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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely did not plan on likIng this book, but it caught me from the start. Why the skepticism? I absolutely do not read sci-fi about other planets and other life forms. And now I’ve read two in two months. That plot line, was, for me, the reasoning behind a lower star rating. HOWEVER, the human characters were so fabulous, and the plot so intriguing that I just read and read and read. Talk about flaws and foibles! Talk about the beauty of love in all its forms!
In the afterward, Russell discusses the unlikely election of a Jesuit Pope. In 2013. And then there was Francis. Talk about prescience! And then he died the same week I was reading this about her inspirations…. There is a sequel to this book that I may read in the future.
In the afterward, Russell discusses the unlikely election of a Jesuit Pope. In 2013. And then there was Francis. Talk about prescience! And then he died the same week I was reading this about her inspirations…. There is a sequel to this book that I may read in the future.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Brutal and heartbreaking. I loved the dual timelines and the way the author slowly built the story. We knew the basis for the ending right away, but not the journey there. We really get to know the characters, their personalities, and the way they connect to each other. I loved the religious aspect and how we see the different views on theology through different lenses both from the Jesuit priests with very different backgrounds and the agnostic. I loved the presentation of morality through the sci-fi lense. Not a book I will forget anytime soon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
dark
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What an amazing treatise on faith and science. This was a thoughtful pondering on the true role of faith and God in a modern, even futuristic world, and to my interpretation it comes out with no answers. This was a fantastic science fiction novel, a terrifying psychological horror, and a ponderous religious essay.
This book was amazingly well written. The establishment of the found family dynamics with the crew of the Stella Mares was done seamlessly, which made their heartbreak all the more palpable.
This book is going to be living in my head for years. I want to say more, I just can't articulate it. I need to sit in my brain soup and wait for the thoughts to become coherent. I may, or may not, update later.
This book was amazingly well written. The establishment of the found family dynamics with the crew of the Stella Mares was done seamlessly, which made their heartbreak all the more palpable.
This book is going to be living in my head for years. I want to say more, I just can't articulate it. I need to sit in my brain soup and wait for the thoughts to become coherent. I may, or may not, update later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Torture
I think this book was overhyped to me. A lot of people recommended it; but I thought it was just ok. It was one of those books that keeps telling you how witty and charismatic all its characters are, but doesn't actually make any of them witty or charismatic. When our hero starts out by doing impressions of actors mid-conversation for no reason (which, by the way, does not work in writing), it's a bad sign. They were more caricatures than characters. And I think it's written for someone way more interested in religion than I am. Academically, I was intrigued by the way the two alien species co-evolved in a predator/prey relationship, but that was only about 20 pages of the book.
The book held my interest, and provoked some thoughtful reflection, but it was hard to stay invested when I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Those of you who have read both this and its sequel: how do they compare?
The book held my interest, and provoked some thoughtful reflection, but it was hard to stay invested when I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Those of you who have read both this and its sequel: how do they compare?
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Bizarre, but did have several parts that made me think.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
books Never* make me cry
*except the last few chapters of this
aughhhhhaugh augh i am already excited to read this again after some time has passed
*except the last few chapters of this
aughhhhhaugh augh i am already excited to read this again after some time has passed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Rape, Grief
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Pedophilia