Reviews

Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida

kerrimcbooknerd's review

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challenging dark tense

3.0

spiralworlds's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious 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

carlgunter's review

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5.0

Enjoyed the multiple POVs and seeing each character from different perspectives. I related to Tom/Shadow right from the start. Having lived through depression and being a person who is, in general, an idealist, his journey felt real, even if there is more of it to come. Second to me were Storm and Thorn. There is something about their rage that reflects the times we live in now. I want to see more of Thorn's arc going forward, but that is clearly planned given the preview of book 2. I have to say, Stella is super annoying, in an entertaining way, and I laughed every time I was in her head. I look forward to more prick and preppy confrontations and more? The worlds are vast, loved what I saw, want too see more. Thank you SFBookClub for a copy of the book.

artcheyne's review

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The existential dread feels real and appropriate given the advancements in AI. The contrast between a young Tom and the Shadow he becomes is well executed so is the trauma he experiences. The strength of this book are the unique characters and their relationships and the themes explored. The girls are a lot of fun, and the queer romance an excellent representation on how to write LGBTQI characters right. The themes confronted could easily go wrong and fall into tropes, but they never do. Yes, some of the characters struggle with life, but the underlining thread that pulls this series forward is one of hope and idealism. I liked how the world building is connected with the characters and their traits, and look forward to exploring more of Spiral Worlds and its history. My only complaint is that It's a series starter, however based on book one I trust the author to answer the questions that remain open regarding the past and the five days remaining until the end of the worlds. I liked the narrative structure a lot. It''s unusual, but starting in the middle of the history and going back to fill the gaps added more weight to the backstory as we already know how things will end up.

andyshaw's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny informative 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

5.0

Holy Guacamole. Ma! Send help. I just finished this book and I'm now 100% convinced that we live in a simulation and that our Universe is emotional and manipulative. Now I need to take a poetry course so that I can control it. 

Roses are red, violets are blue, this book is so believable, it will scare the living daylights out of you.

Hi Sibyl! Bye Sibyl!

tracymerrel's review

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5.0

Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of human nature and the evolution of consciousness.

The novel is a masterful exploration of the themes of individuality, freedom, and conformity. Almeida has crafted a believable and compelling world that is both familiar and alien. The technology and the AI specifically is both intriguing and terrifying, and the author does a great job of exploring its implications.

The characters in Unanimity are well-developed and relatable. Shadow is a relatable protagonist who is not afraid to question authority and challenge the status quo. His journey into depression is both inspiring and heartbreaking. The other characters are equally well-written and add depth to the story. The relationships between the characters are also well-crafted and add to the emotional impact of the novel. Particularly the relationship between Shadow and Storm.

One of the most striking aspects of Unanimity is its writing style. Almeida has a beautiful and poetic way of describing the world and the characters. The language is rich and evocative, and the author has a talent for creating imagery that stays with the reader long after the book is finished. The pacing of the story is also well-done, with a steady build-up of tension that keeps the reader engaged.

In conclusion, Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of human nature and the evolution of consciousness. The story is set in a number of believable and compelling worlds, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. The writing is beautiful and evocative, and the pacing of the story is well-done. This is a novel that will stay with the reader long after it is finished, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction, philosophical fiction, and thought-provoking literature.

amysaint's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

What can I say, I loved Shadow and Storm relationship and the creativity of this book. Couldn't help to cheer for Thorn and Stella for their badassery. More please!

alexwilbourne's review

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adventurous dark emotional informative 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

5.0

sfbookclub's review

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adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Utterly original and well drawn characters. Can't wait for Parity and the rest of the series.

bookishjessashley's review

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adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

This is a wonderful series so far. The ideas and world-building are well presented, and they’re fun to read about. Alexandra establishes excellent and intriguing characters and builds on them throughout. I loved the way that the narrative spirals around, introducing elements and showing how they work later, and how we learn more about the characters and the world via the past sections, and how those sections tally with the “present-day” narrative within the worlds. An epic found family story.