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moreyceyer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eacolgan's review against another edition
4.0
I may have actually liked this one better than the first. Takeshi is such a great unreliable narrator, and this chapter of his story was even more intricate than the first. It felt like the early books of The Expanse, the way it dealt with themes of humanity finding its place in the universe alongside individual humans grappling with their own significance, or lack thereof. I'm interested to see how s2 of the show is going to deal with this story given the changes it's made to Tak's backstory with Quell, also.
My only gripe is really the, to me, unnecessary focus on sex / the sexual relationship between Tak and Wardani. Their chemistry was nonexistent (unlike his with Cruickshank, which positively sparkled) and the whole thing felt like including sex to prove the character's machismo and then pasting emotional confusion on afterwards to justify it. But really that was a very small part of the book and not something that notably dimmed my enjoyment.
My only gripe is really the, to me, unnecessary focus on sex / the sexual relationship between Tak and Wardani. Their chemistry was nonexistent (unlike his with Cruickshank, which positively sparkled) and the whole thing felt like including sex to prove the character's machismo and then pasting emotional confusion on afterwards to justify it. But really that was a very small part of the book and not something that notably dimmed my enjoyment.
saeverra's review against another edition
3.0
Did not love it? I only found it engaging once they entered they gate. Once they left it, I disconnected. Much preferred Altered Carbon!
sarahrosebooks's review
DNF at page 184.
I tried, I really tried, but I just didn't like this. I think what convinced me to put this down was the phrase 'pneumatic breasts' during one of the worst sex scenes I've ever read.
I didn't understand what the hell was going on most of the time. Plus, I really don't enjoy war stories. I didn't know who the Kempists were, or what they were fighting for, or who the other side was, and what they were fighting for. I didn't understand the main plot, and what Takeshi and his team were looking for. The whole thing confused me, even after nearly 200 pages.
I should mention, though I say I don't like war stories, what I mean is that I don't like war stories that I don't understand, or that lack that personal element, such as following a character closely through a war. This is a more high end look at things, and the distance from the actual people in the war, despite some of the characters having fought in it, really made it hard for me to get behind it. You are told these people fight in the war, on whatever side they are on, but Tanya Wardani gets fixed with a quick VR session with Takeshi. It just felt very impersonal and detached to me.
In the end, I just did not care enough to continue, and it was starting to feel like a chore every time I picked the book up. So I decided to DNF it. Maybe one day I'll come back to it. Maybe one day I'll read the third book.
This wasn't a patch on Altered Carbon, which I've realised I liked a lot more because of the detective noir feel to it. If the third book is more like that, maybe I'll give it a try.
I tried, I really tried, but I just didn't like this. I think what convinced me to put this down was the phrase 'pneumatic breasts' during one of the worst sex scenes I've ever read.
I didn't understand what the hell was going on most of the time. Plus, I really don't enjoy war stories. I didn't know who the Kempists were, or what they were fighting for, or who the other side was, and what they were fighting for. I didn't understand the main plot, and what Takeshi and his team were looking for. The whole thing confused me, even after nearly 200 pages.
I should mention, though I say I don't like war stories, what I mean is that I don't like war stories that I don't understand, or that lack that personal element, such as following a character closely through a war. This is a more high end look at things, and the distance from the actual people in the war, despite some of the characters having fought in it, really made it hard for me to get behind it. You are told these people fight in the war, on whatever side they are on, but Tanya Wardani gets fixed with a quick VR session with Takeshi. It just felt very impersonal and detached to me.
In the end, I just did not care enough to continue, and it was starting to feel like a chore every time I picked the book up. So I decided to DNF it. Maybe one day I'll come back to it. Maybe one day I'll read the third book.
This wasn't a patch on Altered Carbon, which I've realised I liked a lot more because of the detective noir feel to it. If the third book is more like that, maybe I'll give it a try.
johnbyers1500's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ktjawrites's review against another edition
5.0
Broken Angels throws Takeshi Kovacs into a wonderfully expansive and explosive world.
micksland's review against another edition
4.0
Update:
Unfortunately, I have learned that Richard Morgan is a gross TERF bigot. It’s such a shame, because the series is awesome. It’s so strange that someone who writes about characters literally switching bodies could have such a backwards and anti-science stance about real human beings.
I can no longer recommend this book in good conscience, since there are plenty of other amazing authors out there who are also not bigoted assholes.
I’ll leave the original below, for old times’ sake.
*****
4/5 stars
I was enamored by the cyberpunk world of “Altered Carbon”, and I immediately set out to read the sequel. In an episode of genre whiplash, “Broken Angels” finds our antihero in the midst of a civil war, searching for Martian artifacts. The detective novel shtick of the prequel is abandoned for a more standard action/adventure story. It’s fun, but I don’t think it quite lived up to the promise of the original.
At its core, the Takeshi Kovacs universe is great at exploring the dark side of humanity. Given immortality and virtually limitless resources, humans still turn to war and spend most of their money thinking of ways to use each other for their own personal gain. It’s grim and cynical, and overtly political. It works well at what it does, but I felt that the introduction of alien species tended to distract from any coherent message that the author was trying to portray.
Second novels are often the weakest in a trilogy, and I suspect that Broken Angels is no different. Nevertheless, it was fun and I’m excited for the finale.
Unfortunately, I have learned that Richard Morgan is a gross TERF bigot. It’s such a shame, because the series is awesome. It’s so strange that someone who writes about characters literally switching bodies could have such a backwards and anti-science stance about real human beings.
I can no longer recommend this book in good conscience, since there are plenty of other amazing authors out there who are also not bigoted assholes.
I’ll leave the original below, for old times’ sake.
*****
4/5 stars
I was enamored by the cyberpunk world of “Altered Carbon”, and I immediately set out to read the sequel. In an episode of genre whiplash, “Broken Angels” finds our antihero in the midst of a civil war, searching for Martian artifacts. The detective novel shtick of the prequel is abandoned for a more standard action/adventure story. It’s fun, but I don’t think it quite lived up to the promise of the original.
At its core, the Takeshi Kovacs universe is great at exploring the dark side of humanity. Given immortality and virtually limitless resources, humans still turn to war and spend most of their money thinking of ways to use each other for their own personal gain. It’s grim and cynical, and overtly political. It works well at what it does, but I felt that the introduction of alien species tended to distract from any coherent message that the author was trying to portray.
Second novels are often the weakest in a trilogy, and I suspect that Broken Angels is no different. Nevertheless, it was fun and I’m excited for the finale.
thehappybooker's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't like it as well as Altered Carbon, but I loved Altered Carbon so much that it would be hard to live up to my expectations. Still, I recommend it and anything else you can find by the author.