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dylan_tomorrow's review against another edition
5.0
This book and the previous one made me love this space opera so much more. And I already loved it more than any other sci-fi series I know.
This trilogy world-builds on a much bigger canvas and gets into why the Metigen did their own world-building. We get to know them, breadcrumb by breadcrumb. I've been fascinated by them ever since Hyperion send his first words to Marcus and I continue to love them the more I find out about their mindboggling exploits and just how truly alien they are.
Characters continue to get developed in most interesting and delightful ways. I particularly love the paths Miriam, Richard, Malcolm, Kennedy, Noah, Mia, Devon, Morgan and of course Alex and Caleb take – so pretty much all the main characters
This trilogy world-builds on a much bigger canvas and gets into why the Metigen did their own world-building. We get to know them, breadcrumb by breadcrumb. I've been fascinated by them ever since Hyperion send his first words to Marcus and I continue to love them the more I find out about their mindboggling exploits and just how truly alien they are.
Characters continue to get developed in most interesting and delightful ways. I particularly love the paths Miriam, Richard, Malcolm, Kennedy, Noah, Mia, Devon, Morgan and of course Alex and Caleb take – so pretty much all the main characters
shelby7's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
scathach42's review against another edition
5.0
This review contains spoilers.
Oh wow!
What a journey!
To be honest I reached the end and I realised I muttered the same two words as Alex. Partly because of the Metigens' revelation and partly because I turned the page and realised the book was over. My barbaric noooo sounded over the rooftops of the world.
First of all: Miriam. My beloved, amazing, kickass, incredible, Miriam. I swear I was hoping for her to turn towards the PM and go "AHAH, Gotcha, ya bitch!" all adorned with a perfect middle finger.
I loved Miriam from the very beginning, but in the past few books she simply grew into me. And I hope Alex will be really proud of her, because she deserves it.
The scene were she remembers her third date with David... ohhh the angst.
Now it was time for her to be the one to stand in the centre of the chaos and say 'enough'
And right at the very end she does just that. She gives a imaginary finger to the PM and she flies away, ready to put her career and her life on the line to say 'enough'.
One of the topics that I love the most about the books is the relationship AI/Human and what may spring from it.
Mia summarised it perfectly:
"Envision someone, something wielding all the powers of an Artificial and none of the conscience. Artificial are believed by some to be the evil, but even the most destructive can justify their decisions using their own moral scales. The human soul, however, is capable of far greater depravity, and when one so inclined is granted the power of an Artificial... we haven't seen its kind before, because it's never existed before. Add in vast wealth and resources, and it frightens me. It should frighten everyone."
This... this is perfect.
Who is the real monster? The AIs as the OTS and the PM are trying to make everyone believe... or the human themselves?
Yes, the AIs can be evil... but Olivia is the proof that once you add the weaknesses of the Human race, things can go very, very bad. Of course we also have the proof that it's not always the case, as in the book we have plenty of Prevos who are the complete opposite of Olivia. So where do we draw the line?
The Metigens as well see the humans as a threat. They are you and you are they. Humans are the genetic recreation of the Anaden, Aurora a recreation of their beginnings.[...] decipher how the Anaden evolved into the host of monsters and tyrants they have become.
Is the human race the real problem?
I just find all this very fascinating, also because it's very relevant to nowadays. The Human race is, alas, edging towards a destructive path towards both itself and Earth. We could easily be the Anaden.
I love the parallel between fiction and reality.
On a more frivolous note...
Caleb is a Hitchhiker!! His joke about the interstellar highway had me in stitches. Is there a way to order him via galactic mail? Ask perhaps to the Metigens if they can create a copy of him for me?
Brooklin & Morgan... THEY.ARE.PERFECT! Please don't let anything happen to them. *pretty please*
Noah... I was already prepared for the worse. I am so used to my favourite character dying that I was ready to dash for the secret stash of chocolate. Thank you for saving him. Kennedy and him are a great pair and I love them deeply.
All this uber blurb to say thank you. Again!
Thank you for another great adventure together with a group of characters who now feel like old friends whenever I plunge back in the series.
You created an amazing world!
Now a re-read of the series is in order.
Oh wow!
What a journey!
To be honest I reached the end and I realised I muttered the same two words as Alex. Partly because of the Metigens' revelation and partly because I turned the page and realised the book was over. My barbaric noooo sounded over the rooftops of the world.
First of all: Miriam. My beloved, amazing, kickass, incredible, Miriam. I swear I was hoping for her to turn towards the PM and go "AHAH, Gotcha, ya bitch!" all adorned with a perfect middle finger.
I loved Miriam from the very beginning, but in the past few books she simply grew into me. And I hope Alex will be really proud of her, because she deserves it.
The scene were she remembers her third date with David... ohhh the angst.
Now it was time for her to be the one to stand in the centre of the chaos and say 'enough'
And right at the very end she does just that. She gives a imaginary finger to the PM and she flies away, ready to put her career and her life on the line to say 'enough'.
One of the topics that I love the most about the books is the relationship AI/Human and what may spring from it.
Mia summarised it perfectly:
"Envision someone, something wielding all the powers of an Artificial and none of the conscience. Artificial are believed by some to be the evil, but even the most destructive can justify their decisions using their own moral scales. The human soul, however, is capable of far greater depravity, and when one so inclined is granted the power of an Artificial... we haven't seen its kind before, because it's never existed before. Add in vast wealth and resources, and it frightens me. It should frighten everyone."
This... this is perfect.
Who is the real monster? The AIs as the OTS and the PM are trying to make everyone believe... or the human themselves?
Yes, the AIs can be evil... but Olivia is the proof that once you add the weaknesses of the Human race, things can go very, very bad. Of course we also have the proof that it's not always the case, as in the book we have plenty of Prevos who are the complete opposite of Olivia. So where do we draw the line?
The Metigens as well see the humans as a threat. They are you and you are they. Humans are the genetic recreation of the Anaden, Aurora a recreation of their beginnings.[...] decipher how the Anaden evolved into the host of monsters and tyrants they have become.
Is the human race the real problem?
I just find all this very fascinating, also because it's very relevant to nowadays. The Human race is, alas, edging towards a destructive path towards both itself and Earth. We could easily be the Anaden.
I love the parallel between fiction and reality.
On a more frivolous note...
Caleb is a Hitchhiker!! His joke about the interstellar highway had me in stitches. Is there a way to order him via galactic mail? Ask perhaps to the Metigens if they can create a copy of him for me?
Brooklin & Morgan... THEY.ARE.PERFECT! Please don't let anything happen to them. *pretty please*
Noah... I was already prepared for the worse. I am so used to my favourite character dying that I was ready to dash for the secret stash of chocolate. Thank you for saving him. Kennedy and him are a great pair and I love them deeply.
All this uber blurb to say thank you. Again!
Thank you for another great adventure together with a group of characters who now feel like old friends whenever I plunge back in the series.
You created an amazing world!
Now a re-read of the series is in order.
planetarypan's review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent foray into the portals for Alex and Caleb. I really enjoy their relationship -- they are a mature, loving couple who support each other, and even when they have an issue, they talk things out, levy proper apologies, and minimize drama. Same with the other couples through the book, and for me, the normal interactions are refreshing when so many books strive for extremes. Additionally, there are numerous interesting themes in this series -- interpersonal relationships, technological advancements, moral dilemmas. I am definitely looking forward to finishing this trilogy to see what Miriam has been up to the entire book. I suspect it will be exciting and explosive somehow.
ivyjune's review against another edition
5.0
Warning! Do not attempt to read this book without having first read the Aurora Rising trilogy and Sidespace, the first book in this trilogy. If you go back and do that, you will not regret it! But Ms. Jennsen does not waste valuable time and space in her novels catching you up on what has already happened, and you will be lost if you haven't read the others.
This novel, perhaps even more than the others, takes off running! It is action packed from beginning to end. I do have to admit that I got a little impatient with the Milky Way segments, not because they were boring or slow, but simply because I wanted to get back to the brilliant, vivid worlds that are so beautifully painted in the Portal segments. I am again amazed at Ms. Jennsen's imagination and craft in both creating these worlds, and translating them to the page so that I can see them in their full glory.
I will not attempt to summarize the story, but suffice it to say that I was not disappointed. I cannot wait to see how this story progresses in the next installment! Ms. Jennsen shows no signs of slowing down or losing her incredible voice!
This novel, perhaps even more than the others, takes off running! It is action packed from beginning to end. I do have to admit that I got a little impatient with the Milky Way segments, not because they were boring or slow, but simply because I wanted to get back to the brilliant, vivid worlds that are so beautifully painted in the Portal segments. I am again amazed at Ms. Jennsen's imagination and craft in both creating these worlds, and translating them to the page so that I can see them in their full glory.
I will not attempt to summarize the story, but suffice it to say that I was not disappointed. I cannot wait to see how this story progresses in the next installment! Ms. Jennsen shows no signs of slowing down or losing her incredible voice!
jenniferfrye's review against another edition
3.0
Dissonance is an excellent name for this book, because it seemed to jump all over the place. Yes, many of the revelations and missions were shocking, but I had a hard time being fully engaged in the adventures because it seemed so unorganized. Or maybe it's just me. Regardless, I couldn't see the various plots clearly enough to really become invested in what was happening, in part because there were just so many different plots going on (a necessary evil, I'm afraid).
As a whole, this book felt very much like a set-up episode for the next. This was my first semi-disappointment with the series, so I am confident the next chapter will sweep me off my feet as per usual.
Also: Thank you to author G.S. Jennsen for the series recap at the beginning of each book! It's extremely helpful, especially considering the number of characters, length of the series, and spacing between books.
As a whole, this book felt very much like a set-up episode for the next. This was my first semi-disappointment with the series, so I am confident the next chapter will sweep me off my feet as per usual.
Also: Thank you to author G.S. Jennsen for the series recap at the beginning of each book! It's extremely helpful, especially considering the number of characters, length of the series, and spacing between books.
opusfra's review against another edition
4.0
More good stuff from GS Jennsen. Our heroes continue their exploration of the universes behind the Metigen portal, finding new clues as to what the puppet masters are up to. A new and larger foe is introduced, and the relationship between humanity, the Metigen and the new threat, the Anaden is revealed. Back in our universe, Prevo technology has been released to the world, bringing the politics of artificial intelligence violently to the forefront. Richard and Miriam are forced to face up to Pamela Winslow, the new President of the Earth Alliance, and her somewhat demonic son, who heads up a military-style evangelical group opposed to the artificials. The story is fast-moving and never dull, and the deeper exploration of the dangers and/or benefits of AI are welcome developments in this series.
edebell's review against another edition
5.0
"I know all the secrets."
"You don't know this one."
The Aurora Rhapsody Saga is an amazing series, filled with so many elements and angles that each volume is a true delight. If you haven't read it and are interested in a space war filled with intrigue, mystery, action, romance, human/technology integration, and philosophy, start with Book 1: Starshine. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
"You don't know this one."
The Aurora Rhapsody Saga is an amazing series, filled with so many elements and angles that each volume is a true delight. If you haven't read it and are interested in a space war filled with intrigue, mystery, action, romance, human/technology integration, and philosophy, start with Book 1: Starshine. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.