eleanor_rose's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
3.0
interrowhimper's review against another edition
3.0
There were some cool ideas in here, but a lot of the plot felt disjointed and the characters underdeveloped. It was too short, I guess, to be immersive.
nas_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
mattmcguirk's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
readindigo's review against another edition
3.0
2.5… such a good premise. Such interesting concepts. An absolute mess in how it was put together. I think I have decided that Tade Thompson is not the author for me. I wanted this to be good but it just wasn’t. Loved the concept of a war wolf and alien babies and space murder mystery but damn this was disappointing.
fiona5's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
Kinda murder mystery in space vibes, at least initially. All characters had a single defining trait and were not developed any further - although did act in keeping with themselves. Some bits of world building which were very interesting concepts, but I think there were too many things attempted in a short book. Maybe would have been better to develop fewer aspects in more detail. The mystery was not the kind you could work out from info earlier in the book which is a bit of a shame
seyoung's review against another edition
4.0
Strange and great
The politics of The Expanse, sassy + procedural of Murderbot, and identity exploration of Octavia Butler all mashed together.
Just lacked that last little bit of soul resonating relatability to get me to a 5 star.
The politics of The Expanse, sassy + procedural of Murderbot, and identity exploration of Octavia Butler all mashed together.
Just lacked that last little bit of soul resonating relatability to get me to a 5 star.
wordsareworlds's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I was so invested in this book for the first 50%, and then it felt like it went off the rails. Thompson packed so many different ideas into the book that most didn't end up having any room to breathe let alone shine. The resolution felt divorced from what had actually happened in the rest of the book, which left me feeling unsatisfied and a little bit cheated of the story the first half promised.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Gore, Colonisation, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, and Genocide
Minor: Cannibalism
donnyberginwoods's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to love this more, but the long buildup to the mystery, once revealed, was super unsatisfying to me.
I absolutely loved the writing style, but that’s all I really enjoyed. I didn’t feel connected to the characters or the plot.
I’d read another book by this author based on their writing style.
I absolutely loved the writing style, but that’s all I really enjoyed. I didn’t feel connected to the characters or the plot.
I’d read another book by this author based on their writing style.
chirson's review against another edition
3.0
Some excellent ideas and scenes, but the whole didn't quite become propulsive for me - I guess the structure, with flashbacks and frequent perspective changes, didn't quite fit my expectations of a mystery (but that might just mean I expected a slightly different story than I got, rather than - the story I got had anything wrong with it). I got bogged down around halfway through and finished with less interest, but enjoyed the ending.
Strangely enough, perhaps I simply would have liked the book to be longer? So many things happen here and I didn't quite get to read about them before a new POV had its turn.
In conclusion, I think it's not the book, it's me, but I wish I'd enjoyed it more.
Strangely enough, perhaps I simply would have liked the book to be longer? So many things happen here and I didn't quite get to read about them before a new POV had its turn.
In conclusion, I think it's not the book, it's me, but I wish I'd enjoyed it more.