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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
This is a writer o watch. Pure kick-ass, high-voltage entertainment.
I’ve read Hurley’s fiction and nonfiction and while I enjoyed The Geek Feminist Revolution, The Stars are Legion and Mirror Empire fell flat for me. Hurley recycled ideas throughout her books, alter the gender status quo and combining technology and organics. While I admire these ideas, when they keep showing up again and again, everything feels repetitive and boring. Since God’s War came before the other books, I feel it held to the gender role reversals and big technology well. It all fit in Nyx’s world. Her characters were gritty, sometimes to the point of being unbelievable caricatures, but then again, they’re living in a time or constant war and hardship so maybe we’d all be that way under the circumstances. All in all, this book captivated me and I’ll definitely be checking out the next one in the series.
Excellent characterization of massively, massively flawed characters and a fascinating setting.
Fascinating world, interesting characters, but very dense.
I wish Goodreads allowed half stars because I don't really feel like this is a 4 star book, but when I think about what I liked about it, it definitely outweighs the things that I didn't like.
The exceedingly sparse exposition could have been expanded to actually explain things like how the bug tech works so that when characters interact with it, we actually know what is going on and what the risks and benefits are.
That difficulty is taken over by the fact that the characters actions are some of the most realistic and consistent I've read (in a while at least). And by the end, we really get to see their motivations, something I like that Hurley held back on just outright stating (as she could have done with the technical aspects).
While the main characters' motivations become clear, provoking a surprisingly emotional reaction from me, the motivations of everyone else in the become are still murky at the end. I have no real idea what they were actually fighting about and what the off-worlders' plan really was. Maybe I'm just dense, but I'm still confused.
That spoilery con was countered by Hurley's incredible writing. It's tight when it needs to be and longer and lyrical in places where it should be. I read an interview where she talked about how long she's been writing and how she is proud of her ability to put together really nice sentences and it shows. It was fun and easy to read and that's what pushes it up to four stars for me instead of rounding down to only three.
The exceedingly sparse exposition could have been expanded to actually explain things like how the bug tech works so that when characters interact with it, we actually know what is going on and what the risks and benefits are.
That difficulty is taken over by the fact that the characters actions are some of the most realistic and consistent I've read (in a while at least). And by the end, we really get to see their motivations, something I like that Hurley held back on just outright stating (as she could have done with the technical aspects).
Spoiler
While the main characters' motivations become clear, provoking a surprisingly emotional reaction from me, the motivations of everyone else in the become are still murky at the end. I have no real idea what they were actually fighting about and what the off-worlders' plan really was. Maybe I'm just dense, but I'm still confused.
That spoilery con was countered by Hurley's incredible writing. It's tight when it needs to be and longer and lyrical in places where it should be. I read an interview where she talked about how long she's been writing and how she is proud of her ability to put together really nice sentences and it shows. It was fun and easy to read and that's what pushes it up to four stars for me instead of rounding down to only three.
Ehn. I loved the ideas of this book - the world, the people, the cultures ... I'm not sure I liked the execution. There was no joy, or even hope, in this book. At all.
It would have been an interesting story but it ended up being a poorly fleshed template with no clear point. Like science fiction without a discernible message about humanity or human nature.
It would have been an interesting story but it ended up being a poorly fleshed template with no clear point. Like science fiction without a discernible message about humanity or human nature.
Interesting setting, both with the bug magic and the characters and theme. It certainly passes the Bechdel test with flying colours, and it looks at gender inequality from various perspectives. I'm not entirely convinced a mostly female dominated society would make women act so stereotypically male (with the exception of matronly women being highly sought after sex partners), but considering the harsh land they live in and the constant state of war, I'll give it a pass.
However, I'm not sure I feel compelled to read the rest of the series.
3.5/5
However, I'm not sure I feel compelled to read the rest of the series.
3.5/5
Another excellent debut from Night Shades Books. An interesting combination of fantasy and science fiction, this novel has one of darkest and dangerous characters ever put on paper: Umayma, the world itself. Its not a light read, but ultimately it is a very satisfying one full of questions about class, gender, religion and technology. Be prepared for a very rough ride.
3 and a half stars really.
Not quite good enough to read again, but largely an enjoyable read.
A strong female bounty-hunter takes the lead role (Nyx) surviving on odd jobs with the background of a religious / racial war, set in a world where insects can be controlled, and machines are made from living tissue. To be honest the science is not explored in depth, and doesn't need to be. The book focuses on the relations between the diverse group of characters gathered around Nyx, with plenty of action thrown in.
There is definitely a lot more room to expand this story, either into epic space opera (I'm thinking Neutronium Alchemist), or just with more stories surrounding Nyx and the Bel Dames.
Not quite good enough to read again, but largely an enjoyable read.
A strong female bounty-hunter takes the lead role (Nyx) surviving on odd jobs with the background of a religious / racial war, set in a world where insects can be controlled, and machines are made from living tissue. To be honest the science is not explored in depth, and doesn't need to be. The book focuses on the relations between the diverse group of characters gathered around Nyx, with plenty of action thrown in.
There is definitely a lot more room to expand this story, either into epic space opera (I'm thinking Neutronium Alchemist), or just with more stories surrounding Nyx and the Bel Dames.
I really loved the world building here and found this to be a pretty unique scifi that was really easy to get invested in. Nyx made for a great protagonist to follow on a non-stop adventure.