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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. Some parts dragged a bit, but I'm here for any sapphic space operas.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder
I really wanted to like this book, but I just had a hard time getting through it. I don't know if maybe the plot is a bit too slow for me or I wasn't invested in the story but I had to convince myself to pick up this book and read through it. I like the characters well enough but I think the plot wasn't doing it for me unfortunately.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
adventurous
mysterious
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
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I had a truly wonderful time reading this book. My only critique is that there were a couple of “plot twists” that had been clear to me for several chapters before being revealed, which I always find mildly frustrating. Both of our main characters are very intelligent yet I’m made to believe they can’t put 2 and 2 together on several occasions. However, I am more than happy to look past that on the account of what I found to be beautiful story telling with compelling and lovable characters.
3.5 stars.
Rig, the Kashrini main character of this fast-moving book, is a gunslinger, a rebel, and a lover of a fantastic librarian. Rig is a former weapons designer for the Pyrite faction; the factions rule most of the galaxy, and have carved most of it into three zones. The factions each believe in their superiority to the other factions, believing that each has special wisdom and righteousness, and piece of a star carried by their individual god, and have been warring against the other factions for thousands of years, with countless lives lost, and aliens, such as the Kashrini, pulled into the conflict, then indentured by the factions, all to fuel the continuing wars.
The factions are ruled by humans, and some of the indentured aliens under their thumbs have banded together in a group called the Nightbirds, in an effort to harry and bring down the factions. The factions want to eliminate the Nightbirds, and one of Rig's last weapons created for Pyrite would have done that. And has far larger, more terrible effects as well, hence Rig's rebellion and flight.
She's been in hiding for three years at the story's open, and has been successfully evading notice, until she takes on a passenger, an incredibly lethal Zazra, and then one thing after another begins going horribly, with Rig forced to work for Pyrite to recover her lost, last weapon in exchange for her sister's life. Rig and Ginka, the Zazra, are forced to travel all over the galaxy in an effort to find some means to defeating the faction, as well as rescue her sister.
While the pair are running around the galaxy, we're also shown another storyline of two incredibly dangerous assassins training. The identities are slowly revealed, in a satisfying manner.
Rig must ask herself a LOT of questions during hers and Ginka's efforts about 1) Rig's former work for Pyrite, 2) her work to deal with her tremendous guilt for creating so many weapons of mass destruction, 3) her damaged relationship with her sister and 4) the bigotry instilled into the various aliens working for the factions.
While there is a lot of action in this story, it's the character moments I liked between Rig and Ginka, and Rig's kindness, compassion for others, and for her feelings of personal responsibility, and how she attempts to repay her actions. And I LOVED Rig's love, June, who, though not setting foot outside her library, was vital to Rig's efforts, and was just so darned amazing all on her own.
I did, however, get a little tired of Rig's constant sassy attitude and remarks. I realize it's sort of her superpower (in addition to being a crack shot) but I would have appreciated this aspect of her character toned down a little.
Other than that, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Angry Robot Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Rig, the Kashrini main character of this fast-moving book, is a gunslinger, a rebel, and a lover of a fantastic librarian. Rig is a former weapons designer for the Pyrite faction; the factions rule most of the galaxy, and have carved most of it into three zones. The factions each believe in their superiority to the other factions, believing that each has special wisdom and righteousness, and piece of a star carried by their individual god, and have been warring against the other factions for thousands of years, with countless lives lost, and aliens, such as the Kashrini, pulled into the conflict, then indentured by the factions, all to fuel the continuing wars.
The factions are ruled by humans, and some of the indentured aliens under their thumbs have banded together in a group called the Nightbirds, in an effort to harry and bring down the factions. The factions want to eliminate the Nightbirds, and one of Rig's last weapons created for Pyrite would have done that. And has far larger, more terrible effects as well, hence Rig's rebellion and flight.
She's been in hiding for three years at the story's open, and has been successfully evading notice, until she takes on a passenger, an incredibly lethal Zazra, and then one thing after another begins going horribly, with Rig forced to work for Pyrite to recover her lost, last weapon in exchange for her sister's life. Rig and Ginka, the Zazra, are forced to travel all over the galaxy in an effort to find some means to defeating the faction, as well as rescue her sister.
While the pair are running around the galaxy, we're also shown another storyline of two incredibly dangerous assassins training. The identities are slowly revealed, in a satisfying manner.
Rig must ask herself a LOT of questions during hers and Ginka's efforts about 1) Rig's former work for Pyrite, 2) her work to deal with her tremendous guilt for creating so many weapons of mass destruction, 3) her damaged relationship with her sister and 4) the bigotry instilled into the various aliens working for the factions.
While there is a lot of action in this story, it's the character moments I liked between Rig and Ginka, and Rig's kindness, compassion for others, and for her feelings of personal responsibility, and how she attempts to repay her actions. And I LOVED Rig's love, June, who, though not setting foot outside her library, was vital to Rig's efforts, and was just so darned amazing all on her own.
I did, however, get a little tired of Rig's constant sassy attitude and remarks. I realize it's sort of her superpower (in addition to being a crack shot) but I would have appreciated this aspect of her character toned down a little.
Other than that, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Angry Robot Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
3.5 rounded up. I really enjoyed this. The “world” that the author built in this was fairly unique and very interesting. I could absolutely read more in this world. I enjoyed the characters a lot and, of course, appreciate the lgbtqia+ rep.