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blau_elmo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a breathtaking trilogy. Insanely imaginative, spanning eons of time, detailing the possible theories of an infinite universe!
The story is expansive, and it brings up many amazing sci-fi concepts almost seamlessly, using grand metaphors and events to illustrate these concepts. Everything feels like one great step after another, and the sheer breadth of it all is breathtaking. It is a book with incomprehensible scale.
The characters and the interactions between them are representative of concepts and clans within civilisations rather than actual individuals, which is befitting for a book of such a scale.
The only thing I can really say is that I am truly in awe at this trilogy. Jaw-dropping.
The story is expansive, and it brings up many amazing sci-fi concepts almost seamlessly, using grand metaphors and events to illustrate these concepts. Everything feels like one great step after another, and the sheer breadth of it all is breathtaking. It is a book with incomprehensible scale.
The characters and the interactions between them are representative of concepts and clans within civilisations rather than actual individuals, which is befitting for a book of such a scale.
The only thing I can really say is that I am truly in awe at this trilogy. Jaw-dropping.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide and War
maddie_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
This final installment is increasingly dark, disturbing, tense, and pessimistic, taking you on a wild ride.
I think Liu partially redeemed the lack of developed female characters in the second novel by having the main character and a secondary character be women.
However, I think the author has some odd notions about femininity that are expressed throughout the novel. Obviously it was translated and Eastern and Western cultures have different broad views.But like describing the men looking exactly like women in the peacetime era and them being weak. Going on and on about Cheng Xin being motherly and loving and this makes her weak
Loved the weird stuff.
Explored some very interesting concepts.
A book structure spoiler:
This book has multiple shorter chapters. Found it a lot easier to re-read parts/ more natural stopping points. Didn't get lost in where I was in the audiobook at all! I was super engrossed in the book for the first 2/3s however I thought the pacing fell off a bit towards the end.
Spoiler Spoilers:
Still thinking about the end. Very wtf. Cheng missing Yun Tianming by 18 million years wtf. And then her living in a little mini universe with a random man?? What.
I enjoyed the friendship between Ai AA and Cheng but wished it were more developed.
Loved that Luo Ji came back and his character development. Feels weird because the novel is pretty long and meanders a lot but then at the end it feels a bit rushed. I was hoping to see more about 4d space, Yun's time with the Trisolarians/ how he got a body, what did he and Ai do for the rest of their lives etc
I think Liu partially redeemed the lack of developed female characters in the second novel by having the main character and a secondary character be women.
However, I think the author has some odd notions about femininity that are expressed throughout the novel. Obviously it was translated and Eastern and Western cultures have different broad views.
Loved the weird stuff.
Explored some very interesting concepts.
A book structure spoiler:
Spoiler Spoilers:
I enjoyed the friendship between Ai AA and Cheng but wished it were more developed.
Loved that Luo Ji came back and his character development. Feels weird because the novel is pretty long and meanders a lot but then at the end it feels a bit rushed. I was hoping to see more about 4d space, Yun's time with the Trisolarians/ how he got a body, what did he and Ai do for the rest of their lives etc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Body horror, Colonisation, Confinement, Genocide, Suicide, Violence, Classism, Deportation, Gore, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Cannibalism, Grief, and Blood
dragonfiddler's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, War, and Death
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death, and Violence
Moderate: War, Misogyny, and Body horror
Minor: Cannibalism, Ableism, and Gun violence
malessia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Violence, War, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Cancer
coralswank's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a trilogy that will probably stick with me for the rest of my life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, War, Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
npr's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
...wildly imaginitive...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Terminal illness, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide, War, Car accident, Genocide, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic relationship
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: War, Misogyny, and Body horror
Minor: Gun violence, Ableism, and Sexism
shermansays's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Cannibalism
jetlamar's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
A very satisfying and well written epic. I was impressed the whole way through. Thank you to the author and translators. Sincerely, it was a wonderful experience through & through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, War, and Genocide
I wish much of the non-essential filler were placed in the appendix. It slowed my read time down significantly. But, mabye that was the point. I just didn't see the need for it. Still, amazing read.