Scan barcode
rachsed's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
I sent my family this text when I reached the end of the book: I have been totally wrecked and cried so hard I couldn't breathe because of a book with killer aliens, greedy corporations, galactic archaeologists, a cat in a space suit, and talk of "an amazing, terrible, impossible movie with robot vamipires." After that, what else can I say? Quite a few things actually. This book is a quick read, but manages to include sibling relationships, the lengths we are willing to go to save a loved one, the conflict between the common good and corporate profits, and what makes a well-lived life.
Scout, her brother Kieran, and their cat Pumpkin are on a mission to recover records from ancient civilizations for the Archivists. The scholars hope to find details about what caused the death of all the other worlds ever discovered. "Seven hundred years ago, technology gave us the keys to the cosmos ...What we found was a graveyard." In a data cache on one of these planets could there be a way to save the Home worlds?
Opposing them are galactic distances, unstable ruins, and Verity Co. which "stands in the way of everything the Archivists are trying to sow...They'd put the cure for death behind a paywall if they could." I picture them as a combination of Weyland-Yutani and the Umbrella Corporation. They have the best in equipment, reconnaissance, and motivation - and they don't care who they trample over to bring home the goods.
There are incredible moments of humor (remember, cat in a spacesuit), heartbreak, pulse-pounding danger, and downtime with silly movies and pizza. Due for publication April 7, 2022, this is a read that can appeal to fans of Sci-Fi, YA coming of age stories, and knowledge quests. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Scout, her brother Kieran, and their cat Pumpkin are on a mission to recover records from ancient civilizations for the Archivists. The scholars hope to find details about what caused the death of all the other worlds ever discovered. "Seven hundred years ago, technology gave us the keys to the cosmos ...What we found was a graveyard." In a data cache on one of these planets could there be a way to save the Home worlds?
Opposing them are galactic distances, unstable ruins, and Verity Co. which "stands in the way of everything the Archivists are trying to sow...They'd put the cure for death behind a paywall if they could." I picture them as a combination of Weyland-Yutani and the Umbrella Corporation. They have the best in equipment, reconnaissance, and motivation - and they don't care who they trample over to bring home the goods.
There are incredible moments of humor (remember, cat in a spacesuit), heartbreak, pulse-pounding danger, and downtime with silly movies and pizza. Due for publication April 7, 2022, this is a read that can appeal to fans of Sci-Fi, YA coming of age stories, and knowledge quests. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
sff_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.5
natyreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
beehan__'s review against another edition
adventurous
4.0
"The Last Gifts of the Universe" is written in an engaging language, with well-crafted characters. I read it in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down!
I'm not giving five stars because I think the alien worlds could have been crafted a lot better, there were like our world but everyone looks a bit different. I would have liked more of a play on different cultures with different habits etc. This is more of an Indiana Jones type story, fun and action packed but only brushing the archeology topic slightly.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
I'm not giving five stars because I think the alien worlds could have been crafted a lot better, there were like our world but everyone looks a bit different. I would have liked more of a play on different cultures with different habits etc. This is more of an Indiana Jones type story, fun and action packed but only brushing the archeology topic slightly.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
auntieyorgareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I received an advance review copy of this eBook for free from the author and BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily as a courtesy.
The last civilization alive realizes that their universe is being overtaken by something that strips all possibility of life from any habitable planet, they venture out to investigate the cosmos to find out what has happened so they can prevent it on their own world. Scout, and Archivist for the Home world, their brother Kiernan, and cat Pumpkin, take us on a journey into space and introduce us to the world of the Stelhari. Through harrowing adventures on lifeless plants, we learn of the end of the Stelhari civilization through holographic records, or last stands, from Blyreena and others. Ultimately, the last stand of any people is a bittersweet lesson for us all.
I rather enjoyed this work of outer space speculative science fiction. The characters are endearing and their stories relatable. The tale is one of fiction, but also one we as humans know deep in our hearts. I look forward to seeing more from this author!
The last civilization alive realizes that their universe is being overtaken by something that strips all possibility of life from any habitable planet, they venture out to investigate the cosmos to find out what has happened so they can prevent it on their own world. Scout, and Archivist for the Home world, their brother Kiernan, and cat Pumpkin, take us on a journey into space and introduce us to the world of the Stelhari. Through harrowing adventures on lifeless plants, we learn of the end of the Stelhari civilization through holographic records, or last stands, from Blyreena and others. Ultimately, the last stand of any people is a bittersweet lesson for us all.
I rather enjoyed this work of outer space speculative science fiction. The characters are endearing and their stories relatable. The tale is one of fiction, but also one we as humans know deep in our hearts. I look forward to seeing more from this author!
More...