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lauralauralaura's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, I love a space opera where the odds are so stacked against the shockingly competent and composed female protagonist, especially if she's military or military-adjacent. I can't explain it. So when the aforementioned protagonist's shuttle crashes into icy waters under mysterious circumstances and she has to lead a rag tag bunch of survivors through a situation whose fraughtness only becomes clear over several dozen pages? I will stay up all night reading.
mistressop's review against another edition
4.0
solid start lots of questions quailty qriting. also. it aint a vatta book without pit showing up somewhere. glad to see that. Id almost want a pit book at this point.
tuftymctavish's review against another edition
4.0
Like some of the Harrington novels, this has the 'twinkle in the eye' style of information exchange. While a plot device I find quite annoying, along with the perfectly managed cast of characters, there's a decent bit of action and adventure which I like a whole bunch.
This tale is going along quite happily until an aspect I hadn't expected emerges and fully captures my interest. Unfortunately right when this is opening up... the pace of the book flips into overdrive and everything concludes far, far too suddenly. These unusual aspects are then whooshed through in just a few pages and chapters.
The earlier focus on procedures of survival is interesting enough, not familiar exactly, but relatable. New discoveries are on less familiar ground, and hence probably harder. Could really have done with a lot more time than the final push allowed for. The conclusion just felt rushed and lacking in the earlier detail. Sometimes the extra time and detail adds to the enjoyment.
This tale is going along quite happily until an aspect I hadn't expected emerges and fully captures my interest. Unfortunately right when this is opening up... the pace of the book flips into overdrive and everything concludes far, far too suddenly. These unusual aspects are then whooshed through in just a few pages and chapters.
The earlier focus on procedures of survival is interesting enough, not familiar exactly, but relatable. New discoveries are on less familiar ground, and hence probably harder. Could really have done with a lot more time than the final push allowed for. The conclusion just felt rushed and lacking in the earlier detail. Sometimes the extra time and detail adds to the enjoyment.
norma_cenva's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I did not read any of the previous ones in the series, but it did not hinder me at all, just added to the intrigue. The next ones will be on my priority reading list no doubt!
lushr's review against another edition
4.0
a good start to the second Vatta series, an unusual story in that it’s one long arctic adventure, on a planet.
i expected this to move to the cities or back to space, but this is actually a great adventure with some real surprises to the overall universe, suddenly we start thinking, just who terraformed all these planets we live on anyway?
frankly the vatta series is far superior to the Serrano series whose characters get meddled with too often (made to go crazy just for a plot twist, or excessively violent scenes that make the series unreadable - like a whole book on sex slavery)
the one weakness in this book is that stella and Ky are never a good mix, they are written to behave in childish ways whenever one considers the other, frankly its extremely contrived. but the story rarely features stella and has lots of rafe, macrobert and grace vatta, all of which make for a dynamic and fast paced book.
i expected this to move to the cities or back to space, but this is actually a great adventure with some real surprises to the overall universe, suddenly we start thinking, just who terraformed all these planets we live on anyway?
frankly the vatta series is far superior to the Serrano series whose characters get meddled with too often (made to go crazy just for a plot twist, or excessively violent scenes that make the series unreadable - like a whole book on sex slavery)
the one weakness in this book is that stella and Ky are never a good mix, they are written to behave in childish ways whenever one considers the other, frankly its extremely contrived. but the story rarely features stella and has lots of rafe, macrobert and grace vatta, all of which make for a dynamic and fast paced book.
bentollini's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mothwing's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyable and I will definitely go back to read the rest of the series. This was surprisingly easy to get into even though I had not read the other instalments.
I liked the main character, that the action did not get in the way of the plot, and the fact that people had motivations. It's also competency porn like most good science fiction is.
I liked the main character, that the action did not get in the way of the plot, and the fact that people had motivations. It's also competency porn like most good science fiction is.
frothy's review against another edition
5.0
Just what the doctor ordered. Fabulous military adventure. Immaculate world building. Great characters. Thank goodness for Elizabeth moon.
macthekat's review against another edition
4.0
I love this kind of military space opera. Full of politics, action and a good survival story as a cherry on top.