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arachnichemist's review against another edition
5.0
A heartbreaking end to one the most enjoyable reads I have had in years. You never know what you are getting into with a newer author that doesn't have much in the way of reviews. Enough of the first book grabbed me to take me one hell of a journey the ended with with a book that will lock this as currently one of my top 5 series of all time. Very very well done and curse you for that ending Mr. Ellsworth. Way to break my heart.
collinpowchow's review
5.0
Finally the conclusion! This book clears up many of the mysteries in books 1 and 2. Since they are basically novellas, I would absolutely recommend reading all of them for the full storyline of Ellsworth's Starfire.
I hope more stories are coming, because the end is no simple bow and string happy Disney wrap up.
I hope more stories are coming, because the end is no simple bow and string happy Disney wrap up.
ferrisscottr's review
1.0
I always hate giving bad reviews to books because this was created by an artist who put his creation out there to the world.
But
I think this was a poorly written book which needed a really good editor.
I stuck with this whole trilogy because it was such a great concept and it was just poorly executed.
I think this is a writer who will be great some day but doesn't quite have the experience yet to make a good book.
The plot was non-existent.
The characters were paper thin.
There was no character development or meaningful interaction.
I felt no connection to anyone in the story.
When people died I felt nothing.
Good concept with poor execution. Mr. Ellsworth needs at least to write another 1,000,000 words to gain experience and then I'm sure he will be publishing great things but this was a disappointment for me.
But
I think this was a poorly written book which needed a really good editor.
I stuck with this whole trilogy because it was such a great concept and it was just poorly executed.
I think this is a writer who will be great some day but doesn't quite have the experience yet to make a good book.
The plot was non-existent.
The characters were paper thin.
There was no character development or meaningful interaction.
I felt no connection to anyone in the story.
When people died I felt nothing.
Good concept with poor execution. Mr. Ellsworth needs at least to write another 1,000,000 words to gain experience and then I'm sure he will be publishing great things but this was a disappointment for me.
robertlslater's review
5.0
Great wrap up to a great series. Amazing characters telling a gigantic story from close in personal points of view.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
5.0
I received a copy of Memory’s Blade from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Memory’s Blade it the third and final novel in the Starfire trilogy. I have to say, while I was thrilled to get my hands on the latest book, I’m sad to see it go. Starfire has been a whirlwind of events and it was a blast to read. It’s been far too long since I’ve gotten this invested in a sci-fi series like it (I’ll confess that I may have gotten a little obsessed with this one, but in a good way, I promise!).
The Starfire trilogy was a fantastic series, and probably one of my favorites in recent years. It was a fun and quick read, with unique characters and wonderful world building. While I’m very sad to see it end, I can’t wait to see what Spencer Ellsworth will come out with next.
Normally by the time the third book in a series comes out, I feel like I have an idea of which direction it’s going to take next. That’s not the case for Starfire, and I’m actually really happy about that. I had no idea what was going to happen next in Memory’s Blade, nor did I have any idea how Ellsworth was going to end the series.
Jaqi is such a well-designed character. She’s strong and independent and oh so quirky. She stands out among the crowd, and I just love how she breaks the mold for “expected” when it comes to a lead female character. I honestly can’t get enough of her and her antics. I also adore how open and unbiased she is. She’s never seemed to care about a person’s race, gender, or species. I really hope that this part is true about humanities’ future. Her lack of hang-ups does lead to some pretty hilarious moments, which I’m going to miss.
In the third novel we finally get to see what the Dark Zone contains (we’ve been told of course, but with all the other lies being spread I had given up on believing a lot of it) and just how everything ended up so twisted to begin with. I’m still a little stunned by the way everything went down; though I think it was wonderfully done.
Most of the main characters introduced get more character development, as well as a chance to shine (a nice farewell, if I may say so). Obviously Jaqi and Araskar got the most ‘screen time’, though there’s some time spared for Z and Kalia too. Some of the directions these characters took I wasn’t expecting, which when you think about it, kind of fits. A lot of the turns the actual plot took were surprising as well, so apparently the goal of this novel was to break any expectations we had.
I won’t say too much about the finale, because you need to read it yourself rather than having me spoil it. I can tell you the exact words I told my husband, once I finished reading it: “I am far too full of feels right now.” Which is a pretty good summation, considering I hate seeing a series like this end.
I can’t express how sad I am to see this series end. I know I’ve already said that half a dozen times in this review, but I’m still feeling quite emotional about it. There’s nothing I love more than finding a series I can really throw myself into, and for me that series had recently been Starfire. I hope Ellsworth continues writing in this world, or if not at least continues in scifi (because clearly he rocks at it). I also hope they release the trilogy in a nice box set – if it does I’m absolutely buying a set (or two, you know, as gifts).
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Memory’s Blade it the third and final novel in the Starfire trilogy. I have to say, while I was thrilled to get my hands on the latest book, I’m sad to see it go. Starfire has been a whirlwind of events and it was a blast to read. It’s been far too long since I’ve gotten this invested in a sci-fi series like it (I’ll confess that I may have gotten a little obsessed with this one, but in a good way, I promise!).
The Starfire trilogy was a fantastic series, and probably one of my favorites in recent years. It was a fun and quick read, with unique characters and wonderful world building. While I’m very sad to see it end, I can’t wait to see what Spencer Ellsworth will come out with next.
Normally by the time the third book in a series comes out, I feel like I have an idea of which direction it’s going to take next. That’s not the case for Starfire, and I’m actually really happy about that. I had no idea what was going to happen next in Memory’s Blade, nor did I have any idea how Ellsworth was going to end the series.
Jaqi is such a well-designed character. She’s strong and independent and oh so quirky. She stands out among the crowd, and I just love how she breaks the mold for “expected” when it comes to a lead female character. I honestly can’t get enough of her and her antics. I also adore how open and unbiased she is. She’s never seemed to care about a person’s race, gender, or species. I really hope that this part is true about humanities’ future. Her lack of hang-ups does lead to some pretty hilarious moments, which I’m going to miss.
In the third novel we finally get to see what the Dark Zone contains (we’ve been told of course, but with all the other lies being spread I had given up on believing a lot of it) and just how everything ended up so twisted to begin with. I’m still a little stunned by the way everything went down; though I think it was wonderfully done.
Most of the main characters introduced get more character development, as well as a chance to shine (a nice farewell, if I may say so). Obviously Jaqi and Araskar got the most ‘screen time’, though there’s some time spared for Z and Kalia too. Some of the directions these characters took I wasn’t expecting, which when you think about it, kind of fits. A lot of the turns the actual plot took were surprising as well, so apparently the goal of this novel was to break any expectations we had.
I won’t say too much about the finale, because you need to read it yourself rather than having me spoil it. I can tell you the exact words I told my husband, once I finished reading it: “I am far too full of feels right now.” Which is a pretty good summation, considering I hate seeing a series like this end.
I can’t express how sad I am to see this series end. I know I’ve already said that half a dozen times in this review, but I’m still feeling quite emotional about it. There’s nothing I love more than finding a series I can really throw myself into, and for me that series had recently been Starfire. I hope Ellsworth continues writing in this world, or if not at least continues in scifi (because clearly he rocks at it). I also hope they release the trilogy in a nice box set – if it does I’m absolutely buying a set (or two, you know, as gifts).
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
jvan's review
4.0
While I still thought this was great, I don't know how I feel about it as an ending. I'm left thinking the solution to the big problem was maybe a little simple; it felt underwhelming to me, and the ancient chronology of the whole thing makes me wonder how it wasn't solved a very, very long time ago. The death of a minorly major character was unsatisfying for me, too, and added in a strand that didn't work for me much.
That aside, it's a satisfying, exciting book that moves along quickly and does wrap up the big problem while not at all thinking (thankfully) that the smaller-but-only-marginally problems will just go away because reasons. There's a lot of complexity and history that remains to be examined and written about, and I hope Ellsworth gets on that at some point. As an overall series, Starfire is a great read and well worth your time.
That aside, it's a satisfying, exciting book that moves along quickly and does wrap up the big problem while not at all thinking (thankfully) that the smaller-but-only-marginally problems will just go away because reasons. There's a lot of complexity and history that remains to be examined and written about, and I hope Ellsworth gets on that at some point. As an overall series, Starfire is a great read and well worth your time.
writerreads46's review
5.0
I stayed up to read Memory's Blade, and now I'm super sad...the series is done. The Starfire series is a fast-paced, hilarious read with unique characters, deep themes, and challenges "the chosen one" trope and blindly following political and religious figures.
duchess's review
3.0
A bittersweet ending for the Starfire trilogy. I have to admit I appreciate the author's temerity for not giving Jaqi a happy ending, but the story felt like it ended at an odd place. I don't entirely agree with how Kalia's character was handled either. Overall though, this was action-packed & easy to blast through! SO much action, but not all the answers.
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