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cadmanreads's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those books I want to give more stars than I have. I'm conflicted.
I enjoyed how the story was told and the book overall, however, there didn't seem to be anything unexpected. I'd heard comparisons to 'The Martian' and so my expectations were quite high.
I was hoping that much of the book would be problem-solving, smart people making smart decisions, tense scenes between the crew or an alien species. It wasn't really that sort of book. I also feel the title of the book is a big spoiler and made me anticipate one of the main twists of the book.
It's a decent sci-fi book but nothing genre-busting. (it pains me a little to say this)
I enjoyed how the story was told and the book overall, however, there didn't seem to be anything unexpected. I'd heard comparisons to 'The Martian' and so my expectations were quite high.
I was hoping that much of the book would be problem-solving, smart people making smart decisions, tense scenes between the crew or an alien species. It wasn't really that sort of book. I also feel the title of the book is a big spoiler and made me anticipate one of the main twists of the book.
It's a decent sci-fi book but nothing genre-busting. (it pains me a little to say this)
playwell1882's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
iam's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Interesting SciFi thriller about an astronaut who, after years of being presumed lost/dead in space, returns to earth - without the rest or her crew, or any memories about what happened to them, or herself, really.
The reactions of her and the people around her, both NASA, her colleagues, and her family, were reasonable and realistic, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
The mixed in flashbacks gave great context, though I found the break between what she did and what present-prptagonist didn't remember a bit unclear.
The final reveal of what happened wasn't entirely what I expected, but at the same time, also very obvious (given the book's name, I mean, duh.)
The ending was very satisfying and left me itching for more - I wouldn't mind reading a sequel.
The one thing I found a bit clumsily executed was the romance. It felt half hearted and like the author didn't really want to write about it, just slapping it on because it should be there, kinda.
The reactions of her and the people around her, both NASA, her colleagues, and her family, were reasonable and realistic, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
The mixed in flashbacks gave great context, though I found the break between what she did and what present-prptagonist didn't remember a bit unclear.
The final reveal of what happened wasn't entirely what I expected, but at the same time, also very obvious (given the book's name, I mean, duh.)
The ending was very satisfying and left me itching for more - I wouldn't mind reading a sequel.
The one thing I found a bit clumsily executed was the romance. It felt half hearted and like the author didn't really want to write about it, just slapping it on because it should be there, kinda.
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'Vessel' by Lisa A. Nichols is a debut novel and the July pick for my book club.
When Catherine Wells contacts NASA, no one can believe it's her. Her ship hasn't been heard from in 6 years on it's mission to Trapper-1f. Catherine is the sole survivor and has no memory of what happened or even how she got back in her ship headed for home.
When she arrives on Earth, things aren't easy. Her husband appears to have moved on and her daughter is much older. This is only the beginning of her problems as Catherine battles weird blackouts and a suspicious co-worker.
It's a quick read, and I liked it, but there are better stories about women astronauts out there. This year's Nebula winner, for example. The science is ok, but there are things that feel more like gimmicks to serve a plot than things that are plausible. To be honest, this kind of felt like a science fiction novel written for folks who don't read a lot of science fiction.
When Catherine Wells contacts NASA, no one can believe it's her. Her ship hasn't been heard from in 6 years on it's mission to Trapper-1f. Catherine is the sole survivor and has no memory of what happened or even how she got back in her ship headed for home.
When she arrives on Earth, things aren't easy. Her husband appears to have moved on and her daughter is much older. This is only the beginning of her problems as Catherine battles weird blackouts and a suspicious co-worker.
It's a quick read, and I liked it, but there are better stories about women astronauts out there. This year's Nebula winner, for example. The science is ok, but there are things that feel more like gimmicks to serve a plot than things that are plausible. To be honest, this kind of felt like a science fiction novel written for folks who don't read a lot of science fiction.
novelvisits's review against another edition
4.0
{My Thoughts}
There’s much to be said about picking up the right book at the right time and that’s exactly what happened for me with Vessel. I’d just finished a thriller that didn’t really thrill me and I craved a book I could truly get lost in. Thank you, Lisa Nichols.
The premise of Vessel is what drew me in to begin with; the idea of a female astronaut being presumed dead, gone for over nine years, missing huge chunks of time, and trying to walk back into her life fascinated me. I especially enjoyed the parts of the story focused on Catherine’s attempts to reconnect with her husband and daughter. There was ample love to go around, but nine years changes everyone and the family struggled to find some sort of footing.
At the same time, Catherine began waking up in strange places with no idea how she’d gotten there. Colleagues at NASA pushed her to find the memories of what killed the rest of her crew, but the harder she worked at it the more confused she became.
“Something about the entire place made Catherine feel uneasy. It reminded her of the Unabomber’s bunker; all that was missing was a manifesto. And Catherine wouldn’t have been surprised it there was one of those around somewhere, half-written. Something was wrong here.”
I liked this mystery aspect to the story very much, though part of its resolution was also Vessel’s biggest flaw for me. I don’t want to give much away, so I’ll leave it at – a mind-game that seemed way too simple! Despite this and a couple of other minor flaws, the fun and creativity Lisa A. Nichols brought to her debut made Vessel a winner for me.
Note: I received a copy of this book from Atria/Emily Bestler Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
There’s much to be said about picking up the right book at the right time and that’s exactly what happened for me with Vessel. I’d just finished a thriller that didn’t really thrill me and I craved a book I could truly get lost in. Thank you, Lisa Nichols.
The premise of Vessel is what drew me in to begin with; the idea of a female astronaut being presumed dead, gone for over nine years, missing huge chunks of time, and trying to walk back into her life fascinated me. I especially enjoyed the parts of the story focused on Catherine’s attempts to reconnect with her husband and daughter. There was ample love to go around, but nine years changes everyone and the family struggled to find some sort of footing.
At the same time, Catherine began waking up in strange places with no idea how she’d gotten there. Colleagues at NASA pushed her to find the memories of what killed the rest of her crew, but the harder she worked at it the more confused she became.
“Something about the entire place made Catherine feel uneasy. It reminded her of the Unabomber’s bunker; all that was missing was a manifesto. And Catherine wouldn’t have been surprised it there was one of those around somewhere, half-written. Something was wrong here.”
I liked this mystery aspect to the story very much, though part of its resolution was also Vessel’s biggest flaw for me. I don’t want to give much away, so I’ll leave it at – a mind-game that seemed way too simple! Despite this and a couple of other minor flaws, the fun and creativity Lisa A. Nichols brought to her debut made Vessel a winner for me.
Note: I received a copy of this book from Atria/Emily Bestler Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
kanejim57's review against another edition
5.0
Catherine Wells has returned to earth after a decade long space mission that went deadly wrong...and she cannot remember what happened to her fellow crew members only that they were dead and she was still living. Did she kill them? Or did something else kill them? She cannot remember.
Lisa A Nichols' sci-fi thriller Vessel ( Atria/Emily Bestler Books/Alloy Entertainment (May 2019) is a tense and edgy novel about the challenges and unknown of deep space travel and what humanity might face if one day they go that far.
Assuming she and her crew have died in some kind of deadly accident, Wells' miraculous return is fraught with new challenges in the present as well as in the past as she starts to put her life back together with her husband who is in a serious relationship with a close friend and her daughter who is now a teenager. And there is a senior NASA official named Cal Morganson who is constantly watching her and trying to figure out if she is lying and knows more that she is letting on.
As story winds to an unexpected ending, Morganson and Wells find themselves working together to deal with a force that not only keeps Wells' life in danger but also that of the crew who have been launched toward the same system Wells returned from.
Vessel is a novel that has a slow, building climax with little hint as to the final outcome regarding the search for answers. Credible characters and a great plot add to this novel.
I liked this novel as it was a different kind of sci-fi fiction in which the human element and psyche is given thorough treatment.
I gave this book a five-star review on Goodreads.
Note: I received an electronic copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review.
Lisa A Nichols' sci-fi thriller Vessel ( Atria/Emily Bestler Books/Alloy Entertainment (May 2019) is a tense and edgy novel about the challenges and unknown of deep space travel and what humanity might face if one day they go that far.
Assuming she and her crew have died in some kind of deadly accident, Wells' miraculous return is fraught with new challenges in the present as well as in the past as she starts to put her life back together with her husband who is in a serious relationship with a close friend and her daughter who is now a teenager. And there is a senior NASA official named Cal Morganson who is constantly watching her and trying to figure out if she is lying and knows more that she is letting on.
As story winds to an unexpected ending, Morganson and Wells find themselves working together to deal with a force that not only keeps Wells' life in danger but also that of the crew who have been launched toward the same system Wells returned from.
Vessel is a novel that has a slow, building climax with little hint as to the final outcome regarding the search for answers. Credible characters and a great plot add to this novel.
I liked this novel as it was a different kind of sci-fi fiction in which the human element and psyche is given thorough treatment.
I gave this book a five-star review on Goodreads.
Note: I received an electronic copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review.
kayteeem's review against another edition
Near-future sci-fi psychological thriller. Focuses on the one woman to return from a deep-space mission, and how it affects her and her relationships. Just enough sci-fi to make it a genre book, but mostly it's a character study with just enough plot to keep things moving.
readwritelib's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this fast-paced, against-the-clock read. Interesting premise and different take on a space novel. Would love a sequel and they could be but there’s also enough closure that it ultimately doesn’t need one. Fun and thought-provoking!
wedemmoez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bemenhi's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0