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bickleyhouse's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
I love this series, so far. I've seen several seasons of the TV show, so I'm still playing catch-up with the books, but they seem to have followed the story fairly closely in the show. I will say that I like Amos a lot more in the books than I do in the TV show.
In this book, we are introduced to Sargeant Roberta Draper, who likes to be called "Bobbi" or "Gunny." She is a Martian soldier, and she is huge, compared to Earthers. At the beginning of the story, she and her squad mates are faced with a monster that is composed of the protomolecule that James Holden and company faced on Eros in the first book. Bobbie Draper is the only survivor. She winds up meeting the assistant to the undersecretary of executive administration of the UN, Chrisjen Avasarala. I absolutely love this character. I liked her in the TV show (I think she was perfectly cast), and I like her even more in the books.
We are also dealing with a situation on Ganymede, where a doctor's child (Mei) has been kidnapped because of an immunity disorder that she has. A number of other children were kidnapped, as well. Her father, Praxidike (we just call him Prax), is looking for her, and hires Holden and company to help him.
That's as far into the plot as I will go, here. But the writing continues to be engaging, and, as I said, it doesn't feel like a 600 page book at all. These guys have done a marvelous job of crafting a great science fiction story. I look forward to reading more.
There is some great humor in this story, as well. The interactions between the characters makes me laugh frequently, especially when we are focused on James Holden, Naomi, Alex (the pilot) and Amos. The banter between them is reminiscent of the banter that flows between the Soobs on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
There is one thing I may have missed, though. I don't get the reference to the title. Who, or what, is Caliban?? It's very possible I just glossed over it, while reading.
I recommend this book, this series, to any lover of planetary science fiction.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
septaria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Murder, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Kidnapping
rachaelbunny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, War, Gore, Child death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Trafficking, Xenophobia, Body horror, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, and Domestic abuse
thedinosaurkid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Genocide, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
jvanwago's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.5
Although this is a somewhat pessimistic vision of the future, I really enjoy the inclusion of heroes as opposed to the evermore prevalent antiheroes.
Graphic: Cursing
linneak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, War, Genocide, Classism, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexism, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
joshoonet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
- Took a while for me to get into it, but then I didn't want to put it down again. Just like the first part!
- Avasarala is kind of incredible, her constant cursing is just hilarious
- Character development: top notch imo
- I love the changing of the protomolecule, it keeps getting more interesting and more high stakes
- The end??? Um I need to continue immediately
- Proper fucking diverse characters
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, War, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Murder, Violence, and Child death
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
iono's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: War, Racism, Xenophobia, Child abuse, and Cursing
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Vomit, and Pedophilia
ekcd_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Medical content, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
loxeletters's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Child death, and Medical content
Minor: Racism, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Incest, and Excrement