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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
I really love and appreciate the weirdness that is always in Nicky Drayden's books, and this one takes weird to the next level. Thousands of years in the future, Earth is a distant memory and humans live in giant creatures that swim across the vastness of space. Seske is next in line to lead her people, but she would rather have adventures with her best friend Adalla, who is a beast worker and therefore not fit to hang out with the future matriarch. When Seske is unexpectedly thrown into the leadership position before she has been properly prepared for it, she begins to learn secrets that have her questioning everything.
I really loved the first 2/3 of this book. I've loved both of Drayden's previous books, so I knew what I was getting into on a weirdness level, but this really does ramp it up. The world is so different than anything I've ever read, and I loved the way the beast workers and the jobs they had were described (some of this is on the sort of gross side, so you might want to skip if that's something that bothers you. At one point our protags crawl into a sphincter.) Adalla is a great character, and Seske in interesting in a different way. She's very privileged as the daughter of the leader of her colony, and a bit naive. I appreciated that she tried to learn from what was going on, and be a better person. But the real star of the book is the setting. As we learn more about the beasts, we start seeing how absolutely destructive the colonizers are, and what that's doing to the herd. It was very interesting to see Seske's people have contact with the people on a different beast, and see how the second colony did things differently to make their home last longer, foregoing many of the comforts that the ruling class on Seske's beast have always thought of as their due. It's a really interesting way to look at social structures, and the toll we take on our homes.
I do think the ending was a bit rushed, and slightly unsatisfying. There is a plot point with Seske's sister that looks like it is going to be very dramatic, then just kind of...goes away? There is also some stuff that happens with the beast workers that I felt was mostly unresolved. I think the book would have benefited being a bit longer, and having a more detailed resolution. I also think a glossary would have been helpful. I'm pretty good about getting things from context, but because of the family structure, I'm still not sure what the difference between a heart parent and a will parent. This definitely isn't going to be for everyone, but I enjoyed it, although not as much as Prey of Gods and Temper. Drayden continues to be a truly unique voice in SFF, and it's always fun to try to figure out where her work will go next.
I really love and appreciate the weirdness that is always in Nicky Drayden's books, and this one takes weird to the next level. Thousands of years in the future, Earth is a distant memory and humans live in giant creatures that swim across the vastness of space. Seske is next in line to lead her people, but she would rather have adventures with her best friend Adalla, who is a beast worker and therefore not fit to hang out with the future matriarch. When Seske is unexpectedly thrown into the leadership position before she has been properly prepared for it, she begins to learn secrets that have her questioning everything.
I really loved the first 2/3 of this book. I've loved both of Drayden's previous books, so I knew what I was getting into on a weirdness level, but this really does ramp it up. The world is so different than anything I've ever read, and I loved the way the beast workers and the jobs they had were described (some of this is on the sort of gross side, so you might want to skip if that's something that bothers you. At one point our protags crawl into a sphincter.) Adalla is a great character, and Seske in interesting in a different way. She's very privileged as the daughter of the leader of her colony, and a bit naive. I appreciated that she tried to learn from what was going on, and be a better person. But the real star of the book is the setting. As we learn more about the beasts, we start seeing how absolutely destructive the colonizers are, and what that's doing to the herd. It was very interesting to see Seske's people have contact with the people on a different beast, and see how the second colony did things differently to make their home last longer, foregoing many of the comforts that the ruling class on Seske's beast have always thought of as their due. It's a really interesting way to look at social structures, and the toll we take on our homes.
I do think the ending was a bit rushed, and slightly unsatisfying. There is a plot point with Seske's sister that looks like it is going to be very dramatic, then just kind of...goes away? There is also some stuff that happens with the beast workers that I felt was mostly unresolved. I think the book would have benefited being a bit longer, and having a more detailed resolution. I also think a glossary would have been helpful. I'm pretty good about getting things from context, but because of the family structure, I'm still not sure what the difference between a heart parent and a will parent. This definitely isn't going to be for everyone, but I enjoyed it, although not as much as Prey of Gods and Temper. Drayden continues to be a truly unique voice in SFF, and it's always fun to try to figure out where her work will go next.
I was glad to see adult sci-fi by a black author so I eagerly requested this book. Ive never read soace opera and this one had the twist of the characters flaoting through space in a giant floating beast versus a ship.There's so many strange occurrences in this story that I'm at a lost for words. At times it was hard to look away but I can't say it was particularly satisfying.
This story dealt with questions of who counts as a person, whose lives are of value, and what to do when you have limited resources and any decision will cost lives or cause suffering. It involves protagonists from different class backgrounds who clearly love each other but are not allowed to be together, and who are both human and imperfect. This imperfection made it hard for me to like Seske, though, and hard to care about her struggles, which seemed so unimportant compared to Adalla's, which put her life on the line repeatedly. I found myself rooting for Adalla a lot. I really liked her. But even when Seske learned what she needed to learn, I didn't relate to her nearly as much. Adalla's part of the story kept me reading to the end, but overall, I'm not sure this book was quite my thing.
The world building in this book is extremely fascinating. The story follows Seske and Adalla living in space onboard a creature they know as a beast. The book explores several issues including, class, gender and social status divisions. There are some really lovable characters, one in particular, an accountant being my favourite. This is a great book for space opera and science fiction lovers.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Harper Voyagerus for the copy to review.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Harper Voyagerus for the copy to review.
Listened to this via Scribd & it was interesting. The world was a lot & at times confusing but I liked the characters.
How do I even begin to describe this book and my feelings towards it?
I've seen multiple comments and synopsis' describe this book as an 'acid trip' and how truth that statement is. I've never personally taken acid, but I felt as if I had reading this book. The world that Drayden has created in this book is strange and weird and completely original. No other book I've read feels like this book and I doubt any future book will either.
This may be one of the few books I've read with a matriarchy and a society where men are the lesser sex. It was interesting to see the twist on gender in this society, and have men be the less educated members of society and they're seen as not being capable to rule and stuff.
I really enjoyed this book, despite not having a clue what was going on at times. Very original and very interesting. Can't wait to read more from this author!
I've seen multiple comments and synopsis' describe this book as an 'acid trip' and how truth that statement is. I've never personally taken acid, but I felt as if I had reading this book. The world that Drayden has created in this book is strange and weird and completely original. No other book I've read feels like this book and I doubt any future book will either.
This may be one of the few books I've read with a matriarchy and a society where men are the lesser sex. It was interesting to see the twist on gender in this society, and have men be the less educated members of society and they're seen as not being capable to rule and stuff.
I really enjoyed this book, despite not having a clue what was going on at times. Very original and very interesting. Can't wait to read more from this author!
dnf @ 53% i really wanted to like this but it is just not for me one of the mcs was just too annoying :
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 Stars Rounded Up
This book was one of the most unique stories I have ever read. It forces the reader to let go of the Western hetero-normative reality many of us, including myself, use to view the world. Instead Drayden offers readers an Afro-futuristic matriarchal society where family have multiple wives and husband's, where women are the strong ones and men the stay at home spouse. This story is set in space and set inside the belly of a space beast -- it's wild. However, at the end of the day, it is also a coming of age story and certainly a first love story.
This book does what fantasy and science fiction is supposed to do: it bends reality, while providing something tangible and humanly familiar. Bravo!
This book was one of the most unique stories I have ever read. It forces the reader to let go of the Western hetero-normative reality many of us, including myself, use to view the world. Instead Drayden offers readers an Afro-futuristic matriarchal society where family have multiple wives and husband's, where women are the strong ones and men the stay at home spouse. This story is set in space and set inside the belly of a space beast -- it's wild. However, at the end of the day, it is also a coming of age story and certainly a first love story.
This book does what fantasy and science fiction is supposed to do: it bends reality, while providing something tangible and humanly familiar. Bravo!