Reviews with content warning for Drug use - The Space Between Worlds

I enjoyed this novel! I think I would have enjoyed it better if I was more experienced listening to science fiction/fantasy on audiobook. (This is also a genre I do not read a lot in general.) The narrator, Nicole Lewis, is spectacular and perfectly embodies the scrapiness of Cara. The challenging part on audio for me was that the author does an excellent job of world building but you have to keep track of multiple dimensions and the same characters in different dimensions. If I could go back in time, I think I would have told me to listen to the book and then read the eBook to help everything stick in my mind.

What I particularly liked about this book:

World building is imaginative and explores themes of racism, classism and homophobia.
I loved that the author let us explore this world before diving into the main plot. The plot unfolds slowly and this allows us to immerse ourselves in this world.
Interesting character development that is meaningful - especially in the Cara character.
There were some interesting support characters like Gene and Del that are also well-developed and contribute meaningfully to the story.
Cara's voice is strong in this book. She is a bit sarcastic, humorous, pragmatic, a little idealistic, and scrappy. I loved her.

I do want to emphasize that I would 100% recommend this book to someone looking for a science fiction read. I would caution them about listening on audiobook unless they have experience listening to SFF on audio and can follow a complex world with multiple characters. I definitely think this is a book I'll reread to capture some of the details I missed this go-round.

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omarickman's review

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adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

In this sci-fi book, they have learned how to travel to other worlds in the multiverse. However, you cannot travel to another world where you already exist. So if you've died in another world you can travel there, but if you're still alive in that world you cannot go there. Our main character, Cara, can travel to almost all of the other possible worlds. This makes her an asset and allows her to work as someone who travels between all of the different worlds.

Cara is a likable main character with some noticeable flaws. These flaws feel authentic and real. It allows you to really connect with her and understand where she's coming from. Cara feels well developed and rounded out. She's also deeply intersectional, layered, and dynamic in a refreshing way. With that being said, many of the side characters felt slightly underdeveloped. While the story is from Cara's point of view, I wanted more from the side characters in terms of their relationship with Cara. Overall, I enjoyed the characterization and character growth throughout the novel.

As the story progresses it becomes obvious that this is not just a Sci-Fi novel but also a mystery, thriller, and romance as well. I personally found the blend between all of these to be perfect. I adored the explorations of race, class, religion, and power, and the social commentary on modern-day, real-word issues. I only wish that the ending hadn't felt a little flat.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

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readerette's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-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

4.75

Aside from a few moments where I really didn't believe/need the actions of certain characters (

Micheal becoming a runner, Adam not killing Cara, Dell bringing the collar to the burial

), this was a great story with relatable characters and a fascinating world with just enough detail. The first twist gave the story depth. Warm and engaging sci fi that also dives into some of the complexities of race/origin and how they impact one's lot in life.

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dmbooks's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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emmagrace's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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sequelmage's review

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adventurous dark reflective 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

3.75

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banrions's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful tense 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

5.0

I NEED EVERYONE I KNOW TO READ THIS BOOK AND TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

I’m gonna be thinking about this book for fucking weeks. This is such a perfect amalgamation of things specifically designed to HURT ME and draw me into the story which i ducking devoured in like a day and a half. If I had had time, i would have read this in a single setting. I just… I don’t even know what to SAY yet about how I feel about this—I feel fucking everything. I adore Cara as a protagonist, she felt like a punch to the gut, a mirror held up at your worst and most uncomfortable moment, a tight almost painful hug, I just… I love her. I love her. I love her. I loved being inside of her head, I loved seeing her with her sister, with Dell, fighting against Nik Nik and Adra, and walking through the infinite worlds. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BECAUSE IT HAS RENDERED ME PRETTY MUCH INCOHERENT.

So, bullet points:

-I fucking LOVE the way they bring in parallel universes to this. It is one of my favorite tropes and concepts to explore and I really love the way it was in this story.

-I shall reiterate, I LOVE CARA AS A PROTAGONIST

-I also fucking LOVE dell, and their relationship

-I also fucking ADORE Esther and the sister relationship with Cara.

-I love the exploration of class and capitalism and the environment that is peppered into this story about world hopping

-I love the prose in this. Several lines hit me like a gut punch, some of them made me groan out loud and then get yelled at by my mother, the single highest praise I can give.

I want to read everything this author ever writes and I want to read this book again about 8 million times.

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