Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
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
This was a huge improvement over the last one--more "normal" level of violence, if violence can be said to be normal. But this was a more traditional kind of war with more traditional numbers of deaths. And
Upon rereading, I concur with my previous review. I did find the battles tiresome--they go on and on!
Spoiler
at least the end was the END of this particular war, and we're left in a rebuilding period. The next book will introduce a new problem, which will be a welcome change. I was very tired of Marcos.Upon rereading, I concur with my previous review. I did find the battles tiresome--they go on and on!
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My least favorite of The Expanse series so far. It’s slow, & very little happens until the very end
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I get what they were doing but I am sorry there were too many POV characters :(
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This a very long book with many perspectives and yet not much happens. The first in this series that just didn't hold my attention
I’m giving this a 4/5 just because this series is so epic. Compared to the others, though, it’s closer to a 3.5 for me.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Yes
3.75 stars
This one had all the ingredients I usually love: political chaos, shifting loyalties, and space-faring moral dilemmas. But it didn’t quite reach Nemesis Games' level.
The fallout from Inaros' reign of terror felt appropriately grim, but the way it all wrapped up? A little too neat. The final fight, if you can call it that, made sense on paper… but emotionally, it just didn't land the way I wanted.
Still, there’s a lot to love here. Pa’s POV? Fantastic. Her quiet strength and conviction made her arc one of the most compelling in the book, standing up to Inaros when no one else dared, while still fighting for a better Belt. And as always, Amos, Avasarala, Bobbie, and Holden carried their chapters with emotional depth and sharp tension. The complicated dynamic between Holden and Peaches was interesting, and Avasarala’s grief was a punch to the gut in the best way. Even Filip’s internal unraveling hit surprisingly hard.
Inaros himself was a masterclass in power-corrupted narcissism, and watching his downfall unfold through both political strategy and personal reckoning gave the story real weight. But the ending? Let’s just say I wanted more fire, less fizzle.
Not my favorite in the series, but still stronger than books 3 and 4, and packed with character moments worth showing up for.
This one had all the ingredients I usually love: political chaos, shifting loyalties, and space-faring moral dilemmas. But it didn’t quite reach Nemesis Games' level.
The fallout from Inaros' reign of terror felt appropriately grim, but the way it all wrapped up? A little too neat. The final fight, if you can call it that, made sense on paper… but emotionally, it just didn't land the way I wanted.
Still, there’s a lot to love here. Pa’s POV? Fantastic. Her quiet strength and conviction made her arc one of the most compelling in the book, standing up to Inaros when no one else dared, while still fighting for a better Belt. And as always, Amos, Avasarala, Bobbie, and Holden carried their chapters with emotional depth and sharp tension. The complicated dynamic between Holden and Peaches was interesting, and Avasarala’s grief was a punch to the gut in the best way. Even Filip’s internal unraveling hit surprisingly hard.
Inaros himself was a masterclass in power-corrupted narcissism, and watching his downfall unfold through both political strategy and personal reckoning gave the story real weight. But the ending? Let’s just say I wanted more fire, less fizzle.
Not my favorite in the series, but still stronger than books 3 and 4, and packed with character moments worth showing up for.