Reviews

Meru by S.B. Divya

gangoose's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

kaa's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting ideas, and there were some of the story elements that were very enjoyable. This is a future I'm curious to know more about. However, in other parts the story dragged a bit, and the whole thing was lacking in subtlety. I did feel also that there were certain parts that didn't entirely make sense, and some character decisions that seemed inconsistent with the prior characterization. And, I have to say, some pretty questionable parenting choices.

jackabybarsby's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

salamanda22's review against another edition

1.0

I really wanted to love this, but it felt like a slog and I just couldn't get invested in the characters or the story. I DNF'd at about 10%, it had some interesting concepts but I couldn't be bothered to keep reading.

novelversebyus's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Highly character driven narrative which is very engaging 

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Content Warnings

LGBT relationship

woolerys's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful 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

3.75

Writing - 3/5 

Plot - 4/5 

Characters - 4/5 

World-building - 4/5 

Personal tastes - 3/5 

TOTAL: 3.6 

 

One of the big reasons I read speculative fiction is because I find it really interesting how different people choose to design their worlds:  what biases and cultural norms do they carry in with them, what do they keep from the real world and what do they immediately pitch? Divya makes some different values choices than I would, yet is so conscientious and compassionate about it that it gave me pause and made me engage more seriously. The three POV characters are all fantastic, and I feel attached to them and their futures! Looking forward to the next book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Abandonment

dan_at's review against another edition

0.5

Dnf 30%
This is a children’s book, don’t bother unless you are a child

elleninkansas's review against another edition

3.0

I can't quite give this 4 stars, but it did grow on me as it went along and the pace picked up. The novel is complex and takes place in a future populated by both humans and alloys - beings that evolved from humans through genetic manipulation. Alloys cleaned up Earth after humans all but destroyed it becoming both their protectors and jailers, as humans were confined to Earth. The novel explores a future that doesn't focus on conquering new worlds and voracious expansion but instead, gaining knowledge slowly and through careful planning. When alloys discover a planet that is similar to Earth, a faction wants to give humans another chance while others are adamantly opposed to the idea, believing humans will revert to their old ways. This first in the series sets up a complex universe filled with intriguing beings and provides a hopeful future.

donnaprior's review against another edition

4.0

When I first started reading, I was lost and thought I found myself in the middle of a book series. The world building started happening, and I started to get invested in the characters. As a non-binary person, I didn't struggle with all the pronouns like some folk have said. I can't explain the feeling of being seen as valid; representation matters. ❤️

I haven't read a lot of transhuman literature, so that was a refreshing thing. I knew how so many things would go, which isn't a bad thing. But boy howdy, was I wrong about how it would end.

I am only sad that I can't read book 2 right now.

nirgal's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75