Scan barcode
fairytalearista's review
5.0
Very good book and well worth the praise all of my friends have been giving it. Wish I had gotten around to reading it sooner! Full review to come.
emjay24's review
1.0
I got through 53% of this book. At first, it seemed poorly written and like a strange starship knockoff, but I was on vacation and thought why not, I don't need to think. Suddenly, the whole thing got too ridiculous. I started laughing out loud, and it wasn't even supposed to be funny. My friend looked up and I read him the passage and gave him the synopsis of what was going on, and he laughed too. The plot itself, the speed at which things happened, the people, I didn't like it. Vacation or not, I moved back to the denser, more thoughtful book I'd been reading before.
leahegood's review
4.0
I finally read it! I've been hearing about this book for so long, but for some reason it took me a long time to get to it. Now I can finally add it to my "read" shelf.
Teenager Andi enjoys her life aboard the surveyor, a class-A vessel that travels through outer space. She works alongside the Doctor, her adopted father. When her swashbuckling cousin, Eagle Crash, comes aboard with warnings of imminent danger, Andi doesn't know what to make of it. Most of the trouble seems to be coming from Crash's arrogance. Unfortunately, the problems don't leave with him.
It took me a while to get really engrossed in this story, but that's probably because I'm not used to sci-fi. It took [a:J. Grace Pennington|5895717|J. Grace Pennington|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1342044882p2/5895717.jpg] a while to set up the conflict that drives the second half of the book. Once I reached the tipping point and everything started coming together and making sense, I couldn't stop reading. It was pretty intense. I won't ruin it for you. \
[b:Radialloy|18281170|Radialloy (Firmament #1)|J. Grace Pennington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375567175s/18281170.jpg|19698805] is a unique story about loyalty, trust, and family.
Teenager Andi enjoys her life aboard the surveyor, a class-A vessel that travels through outer space. She works alongside the Doctor, her adopted father. When her swashbuckling cousin, Eagle Crash, comes aboard with warnings of imminent danger, Andi doesn't know what to make of it. Most of the trouble seems to be coming from Crash's arrogance. Unfortunately, the problems don't leave with him.
It took me a while to get really engrossed in this story, but that's probably because I'm not used to sci-fi. It took [a:J. Grace Pennington|5895717|J. Grace Pennington|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1342044882p2/5895717.jpg] a while to set up the conflict that drives the second half of the book. Once I reached the tipping point and everything started coming together and making sense, I couldn't stop reading. It was pretty intense. I won't ruin it for you. \
[b:Radialloy|18281170|Radialloy (Firmament #1)|J. Grace Pennington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375567175s/18281170.jpg|19698805] is a unique story about loyalty, trust, and family.
carina_shephard's review
5.0
First read: 2017/18 ish, reread: March 2021
Rereading this book is like seeing old friends again
Rereading this book is like seeing old friends again
victoriousmariner's review
1.0
I had really high expectations for Radialloy because of all the glowing reviews I’ve seen, but from the first chapter my expectations were shattered. I really wanted to find something to like, and while there’s nothing questionable about the story, it just . . . lacked quality.
The first thing that bothered me was the writing style. It completely lacked subtlety and subtext and faith that the reader isn’t stupid. Everything had to be thoroughly explained to make sure that the readers understands every iota of the story.
The second big thing that bothered me was the main character, Andi. She was completely flat and unrealistic. Her emotional journey was choppy, and big, important things happened to her that left absolutely no emotional impact on her. Also she didn’t develop or grow in any way by the end. The biggest thing, however, that bothered me, was that she was an absolutely inactive character. Pretty much all she does in the book is react to things that happen to her. No goal, no purpose whatsoever. When she does get something like a purpose, it was fifty percent into the book, and when she actually starts acting on it, it was seventy percent into the book. And even then, when she gets resistance from the other characters who don’t want her to accomplish that goal, she’s not the one who gets herself out. Other characters were always magically coming in to save her when she was in trouble.
Which leads me straight to the climax. It was somewhat tense and all, but the climax scene had absolutely nothing to do with Andi’s goal. In fact, once she gets saved from it via deux ex machina, she finds out that another character completed her goal and that’s that. Honestly the story would’ve been a lot more interesting if told from the POV of one of the bad guys.
Some positivity: I did get a bit interested by a certain theme (and the only theme I could identify) during the climax scene, but it was just dropped in there without being developed at all from the beginning. Some other things I liked where the medical facts. I could tell that the author had done research to get that part realistic. Also the whole sci-fi setting was refreshing. Hello more optimistic-views-of-the-future??
So basically, all in all, Radialloy could’ve been a good story, but it just wasn’t. I have no doubt that the author has improved her talent since its publication, but I would not recommend this book in particular.
The first thing that bothered me was the writing style. It completely lacked subtlety and subtext and faith that the reader isn’t stupid. Everything had to be thoroughly explained to make sure that the readers understands every iota of the story.
The second big thing that bothered me was the main character, Andi. She was completely flat and unrealistic. Her emotional journey was choppy, and big, important things happened to her that left absolutely no emotional impact on her. Also she didn’t develop or grow in any way by the end. The biggest thing, however, that bothered me, was that she was an absolutely inactive character. Pretty much all she does in the book is react to things that happen to her. No goal, no purpose whatsoever. When she does get something like a purpose, it was fifty percent into the book, and when she actually starts acting on it, it was seventy percent into the book. And even then, when she gets resistance from the other characters who don’t want her to accomplish that goal, she’s not the one who gets herself out. Other characters were always magically coming in to save her when she was in trouble.
Which leads me straight to the climax. It was somewhat tense and all, but the climax scene had absolutely nothing to do with Andi’s goal. In fact, once she gets saved from it via deux ex machina, she finds out that another character completed her goal and that’s that. Honestly the story would’ve been a lot more interesting if told from the POV of one of the bad guys.
Some positivity: I did get a bit interested by a certain theme (and the only theme I could identify) during the climax scene, but it was just dropped in there without being developed at all from the beginning. Some other things I liked where the medical facts. I could tell that the author had done research to get that part realistic. Also the whole sci-fi setting was refreshing. Hello more optimistic-views-of-the-future??
So basically, all in all, Radialloy could’ve been a good story, but it just wasn’t. I have no doubt that the author has improved her talent since its publication, but I would not recommend this book in particular.
oliviacornwell's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book. It's one of my favorite self-published titles, and I'm eager to read the rest of this series.
silver_valkyrie_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The plot was interesting enough to keep me from DNFing, but something about the writing was not quite working for me, and while I found the characters interesting enough overall, I also found the main character irritating at times. The worst part is, the ways she was irritating that I suspect the author thought were neutral or even positive character traits. (Pro tip: Girls, do not call out a young man's health conditions and how much he needs to rest when you're in front of his coworkers. Actually, how about no call call out ANY one else's health conditions in public, and we just all let everyone make their own decisions about when and how to talk about private information?)
The story resolution was pretty good, and worth resisting my urges to DNF, but I won't be continuing the series.
The story resolution was pretty good, and worth resisting my urges to DNF, but I won't be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Blood, Confinement, Death, Medical content, and Violence
ebdawson's review
3.0
A clean, YA space adventure, very reminiscent of Star Trek.
It was a fun adventure with smooth prose, solid dialogue, and lots of science! The main character Andi was kind and compassionate but seemed to act and think a little young for a twenty-year-old. Having been dropped on a doctor's doorstep as a baby, she has grown up never knowing her real family. When her true identity is revealed she becomes the target of criminals and scientists known for crossing moral boundaries.
The underlying premise of the story is rather interesting. But the plot was a little messy with characters constantly backtracking their steps and wavering between decisions. Some circumstances and plot points seemed a little contrived.
However, this would be a great story for young sci-fi readers!
It was a fun adventure with smooth prose, solid dialogue, and lots of science! The main character Andi was kind and compassionate but seemed to act and think a little young for a twenty-year-old. Having been dropped on a doctor's doorstep as a baby, she has grown up never knowing her real family. When her true identity is revealed she becomes the target of criminals and scientists known for crossing moral boundaries.
The underlying premise of the story is rather interesting. But the plot was a little messy with characters constantly backtracking their steps and wavering between decisions. Some circumstances and plot points seemed a little contrived.
However, this would be a great story for young sci-fi readers!
More...