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kdsterling's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
therearenobadbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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 love this author's style, and this is my fav type of scifi: a group (all different personalities, skills, and races... one resembles a squid, another is a prophet like a batle mage, there is also the pastry master) trying to not be in the spotlight, but working together to turn their restaurant into an awarded one ends in a bio ship, the mist expensive ship, on a mission filled with action. The sentient ship Thing (named by her past owner as You Sexy Thing ). They end up being kidnapped by a nasty pirate who has a mean grudge against Niko the Captain, and it seems they won't survive.
Action, humor, a sentient ship learning human emotions from this unique crew, good food, adventure, space traveling, surviving vengeance, violence, torture, fear, and a very satisfying end.
Binging this trilogy
archaeomancer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I did think the attachment between the "River Tam/Ciri" character (young girl picked up by ragged scrappy space crew/attached to older parental type authority figure) and the "Mal/Geralt" character was largely off page until the very end, where it just was assumed that we would totally think it's wholesome that those two are hugging because of their deep bond, that we largely don't see form on page. The book also got quite dark in the middle, when I was hoping for mostly a fun sci fi adventure.
I did read that some people compared this to Mass Effect, which made me snap it up, and I do see rhe similarities! Diverse alien crew with all kinds of aliens and humans and preferences, a central commander figure with the loyalty of her crew. I did enjoy it, but it could have used more work on the Geralt/Ciri relationship and maybe more fun adventure instead of being trapped for a third of the book with only dread for company (happens about midway).
I did read that some people compared this to Mass Effect, which made me snap it up, and I do see rhe similarities! Diverse alien crew with all kinds of aliens and humans and preferences, a central commander figure with the loyalty of her crew. I did enjoy it, but it could have used more work on the Geralt/Ciri relationship and maybe more fun adventure instead of being trapped for a third of the book with only dread for company (happens about midway).
keen23's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful. This was 100% a catnip book for me. Kick ass heroine. Space travel. Pirates. Foodies. It's great. So much fun, that you hardly notice that there was zero world building and you get thrown into the action from the get-go.
annexnation's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
saradlee's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
Didn't look promising. "The big critic is coming" ... found family ... charismatic ex-military leader ... space pirate lair ... If you're going to cook with those everyday ingredients, you'd better be a good chef. And Rambo is.
The diverse crew is well presented, and gradually; some of the details are withheld until WAY into the book, and just come out naturally. The gender/sexuality issues are also just there, no big deal, as if everyone in the story is used to them.
This isn't the first ship-AI-discovers-itself I've seen, but it's well done.
Not sure Last had to be QUITE so bad. and I don't look forward to two more books in which he's always in the wings going bwah-hah-hah, but it's a thing authors do, so OK. And clearly they weren't going to deal with Last by simply confronting him, so the resolution of that was good.
Things on board the pirate area were a tad inconsistent, but there was a lot happening so we'll forgive.
Interesting story, flowing style that never got in the way.
The stated goal was "third-party omniscient space opera" anbd that's what you get. I will definitely read the next one.
The diverse crew is well presented, and gradually; some of the details are withheld until WAY into the book, and just come out naturally. The gender/sexuality issues are also just there, no big deal, as if everyone in the story is used to them.
This isn't the first ship-AI-discovers-itself I've seen, but it's well done.
Not sure Last had to be QUITE so bad. and I don't look forward to two more books in which he's always in the wings going bwah-hah-hah, but it's a thing authors do, so OK. And clearly they weren't going to deal with Last by simply confronting him, so the resolution of that was good.
Things on board the pirate area were a tad inconsistent, but there was a lot happening so we'll forgive.
Interesting story, flowing style that never got in the way.
The stated goal was "third-party omniscient space opera" anbd that's what you get. I will definitely read the next one.