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olegx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
catbooking's review against another edition
4.0
The first one was better, the mystery surrounding the Ifs adding another layer to the world. This one was still good, the world intricate and interesting, but not as captivating. Still a worthwhile read.
bsheindl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.75
strangecandy's review against another edition
5.0
Ten Low and now Hel's Eight are some of the best science fiction books I've read in ages! Hel's Eight picks up several years later after Ten has gone to stay close to the Edge where people won't find her unless they need her medical assistance. But as fate would have it, her friends need her skills with the Seekers whom she has been marked by to help stop a war before it begins.
This is the type of story I find very hard to put down and it really stays with me afterwards. Ten is such an amazing character and the world that Stark Holborn has created is so insane, I love it. Ten is the character you would get if you took River Tam from Firefly and Neo from the Matrix and mixed them into this complex and unforgettable character.
The world that Stark Holborn has created is both terrifying and intriguing and you don't know if you should love it or hate it. I just know that I love this series and it will definitely be read again in the future. I highly recommend them.
This is the type of story I find very hard to put down and it really stays with me afterwards. Ten is such an amazing character and the world that Stark Holborn has created is so insane, I love it. Ten is the character you would get if you took River Tam from Firefly and Neo from the Matrix and mixed them into this complex and unforgettable character.
The world that Stark Holborn has created is both terrifying and intriguing and you don't know if you should love it or hate it. I just know that I love this series and it will definitely be read again in the future. I highly recommend them.
onanotherplanet's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
book_darner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
ladymacbeth_1985's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
An amazing sequel that lives up to the first novel, Hel’s Eight is a riveting, action-packed story with a tortured heroine and wonderful diverse side characters.
While this novel could easily have just piggybacked on the first book, in terms of setting and characters, it is not just a “this world is already established” sequel. We have a new antagonist and new stakes. While we have some characters reappearing (which was great!), they are all five years older. And the world-building in this book is almost more expansive than the first. In book onem we are given enough of a backstory to set the scene and explain Gabi but it felt like Factus existed as this kind of abandoned penal colony of sorts, whereas in Hel’s Eight we’re shown not only how and why this dumpy planet is important to the universe at large, but we see other places! There’s a really cool dystopian Blade Runner-like world at one point that was so interesting; I wished we’d spent more time there.
Like in the first book, the action in this book is impressive, immersive, and gritty. It retains a very Western feel with lots of shoot-outs, hand-to-hand, and realistic wounds. Where the book really shines though, are the few scenes where we get more explanation (or at least extrapolation) into what the “Ifs” are. It gives an almost fantastical element to the story that, paradoxically, serves to ground the action.
The characters are fantastic and fun and loveable. I’ll never get over the cleverness of the name “G’hals” for the one gang of women. I loved the edition of a journal by one of the characters from the previous book, which helped explain a lot of things about book one and the world itself. Ten, as usual, was a conflicted woman who wants to be moral but keeps getting dragged into crappy situations. One thing I will say is that this novel needed more Gabi! I was kind of sad that she was no longer a kid, as she was hilarious as a preteen, but I also really liked the dynamic between her and Rouf. They were also a great addition to the story as well. I’m also super fond of Rowdy, the robot dog.
The prose is wonderfully descriptive and full of evocative yet grounded metaphors, with lines like, “A fresh smell of wet green branches that makes my body cry out for mist and leaves and forests” and “my eyelids are steel doors that I have to heave open.” These lines may be altered or removed in the final printing (as I read an ARC).
On top of being an extremely quick read (I flew through it because I have no self-control when it comes to reading and, well, pizza and some other things), it also carries a theme about predetermination vs destiny and what that means about the choices you make. What choices do we really have, sometimes? And how much blame are we allowed to place upon ourselves for mistakes that are sometimes the result of outside forces?
Overall, a fantastic novel that I really could not put down. It’s so much fun! I loved it.
An amazing sequel that lives up to the first novel, Hel’s Eight is a riveting, action-packed story with a tortured heroine and wonderful diverse side characters.
While this novel could easily have just piggybacked on the first book, in terms of setting and characters, it is not just a “this world is already established” sequel. We have a new antagonist and new stakes. While we have some characters reappearing (which was great!), they are all five years older. And the world-building in this book is almost more expansive than the first. In book onem we are given enough of a backstory to set the scene and explain Gabi but it felt like Factus existed as this kind of abandoned penal colony of sorts, whereas in Hel’s Eight we’re shown not only how and why this dumpy planet is important to the universe at large, but we see other places! There’s a really cool dystopian Blade Runner-like world at one point that was so interesting; I wished we’d spent more time there.
Like in the first book, the action in this book is impressive, immersive, and gritty. It retains a very Western feel with lots of shoot-outs, hand-to-hand, and realistic wounds. Where the book really shines though, are the few scenes where we get more explanation (or at least extrapolation) into what the “Ifs” are. It gives an almost fantastical element to the story that, paradoxically, serves to ground the action.
The characters are fantastic and fun and loveable. I’ll never get over the cleverness of the name “G’hals” for the one gang of women. I loved the edition of a journal by one of the characters from the previous book, which helped explain a lot of things about book one and the world itself. Ten, as usual, was a conflicted woman who wants to be moral but keeps getting dragged into crappy situations. One thing I will say is that this novel needed more Gabi! I was kind of sad that she was no longer a kid, as she was hilarious as a preteen, but I also really liked the dynamic between her and Rouf. They were also a great addition to the story as well. I’m also super fond of Rowdy, the robot dog.
The prose is wonderfully descriptive and full of evocative yet grounded metaphors, with lines like, “A fresh smell of wet green branches that makes my body cry out for mist and leaves and forests” and “my eyelids are steel doors that I have to heave open.” These lines may be altered or removed in the final printing (as I read an ARC).
On top of being an extremely quick read (I flew through it because I have no self-control when it comes to reading and, well, pizza and some other things), it also carries a theme about predetermination vs destiny and what that means about the choices you make. What choices do we really have, sometimes? And how much blame are we allowed to place upon ourselves for mistakes that are sometimes the result of outside forces?
Overall, a fantastic novel that I really could not put down. It’s so much fun! I loved it.
bookish_selkie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Hel’s Eight returns to Ten Low, an ex-army medic with dark secrets that won’t stop stalking her. Ten Low must reunite with the crew from book one when she realizes that the forces that impact her life are not done with her yet. Ten will need to rally her allies, gather medical supplies, and try to control her fate in a world that is determined to take her choices from her.
Hel’s Eight is a high-action and dystopian adventure. There is never a dull moment! The supporting cast really helped raise the stakes and define who Ten Low is, a character with a very mysterious past. Ten is intent on making amends for her past mistakes, which was very compelling to watch. I was really interested to learn about the mysterious and often malevolent forces that pressure Ten to make unimaginably hard choices. I’m curious to see this revealed even more in the next book!
Hel’s Eight would be perfect for readers who enjoy Stina Leicht (Persephone Station) and Tamsyn Muir (Gideon the Ninth). Fans of Mad Max: Fury Road would also love this book!
Thank you to Stark Holborn, Titan Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hel’s Eight is a high-action and dystopian adventure. There is never a dull moment! The supporting cast really helped raise the stakes and define who Ten Low is, a character with a very mysterious past. Ten is intent on making amends for her past mistakes, which was very compelling to watch. I was really interested to learn about the mysterious and often malevolent forces that pressure Ten to make unimaginably hard choices. I’m curious to see this revealed even more in the next book!
Hel’s Eight would be perfect for readers who enjoy Stina Leicht (Persephone Station) and Tamsyn Muir (Gideon the Ninth). Fans of Mad Max: Fury Road would also love this book!
Thank you to Stark Holborn, Titan Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.