Reviews

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

vmacalinao's review against another edition

dark 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

vilekstyle's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

kat42's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

I loved how the multiverse travel worked and there were some good plot twists in here. There were some times the plot felt a little meanery, but that wasn't something that bothered me personally. The Space Between Worlds is a very impressive book, especially considering it's the author's debut. 

welkinvault's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

This is a thought provoking and captivating science fiction novel that weaves together themes of identity, privilege, and the complexities of parallel universes. 

Cara, a 'traverser'  can navigate between alternate Earths, as being born in Ashtown a dystopian wasteland she is able to travel to other Earths where she has already died.  This is contrasted with Wiley City where she lives and works (where the goal of becoming a permanent resident is a remote possibility) is affluent, does not experience food poverty, or avoidable deaths due to the environment.  Wiley City and Ashtowns' stark disparities -  the societal divides (plus on every world the consequences of unchecked ambition) are constantly explored.

Cannot believe this was a debut novel. Narration was superb.

ashleyz's review

adventurous mysterious 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? No

3.0

bearpolar's review

dark

4.5

millie_who_loves_books's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.75

kierstyn's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

the premise of this book sounds really interesting and it could have been sooo cool, I honestly just didn't like the way the story played out. 

I didn't care for any of the worlds or any of the characters. I found it really boring. 

my main issue is the """"chemistry"""" between dell and cara. there is a part in the book where cara is like "I can tell she wants me," like huhh????? I actually said out loud "how???" we are given absolutely 0 indication that dell is interested in cara. instead cara just makes a lot of extremely forward and sexual comments towards her that get no reaction. if someone said that shit to me I would be sooo uncomfortable. then in the end they argue which is the first real interaction of theirs we had the the entire book omg. i know the point was for them to be confused about their relationship but you can't say there is chemistry when there is none lol. 

also a lot of descriptions in this book are just gross. a lot of gory descriptions and body horror. 

want to read a book about parallel universes and world-hopping? too bad, because out of the 300+ worlds cara has access to, we only visit 2 lol. 

thelilithjames's review against another edition

Narration was too much telling and not enough showing. Felt like the world existed for the story only rather than the story existing within the world. Just not my thing. Interesting concept though.

remyu's review against another edition

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? Yes

3.0

I so badly wanted to love this book, but it was a real slog. As an avid sci-fi/fantasy reader, I was hoping for more action and a faster pace that kept the story’s momentum going. Instead, the action (particularly the traversing) was sprinkled throughout in a handful of scenes that helped build Cara’s world but failed to add depth to her perspective or really get me excited about the narrative. Also, while I believe that in many ways Cara’s characterization made sense, I struggled with her naïveté and sort of ignorance, plus I found it hard to buy in to her romance with another character.