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sarahl8on's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
soubhi's review
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
michelekendzie's review
I was fascinated by the premise, a story about life in the future after climate change floods, but the rotating between several unconnected characters made it hard for me to get to know them or follow a plot. Halfway through the book I still didn’t understand what was going on. I tried hard; I rarely give up on book this far in.
hackjuber's review
3.0
Loved it through the first 60%, but right when it felt like it was nearing a conclusion, it continued for another hundred pages. Lots of cool science fiction concepts. I wasn’t a fan of 2/3 of the point of view characters which doesn’t help. Irina was by far the most interesting personality and I was constantly looking eager to return to her story. I suppose Kern was fairly interesting before the ghost in his ear was revealed.
lazergoespewpew's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
quiraang's review against another edition
3.0
I gave this book a three, but equally it could have been two or four stars. Well written, and some interesting ideas about AI , but there was barely a story there, and the characters were shallow.
The POV skips between reality and a kind of AI simulation, and it is hard at times to work out which one you are reading about, resulting in confusion, and a certain amount of irritation. Perhaps that was the point and I'm missing it
The POV skips between reality and a kind of AI simulation, and it is hard at times to work out which one you are reading about, resulting in confusion, and a certain amount of irritation. Perhaps that was the point and I'm missing it
eliojae's review against another edition
3.0
i listened to this book, and, again, i think i would’ve enjoyed it more if i’d read it. like the narrators were good but part of it felt like there was no collaboration between them see: irina’s bodyguard guy having a scottish accent in her chapters but no accent in the thales chapter he appeared in but otherwise it was well-read.
i liked the story but im also a fan of sci fi and it’s kinda hard for me to find a sci fi book i don’t like. it happens but it didn’t happen this time. i especially liked the irina chapter that starts on the empty airplane.
but at one point the term “lady doctor” is used and that was weird. just say doctor??
i liked the story but im also a fan of sci fi and it’s kinda hard for me to find a sci fi book i don’t like. it happens but it didn’t happen this time. i especially liked the irina chapter that starts on the empty airplane.
but at one point the term “lady doctor” is used and that was weird. just say doctor??
oedipa_maas's review against another edition
5.0
A friend gave this to me, which doesn't happen as often as you might think. I didn't know anything about the book, or the author, but I trust my friend and so I began it early this year. The prose often read like poetry, dense and infused with symbolism and meaning and all that stuff that you rarely see in a genre like sci-fi. Because of that, I could not speed-read this book as I can for so many others, especially thrillers, fantasies, and (unfortunately) a lot of literary fiction.
And that's refreshing, if not a little annoying in regards to a book count goal or something stupid like that. (I've given up on numerical goals per year; who really cares in a world where things like Infinite Jest exist?)
Anyway, the book. It good. I think you would enjoy it if you like competently-written and plotted adventure stories that don't fall into the same predictable narrative. There was one plot point that I guessed would happen well before it did, but in a book so dense AND expansive, that's pretty impressive, and I give that bit a pass. The shape of the world and society in the future (I figure about 150-200 years out) is so expertly described and fleshed out, and I love books that take the reader to all kinds of interesting and diverse places throughout the real world.
A brief list of the things I loved that I'd like to remember fondly years down the line: the favela construction drones, the space elevator, the graffiti far below the city, "you mad bitch" (freakin lmao), Kern's fifth fight, the bootleg automobile laser, Thales figuring shit out, the magician scene, the themes of aging and memory, and Irina as a whole and at all times. I even liked Phillip, though I was suspicious of him the whole time.
All in all, it's a rewarding book full of things that make you think. I wish more sci-fi was this well written.
And that's refreshing, if not a little annoying in regards to a book count goal or something stupid like that. (I've given up on numerical goals per year; who really cares in a world where things like Infinite Jest exist?)
Anyway, the book. It good. I think you would enjoy it if you like competently-written and plotted adventure stories that don't fall into the same predictable narrative. There was one plot point that I guessed would happen well before it did, but in a book so dense AND expansive, that's pretty impressive, and I give that bit a pass. The shape of the world and society in the future (I figure about 150-200 years out) is so expertly described and fleshed out, and I love books that take the reader to all kinds of interesting and diverse places throughout the real world.
A brief list of the things I loved that I'd like to remember fondly years down the line: the favela construction drones, the space elevator, the graffiti far below the city, "you mad bitch" (freakin lmao), Kern's fifth fight, the bootleg automobile laser, Thales figuring shit out, the magician scene, the themes of aging and memory, and Irina as a whole and at all times. I even liked Phillip, though I was suspicious of him the whole time.
All in all, it's a rewarding book full of things that make you think. I wish more sci-fi was this well written.
sparklefarm's review against another edition
[I read an advanced reader copy.]
Guys, I tried. I wanted to like it. The premise intrigued me, and honestly, I liked the characters. But the writing!! Gag. I can dig stream of consciousness, but in moderation. And preferably, with commas. Some of the writing was poetic, but only on a reread. Nope.
Guys, I tried. I wanted to like it. The premise intrigued me, and honestly, I liked the characters. But the writing!! Gag. I can dig stream of consciousness, but in moderation. And preferably, with commas. Some of the writing was poetic, but only on a reread. Nope.
christian200's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75