Reviews

Atlas Alone by Emma Newman

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crimsoncor's review against another edition

5.0

Definitely takes it time getting revved up. This is the first book in the series that really circles back on character's we've already met. And it is interesting to see Carl from the outside. Dee is a different sort of character to spend time with, yet the book can drag a bit in the first half. Why are we spending all this time in these VR games, you ask. But all that is laying the ground for ending, which is just straight fire. The moment of the big reveal

Spoiler

which isn't all that mysterious since it is pretty obvious that the presence interacting with Dee wasn't human

everything gets turned up to 11. And then the ending is just both unexpected and so predictable in retrospect. Really incredible job subverting the audience expectations.

frasersimons's review

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mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a bit conflicting for me. The ending was fun but a bit tropey, yet it also fits the character work done, and does slightly plug the holes in the world building, especially for the factions, which were on the very light side, this go around.

It’s an improvement over the last one. Better, and more interesting plot and plotting; questions about the ship and the circle are answered; there is a murder mystery with a twist. It is also quite myopic. Dee interacts with so few people that the plot is a bit of a razors edge, the solipsism contributing to it feeling contrived, but the consequences feeling somewhat justified. I do think I overall enjoy the plot enough and how it relates to Dee in the end. Had it been more fleshed out, this could have been really great, though.

**Spoiler thoughts**

One of the detractors is that it ends up being technophobic, which feels somewhat antiquated, even if it does walk a certain line, since it’s the arguably true that Dee behaved and acted the way she did, and it does call into question her character, dealing with them in a satisfying way. But the whole morally grey but just self aware A.I thing feels like it there could have been more payoff across the series, rather than it being sprung on solely in this one. It feels like it slightly cheapens it.