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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It’s not a dig to call this a space opera. It’s a compliment. Full of action and adventure, maybe not the greatest pacing. I could have done without The Eaters chapter but the rest of it was a fun ride.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is criminally boring. I imagine in ‘88 it was riveting but I think the genre has catabolized this formula as it is intensely predictable and tropey. Hey meet some gay characters that, for some reason have to speak in broken English; never mind they’re dead shortly after anyways. Most of the characters don’t feel lived in and real, only lenses for which Banks to spout political views, often at the expense of peripheral characters like the love interest. All to educate the unlikable and bland Horza until such time as exposition to contextualize the political views need to take place; then he and Yalson actually start thinking and considering things beyond their own shitty actions. It just felt completely unbelievable.
I did like the writing style sometimes and I liked the intent of the political views, just did not care for the execution. I’ve heard later books are much better, so will try the next one despite how annoying and boring this one was.
I did like the writing style sometimes and I liked the intent of the political views, just did not care for the execution. I’ve heard later books are much better, so will try the next one despite how annoying and boring this one was.
I'm not sure what the point was... or what I should feel after finishing.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish the author focused more on world-building and the motivations of the different factions. I found a lot of the "action" tedious. I enjoyed the various post-scripts more than most of the book.