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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
I wanted to like this book so much. I mean how do you have a sci Fi mystery packed with action that feels SO BORING. Maybe I'll retry this book at a later date.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5 stars
Sci-fi mixed with murder mystery / thriller is a very engaging combination. I enjoyed the pacing and the tension, and there's just something about murder and danger on a spaceship that hits different. The idea of a demonic, almost all-powerful AI is just terrifying.
3.5 stars because the writing style felt a bit weird in some places, and I honestly needed more from the ending.
Sci-fi mixed with murder mystery / thriller is a very engaging combination. I enjoyed the pacing and the tension, and there's just something about murder and danger on a spaceship that hits different. The idea of a demonic, almost all-powerful AI is just terrifying.
3.5 stars because the writing style felt a bit weird in some places, and I honestly needed more from the ending.
So much promise in the premise but the story went haywire and the ending was lame.
fast-paced
Review: Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
The way I viscerally disliked this novel cannot be overstated. What makes it worse is that the premise held so much potential—a locked-room murder mystery set on a spaceship, blending sci-fi and noir elements. Unfortunately, none of this potential is fully realized.
The story begins aboard The Ragtime, an interstellar colony ship that’s meant to function with minimal human intervention. But when the crew awakens, they discover an unimaginable horror: 31 passengers are dead. Michelle Campion, the ship’s first officer, is thrust into the role of investigator, alongside Rasheed Fin, a hardened detective brought in to uncover the truth. What should have been a gripping, high-stakes mystery devolves into a clunky, disjointed narrative that left me frustrated and ultimately disappointed.
The Good
I’ll give credit where it’s due—the first 25% of this novel had me intrigued. Thompson sets the stage well: Michelle’s perspective gives readers a sense of her isolation and the overwhelming responsibility she faces, while Rasheed’s introduction adds an investigative flair. The initial setup promised an exciting, tension-filled journey, and I was hopeful this story would deliver.
The Bad
Unfortunately, things quickly go off the rails. The writing style feels disjointed, with ideas often explained away in one-sentence throwaways that leave the reader without a clear understanding of the technology, worldbuilding, or stakes. In sci-fi, especially, these details are crucial—they help ground the narrative and immerse the reader in the futuristic setting. Here, they’re practically nonexistent.
The secondary characters are equally underdeveloped. They’re introduced with little to no depth and often exist merely to push the plot forward. A romance subplot is thrown in that feels entirely unearned; the characters are suddenly declaring love for one another despite having no real connection. It’s rushed, shallow, and, frankly, frustrating.
Missed Opportunities
One of the most disappointing aspects of the novel is its handling of synthetic humans. The concept of beings with theoretical rights across planets and colonies is briefly introduced, offering a fascinating avenue to explore questions of humanity, morality, and autonomy in a futuristic setting. Yet, the novel does absolutely nothing with this idea. Instead, we’re introduced to a synthetic who makes money by transporting goods inside their body—a detail that connects to a subplot with so much wasted potential it’s infuriating. These threads could have added depth and complexity to the story but are instead abandoned, leaving the narrative feeling hollow and underdeveloped.
Adding to the frustration is the reveal of the antagonist’s motivations, which felt lackluster and unearned. The connection between the antagonist and their intended victim is so thin that it robs the mystery of any emotional weight. Additionally, there’s a subplot involving a rogue artificial intelligence that could have been a gripping exploration of ethics and control but instead feels like a tacked-on element with no real justification or payoff. The overarching moral of the story—essentially “don’t be an overly greedy gazillionaire”—is heavy-handed and lacking in nuance, making the entire plot feel like a missed opportunity to say something meaningful.
The Mystery Falls Apart
As the mystery unfolds, the story loses any semblance of coherence. There’s a lengthy section—nearly 10% of the book—dedicated to the antagonist’s perspective. While this segment is one of the more interesting parts of the novel, it’s ultimately wasted. Instead of building tension or providing meaningful insight, the narrative jumps back to the protagonists in a way that feels abrupt and disconnected.
The final quarter of the novel was a slog to get through. By that point, I was no longer invested in the mystery or the characters. I pushed through, hoping for some kind of payoff, only to be met with an ending that sputters out, offering little resolution or satisfaction.
Final Thoughts
Far From the Light of Heaven had all the ingredients for a great novel, but it fumbles the execution at every turn. From underwhelming worldbuilding to shallow characters and a disjointed narrative, it feels like a collection of half-formed ideas rather than a cohesive story.
This is the second Tade Thompson novel I’ve read (The Murders of Molly Southbourne was the first), and I think I’ve reached the conclusion that his books just aren’t for me. Despite compelling premises, the execution leaves much to be desired.
If you’re considering picking this one up, I’d advise caution—it’s a novel that promises much but delivers very little.
Tense, different, clever and tasting of sausage, chips and beans this is an excellent space opera locked room murder mystery with political overtones and a really rather clever present tense-ish style of third person narration, all excellent stuff.
I found the first half of this book exceptional. I loved the POV characters and how they interacted, I loved the mystery and the creepy haunted space vibes. It was engaging, fast-paced, and a thrill to read.
My interest started to waver after the mystery was solved. It was just... boring. The lead-up to it was so great, but the reveal was really disappointing. After that, the story got a little convoluted and hard to follow.
In the end, the book was okay. I'm glad I read it and I'd recommend it to someone who was interested in a short, thrilling book set in space.
My interest started to waver after the mystery was solved. It was just... boring. The lead-up to it was so great, but the reveal was really disappointing. After that, the story got a little convoluted and hard to follow.
In the end, the book was okay. I'm glad I read it and I'd recommend it to someone who was interested in a short, thrilling book set in space.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes