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dorouu's review
5.0
A solid piece of steam punk styled Science fiction. With trains that travel across the universe, robots that seem almost human, bugs that gather together to make human-like shapes, thieves, and artists, and fools. An empire sustained for generations.
Beautiful world building. Easy read.
Beautiful world building. Easy read.
pantsreads's review against another edition
4.0
If you aren’t a fan of science fiction—the kind that plops you right down in the middle of a strange world/galaxy/universe that’s filled with strange beings/ideas/terms and expects you to keep up without question—Railhead’s likely not for you. If you’re like me, however, someone who likes to get lost in stories that are only slightly connected to real life, you should check this book out.
Read my full review on FYA.
Read my full review on FYA.
booknut7159's review
4.0
Zen Starling is a thief who is just trying to survive. He has been given an offer of a lifetime with the promise to be able to live the life of luxury for the rest of his life. The job is to steal a box from the Emperor’s train. But the trains on the Great Network are actually gates to other galaxies and the removal of this one box might cause more damage than anyone could have imagined. Can Zen make correct choices when he is not given all of the information? What exactly is the Great Network and why have some lines been abandoned?
Railhead is a stand-alone science fiction novel that will tantalize readers with extreme adventure and constant space travel. The storyline is continually traversing the ancient rail lines that connect the universe and the characters are learning long forgotten truths about humankind and the beings that came before them. The story moves along at lightning speed and readers will want to hold on to their book or device as they zip through space with Zen and his companions. Reeve has wrapped up this story with a definite ending, yet he has created a world where more stories would always be possible.
Railhead is a stand-alone science fiction novel that will tantalize readers with extreme adventure and constant space travel. The storyline is continually traversing the ancient rail lines that connect the universe and the characters are learning long forgotten truths about humankind and the beings that came before them. The story moves along at lightning speed and readers will want to hold on to their book or device as they zip through space with Zen and his companions. Reeve has wrapped up this story with a definite ending, yet he has created a world where more stories would always be possible.
aisleyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
chriskoppenhaver's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderfully exciting action that maintains just the right amount of suspense and energy from start to finish. At heart, this is a heist story; it just happens to be set in a universe of wonder: under the adrenaline are fascinating world-building and intriguing characters--of all shapes and sizes, far beyond human. And lurking somewhere in the background are enthralling science fiction considerations that keep simmering into awareness. It's not just action, but intelligent action. With excellently adept, unobtrusive writing. This is a universe I hope to visit again soon.
aberlonerose's review
5.0
Making friends with space trains, while falling in love with robots, and killing gods. By the author who brought us Mortal Engines.
kurban's review against another edition
3.0
Very imaginative!!
Mostly, I thought there were too many side stories, and the conflict crested too soon. At 60% I thought I was at the end of the novel. I will be intrigued about how this novel is made into a movie.
-------Read the full review here-------
Mostly, I thought there were too many side stories, and the conflict crested too soon. At 60% I thought I was at the end of the novel. I will be intrigued about how this novel is made into a movie.
-------Read the full review here-------
readingwitherin's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4.5 stars
"So whose side are you on, Zen Starling? " he whispered "Are you with Malik? Railforce? The Guardians? I thoughout you were a thief, like me." "I'm not on any side" said Zen "Just my own" "Doesn't work that way," said Raven "Comes a point, Zen, when you have to decide."
This was one action packed adventure that kept me entertained throughout the whole story.
This book is set in the far future, we follow Zen who is a thief who loves traveling along the K-Bahn railroad that travels in a very interesting way that you will just have to read to understand it fully. Zen is a thief who a man named Raven has taken an interest in him and has decided that he will be the one that will help him get something that will change the way things are forever. Along the way Zen starts working with Nova who is a Moto that was one of my favorite characters throughout the story. Nova becomes Zen's companion throughout the book and you see them slowly start becoming very attached to each other. Once Zen starts working for Raven he meets Threnbody who is a young lady who is constantly in the rest of her family's shadow, but turns out to be very strong and wise, as the story progresses. We also get to meet Malik who is an officer of sorts for the Guardians and has been looking for Raven for the past few years.
This story is told in several different parts, each one taking you on a different part of Zen's life and throughout his mission for Raven and what happens once that mission is over. Certain parts were a little easier to read, just because you weren't having to try to figure things out at times. In the back there is a glossary that will give you more information on certain terms and when they would have happened.
Overall I did really enjoy this story and I would love to be able to reread this in the future, and see things I'm sure I missed. I did get a little confused with this world and how all of the different things went together at time. I loved how this was somewhat based around trains at times and that it was how travel is done most of the time. I found it very interesting and I loved how the trains were even given personalities and a voice. It was very original in my opinion and I would love to see trains have a larger part in books again.
If you really like fantasy and trains then I would highly recommend this book.
"Just because you have a chance to change everything, doesn't mean you should."
See reviews first on my blog
Thank you to Netgalley and SwitchPress for an E-Arc of the book in exchange for my honest review.
"So whose side are you on, Zen Starling? " he whispered "Are you with Malik? Railforce? The Guardians? I thoughout you were a thief, like me." "I'm not on any side" said Zen "Just my own" "Doesn't work that way," said Raven "Comes a point, Zen, when you have to decide."
This was one action packed adventure that kept me entertained throughout the whole story.
This book is set in the far future, we follow Zen who is a thief who loves traveling along the K-Bahn railroad that travels in a very interesting way that you will just have to read to understand it fully. Zen is a thief who a man named Raven has taken an interest in him and has decided that he will be the one that will help him get something that will change the way things are forever. Along the way Zen starts working with Nova who is a Moto that was one of my favorite characters throughout the story. Nova becomes Zen's companion throughout the book and you see them slowly start becoming very attached to each other. Once Zen starts working for Raven he meets Threnbody who is a young lady who is constantly in the rest of her family's shadow, but turns out to be very strong and wise, as the story progresses. We also get to meet Malik who is an officer of sorts for the Guardians and has been looking for Raven for the past few years.
This story is told in several different parts, each one taking you on a different part of Zen's life and throughout his mission for Raven and what happens once that mission is over. Certain parts were a little easier to read, just because you weren't having to try to figure things out at times. In the back there is a glossary that will give you more information on certain terms and when they would have happened.
Overall I did really enjoy this story and I would love to be able to reread this in the future, and see things I'm sure I missed. I did get a little confused with this world and how all of the different things went together at time. I loved how this was somewhat based around trains at times and that it was how travel is done most of the time. I found it very interesting and I loved how the trains were even given personalities and a voice. It was very original in my opinion and I would love to see trains have a larger part in books again.
If you really like fantasy and trains then I would highly recommend this book.
"Just because you have a chance to change everything, doesn't mean you should."
See reviews first on my blog
Thank you to Netgalley and SwitchPress for an E-Arc of the book in exchange for my honest review.
karinapplesauce's review
5.0
I follow certain reviewers on Goodreads, and this was a 5-star recommendation that seemed few and far between from that person. So, with that, I decided to give this ago. The premise seemed sort of interesting, but I wasn't entirely sure how a book about trains could possibly hold my attention.
But it did. This was a fantastic example of world building. Zen Starling, as a thief and a train junkie ("railhead"), gets recruited for a mission and then the reader gets to see a world wide open.
Traveling between planets in fiction tends to be one of a few things, but this was totally unique. The novel could have gotten itself bogged down by the details at the sacrifice of a narrative (like in [b:Seveneves|22816087|Seveneves|Neal Stephenson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449142000l/22816087._SY75_.jpg|42299347], which I just read recently), but this was a perfect blend of both.
But it did. This was a fantastic example of world building. Zen Starling, as a thief and a train junkie ("railhead"), gets recruited for a mission and then the reader gets to see a world wide open.
Traveling between planets in fiction tends to be one of a few things, but this was totally unique. The novel could have gotten itself bogged down by the details at the sacrifice of a narrative (like in [b:Seveneves|22816087|Seveneves|Neal Stephenson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449142000l/22816087._SY75_.jpg|42299347], which I just read recently), but this was a perfect blend of both.