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realsiya2's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.75
maggie_blakeney's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
missbear's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.5
Exactly the kind of thing I'm into. One of the clearest signs that I'm going to really like a sci fi book is if I have to go back and read the first few chapters over again once I've finally clued into what's really going on. I love a dense, opaque science fiction book that's going to really dig into a lot of interesting ideas, and ideally has some kind of interesting, complicated, non-linear structure on top of that — so a lot of potential for needing to reread a bit to be sure that I have everything down.
This book really delivered on all of the above. My favorite type of science fiction is the kind that shows very alien alien cultures, something that shocks me into thinking about the basic assumptions I have about society or humanity. I loved the questions raised about gender, about humanity and consciousness and identity, about empire and colonialism. I read several space-empire books this year and I think I liked this one's take on it best — really revealing the horror of conquest and assimilation.
If I had to criticize, I'd say that the plot is quite confusing in certain places, partly due to the complexity of the ideas, but also possibly due to some avoidable messiness. I want to continue reading the series but I already know I'll have to reread this one in order to pick up another, which is not ideal. But not so much so that I won't do it.
This book really delivered on all of the above. My favorite type of science fiction is the kind that shows very alien alien cultures, something that shocks me into thinking about the basic assumptions I have about society or humanity. I loved the questions raised about gender, about humanity and consciousness and identity, about empire and colonialism. I read several space-empire books this year and I think I liked this one's take on it best — really revealing the horror of conquest and assimilation.
If I had to criticize, I'd say that the plot is quite confusing in certain places, partly due to the complexity of the ideas, but also possibly due to some avoidable messiness. I want to continue reading the series but I already know I'll have to reread this one in order to pick up another, which is not ideal. But not so much so that I won't do it.
deany3300's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
born_in_a_cardboard_box's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
lion_nes's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
farrawayreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
talina's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Honestly I would love to give this book a higher rating. It has a totally unique premise, richly textured world building and a number of very compelling and unique action sequences but, for me, the choice to have the narrator be a character that is basically AI in a human body meant it was much harder to emotionally connect with the book. It all just ended up feeling a little shallow and I don’t feel the need to finish the series.