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mahima123's review against another edition
3.0
This book gets a solid 3 and a half stars from me. I love science fiction and fantasy, but I think this book was trying to do too much all at once. With elements of fantasy interspersed with this sci-fi alien presence altogether combined with a timeline that jumped back and forth, I found myself confused more often than not.
While I felt like I understood Kaaro, the main character, I found that some of the relationships were lacking. I couldn’t fully understand some of the bonds that were formed throughout the book and the play with the psychic space muddled these relationships further for me. It felt like every single character had a very complex backstory and while some of these were explored in this book, not enough was. This lead to a tough read where nothing was truly clear and everything seemed a bit murky.
All in all though the complexity of this book kept me reading because I was curious to find out if the author would start tying things together. I am sure that more will be uncovered in future installments but I’m not sure there was enough in this book to keep me reading. I did enjoy the overall premise for the book, I haven’t really read anything like this. I also found myself intrigued by the idea of a microbial alien that has been living on earth….who’s to say this hasn’t already occurred (ooo spooky). I also really enjoyed the idea of America being removed from the center of the global theater. This concept is rarely written about, and I felt like this book took a bold stance on politics in a very unique way. There were several jabs in the book, criticizing political figures cough cough Donald, and we all know how much I love that.
While I felt like I understood Kaaro, the main character, I found that some of the relationships were lacking. I couldn’t fully understand some of the bonds that were formed throughout the book and the play with the psychic space muddled these relationships further for me. It felt like every single character had a very complex backstory and while some of these were explored in this book, not enough was. This lead to a tough read where nothing was truly clear and everything seemed a bit murky.
All in all though the complexity of this book kept me reading because I was curious to find out if the author would start tying things together. I am sure that more will be uncovered in future installments but I’m not sure there was enough in this book to keep me reading. I did enjoy the overall premise for the book, I haven’t really read anything like this. I also found myself intrigued by the idea of a microbial alien that has been living on earth….who’s to say this hasn’t already occurred (ooo spooky). I also really enjoyed the idea of America being removed from the center of the global theater. This concept is rarely written about, and I felt like this book took a bold stance on politics in a very unique way. There were several jabs in the book, criticizing political figures cough cough Donald, and we all know how much I love that.
dubsington's review against another edition
4.0
It’s a rare book for me personally, that can grab me and hold my attention when things are light on plot movement. To me, that’s a key area where Rosewater really separates itself from other books.
Rosewater is a city that was built around a huge, organic alien dome that hit the earth one day. Along with it came a variety of things including the healing of all ailments once a year, a organic encompassing network called the xenoverse, and ‘Sensitives,” humans who can connect to this xenoverse and use it to impact the real word in different ways.
Our main character, Kaaro, is one such sensitive who by day works at the bank, using his mind with other sensitives to keep out intruders within the xenoverse, and by night works with a clandestine government group, putting his ‘powers’ to work in all manner of ways.
Much of Rosewater is worldbuilding through the telling of one man’s story and it is at least a third or more into the book before our central mystery is revealed. This kind of waiting is usually something that drives me away from the story, but in Rosewater’s case the world and the nature of Kaaro’s ability are slowly unveiled within stories that are tightly paced and give the reader a clear and strong understanding of what is possible in this world.
That Kaaro is not a faultless character helps here as well. Most readers will recognize some character flaws early on with Kaaro that pronounce more and more as the story progresses.
Anyone looking for a sci-if that feels unique, tense, emotional and grounded should look into Rosewater.
Rosewater is a city that was built around a huge, organic alien dome that hit the earth one day. Along with it came a variety of things including the healing of all ailments once a year, a organic encompassing network called the xenoverse, and ‘Sensitives,” humans who can connect to this xenoverse and use it to impact the real word in different ways.
Our main character, Kaaro, is one such sensitive who by day works at the bank, using his mind with other sensitives to keep out intruders within the xenoverse, and by night works with a clandestine government group, putting his ‘powers’ to work in all manner of ways.
Much of Rosewater is worldbuilding through the telling of one man’s story and it is at least a third or more into the book before our central mystery is revealed. This kind of waiting is usually something that drives me away from the story, but in Rosewater’s case the world and the nature of Kaaro’s ability are slowly unveiled within stories that are tightly paced and give the reader a clear and strong understanding of what is possible in this world.
That Kaaro is not a faultless character helps here as well. Most readers will recognize some character flaws early on with Kaaro that pronounce more and more as the story progresses.
Anyone looking for a sci-if that feels unique, tense, emotional and grounded should look into Rosewater.
sandygx260's review against another edition
2.0
As I read this, I kept having flashbacks to the far more intriguing Annihilation . Jeff VanderMeer's masterpiece. This book also reminded me of the movie District Nine .
Unfortunately in this novel main character Kaaro really irritated me. He reminded me of people I know who possess exceptional skills but still act dense as cement.
The many useless interludes also broke up the story. I'm fine with time shifts, but silly little chapters detailing a routine examination or a quirky memory just seemed like filler. Certain chapters lovingly detailed the effort to travel from point A to B, while others acted like *snap*, Kaaro appeared at a place across town sans effort. Attention to detail is hit or miss in this novel.
I will give the second novel in this trilogy a read, but if it meanders and scuffs its feet like a sullen child, that's it.
Unfortunately in this novel main character Kaaro really irritated me. He reminded me of people I know who possess exceptional skills but still act dense as cement.
The many useless interludes also broke up the story. I'm fine with time shifts, but silly little chapters detailing a routine examination or a quirky memory just seemed like filler. Certain chapters lovingly detailed the effort to travel from point A to B, while others acted like *snap*, Kaaro appeared at a place across town sans effort. Attention to detail is hit or miss in this novel.
I will give the second novel in this trilogy a read, but if it meanders and scuffs its feet like a sullen child, that's it.
moki's review against another edition
3.25
The first half of this book wasn't great: relatively slow with an intolerable narrator. The time skips were confusing, especially as they didn't have an order; I felt like I should've been writing down what order stuff happened in. Also, the random sexual stuff was deeply eyeroll.
With that said, I found the story picked up and got interesting in the latter third. The prose--which at first I found pretty blunt--was a good reflection of the narrator, who did eventually get a little character development and quit being a raging misogynist and became only misogynist. My rating is based on the worldbuilding and potential; I'm not sure I'll continue reading the series, though.
With that said, I found the story picked up and got interesting in the latter third. The prose--which at first I found pretty blunt--was a good reflection of the narrator, who did eventually get a little character development and quit being a raging misogynist and became only misogynist. My rating is based on the worldbuilding and potential; I'm not sure I'll continue reading the series, though.
biophile's review against another edition
4.0
What a wild ride! My first dip into contemporary African science fiction has left me eager for the next installment in the series. I think the most refreshing aspect of this mind-bending story is how the slacker protagonist lives his life according to his own rules - shades of grey everywhere in his moral compass. One criticism is the term 'biodome' that shows up on the back cover...Ugggh. I can't get this image out of my mind:
chaojareon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
alishajenkins's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
bluberrybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, and Torture
doritobabe's review against another edition
5.0
Finished several weeks from this date
~
A few weeks ago, I decided to stop writing reviews and only log star listings for books because of some internal screaming and frustrations I had regarding the popularity contest that is the goodreads review system. However, I realize now I need to make a few notes to keep track of what I read because my memory is failing me... I am getting older.
~~
This was great - a nice surprise and addition to the afro-sci fi genre. I am waiting to read the next one, though, because I am not sure if I am willing to be disappointed.
I say that because I really liked the front end of this book, and in spite of my high rating, I do feel like the end was very much lackluster compared to the engaging start.
~
A few weeks ago, I decided to stop writing reviews and only log star listings for books because of some internal screaming and frustrations I had regarding the popularity contest that is the goodreads review system. However, I realize now I need to make a few notes to keep track of what I read because my memory is failing me... I am getting older.
~~
This was great - a nice surprise and addition to the afro-sci fi genre. I am waiting to read the next one, though, because I am not sure if I am willing to be disappointed.
I say that because I really liked the front end of this book, and in spite of my high rating, I do feel like the end was very much lackluster compared to the engaging start.