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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Outstayed it's welcome.
I enjoyed this series overall but I struggled with this final book. I really do wish that it had ended on book 2. This book felt bloated with some moments of greatness. The main protagonist is often times so unlikable and just dumb. Stereotypes are rampant. There were moments that should have been a huge deal that I just did not care about by the end of it.
I enjoyed this series overall but I struggled with this final book. I really do wish that it had ended on book 2. This book felt bloated with some moments of greatness. The main protagonist is often times so unlikable and just dumb. Stereotypes are rampant. There were moments that should have been a huge deal that I just did not care about by the end of it.
Didn't find it to be an especially satisfying conclusion and for a book that posits that love is a primal force the love story here fucking sucks. No chemistry and honestly the main character was outpaced by the story so much that I wonder at the choice to remain in his pov the whole time. Raul has no arc whatsoever; it's depressing. That said, the worldbuilding is still very cool and Dan Simmons writes some nice prose and I'm obviously preinvested.
A bittersweet ending to a fantastic series, never been a big fan of martyrdom.
Although I wasn't a big fan of the poetry and cryptic koans, and the role Raul was meant to play still eludes me, it's been a great journey through the Hyperion universe, and I was glad to find this last novel gave me all the emotional closure I needed despite leaving some loose ends at the end.
The transition to the increasingly abstract made for a strange read but the storytelling was great, it's been a fun 4 books.
Although I wasn't a big fan of the poetry and cryptic koans, and the role Raul was meant to play still eludes me, it's been a great journey through the Hyperion universe, and I was glad to find this last novel gave me all the emotional closure I needed despite leaving some loose ends at the end.
The transition to the increasingly abstract made for a strange read but the storytelling was great, it's been a fun 4 books.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
No
A decent finish to the Hyperion series, tying most of the loose ends in a satisfying and emotional way. The actual ending (the last 100 pages) is 10/10. Some things are not overly explained (like the shrike) which helps maintain the ambiguity and allure of the concepts and characters that were introduced in this fantastic series.
While the first two books are better than the last two in almost every way (maybe not in adventure), the Endymion books still are a good read. They are the actual story of this series while the Hyperion books are set up.
I took off points for the weird relationship between the two main characters (either they both should have started off as children or both as adults). And the endless slog about mountains in Space Tibet and ziplining.
While the first two books are better than the last two in almost every way (maybe not in adventure), the Endymion books still are a good read. They are the actual story of this series while the Hyperion books are set up.
I took off points for the weird relationship between the two main characters (either they both should have started off as children or both as adults). And the endless slog about mountains in Space Tibet and ziplining.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This is one of the greatest things I've read and I'm absolutely heartbroken that the saga is over. I've spent this year reading all four books and burying my psyche is this amazing universe and its riveting characters. Anyone who's spent time with me this year has probably heard me rave about these books and this final book was the best of them all. Absolutely beautiful. Epic. Wonderfully written. I had figured out several aspects of the ending and it was still breathtaking to read how they played out. I'm so sad this ride is over and so grateful to have taken it. These books will have me thinking for a long time.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Ugh, I'm a bit disappointed with this grand finale. I loved the first 3 (especially the first 2) so much, but this one fell a little short for me.
I'll start with the good stuff. The action, as always, was exciting, detailed, and impossible to put down while in the thick of it. The world-building continued to be impressively engrossing. I loved most of the characters.
Now for the bad stuff... The romance betweenAenea and Raul just did not do it for me and was.. a bit creepy. There were way too many sex scenes, way too much of trying to convince the reader of this epic love... There was romance in the first 2 books that I found more interesting and convincing than this one. This book also got really repetitive at times. Between repeatedly ramming the point home with the romance, listing out a huge number of minor characters' over and over, and Raul's obsession with Aenea's "affair" , there were entire paragraphs I ended up glazing right over. Which brings me to my final major complaint... Raul was insufferably childish in this one. I got sooo tired of his petulant whining.
Minor things:
- I wish we could've spent a little more time with the Ousters.
- I'm sure there was a metaphor there with Aenea being an architect and building a new future, but there was too much unnecessary time spent on her irrelevant building projects.
- I still don't really understand the Shrike and I'm also disappointed that it didn't have a bigger part to play.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but I feel it could have been a stronger final installment.
I'll start with the good stuff. The action, as always, was exciting, detailed, and impossible to put down while in the thick of it. The world-building continued to be impressively engrossing. I loved most of the characters.
Now for the bad stuff... The romance between
Minor things:
- I wish we could've spent a little more time with the Ousters.
- I'm sure there was a metaphor there with Aenea being an architect and building a new future, but there was too much unnecessary time spent on her irrelevant building projects.
- I still don't really understand the Shrike and I'm also disappointed that it didn't have a bigger part to play.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but I feel it could have been a stronger final installment.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes