. By following the heir to the throne and a beast worker, we get to see different parts of this world and the inequality that is inherent with it. Through the matriarchal society, Drayden makes the inequalities and harms of our patriarchal society stand out as the society in the book holds many of the same issues, just gender swapped.
This book is rife with body horror elements and bodily fluids, which I think is crucial to know going in. Drayden balances the more nauseating elements of this world with their evocative prose to create the engaging world. I am fascinated to see where this story goes next and I will definitely be checking out more of Drayden's work.
We follow Seske and Adalla, two girls within this society. Seske is air to the matriarchal society while Adalla is a beast worker, who helps excavate and prepare the beast. From two separate stations, they begin to fall in love as they learn more about the truth of their society and their host.
Drayden has created a fascinating world that hinges on the parasitic relationship between a matriarchal society and the beast that they call home. The world building in this book is fascinating and incredibly unique. Drayden pairs this with a dual perspective that weaves between two very different characters. By following the heir to the throne and a beast worker, we get to see different parts of this world and the inequality that is inherent with it. Through the matriarchal society, Drayden makes the inequalities and harms of our patriarchal society stand out as the society in the book holds many of the same issues, just gender swapped.
This book is rife with body horror elements and bodily fluids, which I think is crucial to know going in. Drayden balances the more nauseating elements of this world with their evocative prose to create the engaging world. I am fascinated to see where this story goes next and I will definitely be checking out more of Drayden's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content
Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went into this mostly blind! I found a used copy and knew it was a queer space book so I got it. Also I really love the cover and that definitely influenced me. This one was weird, and kinda gross sometimes, but I guess that’s not surprising since it’s set inside of a giant beast. It was an enjoyable weird though, like I am definitely interested in reading more of Nicky Drayden’s books. The worldbuilding was really cool, I usually find myself getting a bit lost in sci-fi world building, but I didn’t feel that with this one! I did feel a little unsatisfied with the ending, like there were a couple things that weren’t really resolved and I was also not happy about what happened with some of the side characters. Overall enjoyable and would recommend it (check the content warnings though!)
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-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