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mamoru's review
5.0
"I used to think that faith was this great light in the darkness. A lighthouse to show me the way no matter how stormy the sea. But that's not it, is it? It's more like...a rope to lead you out of a dark cave. Sometimes you hang on tight. Sometimes you might drop it and have to scramble to find the lead again. Sometimes it feels like a line in the dark isn't enough. But it's always there."
Dear Lina Rather,
I normally write reviews for other readers, but this is addressed to you. Whether you check your reviews or not, I hope these words will reach you in some form or another.
I picked up this series while in the midst of deep loss and grief, the sort that paralyses you and makes you feel trapped in amber. So many pages were difficult to read and I needed long breaks to allow myself to calm down before continuing. The sisters' grief touched my own. Their spiritual and identity crises called to my own feelings of falling apart and losing myself. The uncertainty, the fear, the anger, the betrayal - while it's so hard to welcome them inside myself, I made it a point to at least welcome them inside the story. To not skip the paragraphs that hurt. To read them again and again and let the tears flow.
Thank you for putting this story out into the world. While the worldbuilding will appeal to many people, to me this was a profoundly spiritual read. It was what I needed right now, an exercise in coming home to myself and finding a safe way to touch my own suffering. And, in my own opinion, stories are meant to heal; whether by entertaining you, or making room for hope, or offering you the possibility to explore the unexplorable inside of yourself. This series achieved all three. Thank you.
Dear Lina Rather,
I normally write reviews for other readers, but this is addressed to you. Whether you check your reviews or not, I hope these words will reach you in some form or another.
I picked up this series while in the midst of deep loss and grief, the sort that paralyses you and makes you feel trapped in amber. So many pages were difficult to read and I needed long breaks to allow myself to calm down before continuing. The sisters' grief touched my own. Their spiritual and identity crises called to my own feelings of falling apart and losing myself. The uncertainty, the fear, the anger, the betrayal - while it's so hard to welcome them inside myself, I made it a point to at least welcome them inside the story. To not skip the paragraphs that hurt. To read them again and again and let the tears flow.
Thank you for putting this story out into the world. While the worldbuilding will appeal to many people, to me this was a profoundly spiritual read. It was what I needed right now, an exercise in coming home to myself and finding a safe way to touch my own suffering. And, in my own opinion, stories are meant to heal; whether by entertaining you, or making room for hope, or offering you the possibility to explore the unexplorable inside of yourself. This series achieved all three. Thank you.
aternes13's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sherrise's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
amylynn44's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
thegoblinempress's review against another edition
3.0
Spoilers for Sisters of the Vast Black!
I enjoyed this follow-up to Sisters of the Vast Black, which I adored, but I can't deny that Sisters of the Forsaken Stars isn't quite as strong or as seamlessly told as its predecessor.
Following the events of the previous novella the sisters of the Order of Saint Rita have been trying to fulfil their duties while lying low to evade Central Governance, until it becomes clear that others could be punished for their defiance--a defiance that's sparked the beginnings of a revolution.
I hope we get more and more books in this series, because I loved learning more of the sisters' back stories, watching Lucia find her feet as the abbess, and Gemma learn to live outside the order in this instalment, but I think Rather tried to fit too much into this novella which meant that both of the two main storylines felt rushed and a little underwhelming. I was particularly interested in Gemma and Vauca's discovery, but I'd rather have read about it in a separate novella so that their storyline and the sisters' storyline had more room to breathe.
I can't help wondering if this novella was written and then edited in a bit of a rush following the success of the first book, because I noticed a few errors in my edition - Phoyongsa III became Phoyongsa IV a couple of times and on one page a minor character was addressed as both "Sister" and then "Mother" - which might explain why it feels like two separate novellas that have been sewn together.
All that aside, I continue to love the way Rather explores faith and what it means, whether it's faith in gods or fellow human beings. I have such a soft spot for this world and these characters and I want to see them all again.
I enjoyed this follow-up to Sisters of the Vast Black, which I adored, but I can't deny that Sisters of the Forsaken Stars isn't quite as strong or as seamlessly told as its predecessor.
Following the events of the previous novella the sisters of the Order of Saint Rita have been trying to fulfil their duties while lying low to evade Central Governance, until it becomes clear that others could be punished for their defiance--a defiance that's sparked the beginnings of a revolution.
I hope we get more and more books in this series, because I loved learning more of the sisters' back stories, watching Lucia find her feet as the abbess, and Gemma learn to live outside the order in this instalment, but I think Rather tried to fit too much into this novella which meant that both of the two main storylines felt rushed and a little underwhelming. I was particularly interested in Gemma and Vauca's discovery, but I'd rather have read about it in a separate novella so that their storyline and the sisters' storyline had more room to breathe.
I can't help wondering if this novella was written and then edited in a bit of a rush following the success of the first book, because I noticed a few errors in my edition - Phoyongsa III became Phoyongsa IV a couple of times and on one page a minor character was addressed as both "Sister" and then "Mother" - which might explain why it feels like two separate novellas that have been sewn together.
All that aside, I continue to love the way Rather explores faith and what it means, whether it's faith in gods or fellow human beings. I have such a soft spot for this world and these characters and I want to see them all again.
nocuplongenough's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-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
jower's review
4.0
This is a lovely follow up to Sisters of the Vast Black. I thoroughly enjoy this series and the unique ideas it adds to speculative and science fiction - such a thoughtful exploration of science and religion with compelling characters I am always interested in learning more about. As long as Lina Rather is writing this series I will be reading it.
lep42's review
hopeful
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
4.25