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nanimao's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
perilous1's review against another edition
5.0
Note: While this book actually stands alone just fine, I appreciated having some of the previous worldbuilding info from The Ship Who Sang for this to build upon.
A precocious young girl named Tia suffers the terrible degradation of her body after unwitting exposure to an alien virus. And though she's officially much too old for the potential freedom offered by the Brainship program, a few well-placed people are taken enough with her situation, charm, and intellect, that an exception is eventually made. She takes to the program, and her eventual ship, as well as anyone could have hoped. But her goals are higher than merely paying off her debts to the program and buying her freedom. And with the help of a carefully selected brawn, she has a chance of gaining all she wants out of her new lease on life.
Much like the first book in the series, a chunk of the book is made up of our MC brainship going on various missions/assignments, where she learns more about her own capacities and those of her Brawn. But because she has had the experience of both having and remembering a tangible body AND being the master controlling mind behind an entire spaceship, hers is a different perspective. She, unlike the rest of those in the program, knows what she's missing. And that lack of a body becomes a point of longing and limitation when she realizes the depths of her feelings for her chosen Brawn.
This story was truly brilliant. Mindfully well-paced, emotionally engaging, and rich with interesting characters one doesn't mind investing in. Currently the best in the Brainship series, in my opinion (and likely to remain so.) All thanks to the exceedingly agreeable collaboration of Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. Lackey seems to add a bit more heart and humor to McCaffrey's vision. I wish I could find more books co-authored in this way, but from what I can tell, this was sadly the only one they did together.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND KNOW OF ANY OTHER MCCAFFREY/LACKEY COLLABORATIONS, PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS. I WANT TO BE WRONG!!!
A precocious young girl named Tia suffers the terrible degradation of her body after unwitting exposure to an alien virus. And though she's officially much too old for the potential freedom offered by the Brainship program, a few well-placed people are taken enough with her situation, charm, and intellect, that an exception is eventually made. She takes to the program, and her eventual ship, as well as anyone could have hoped. But her goals are higher than merely paying off her debts to the program and buying her freedom. And with the help of a carefully selected brawn, she has a chance of gaining all she wants out of her new lease on life.
Much like the first book in the series, a chunk of the book is made up of our MC brainship going on various missions/assignments, where she learns more about her own capacities and those of her Brawn. But because she has had the experience of both having and remembering a tangible body AND being the master controlling mind behind an entire spaceship, hers is a different perspective. She, unlike the rest of those in the program, knows what she's missing. And that lack of a body becomes a point of longing and limitation when she realizes the depths of her feelings for her chosen Brawn.
This story was truly brilliant. Mindfully well-paced, emotionally engaging, and rich with interesting characters one doesn't mind investing in. Currently the best in the Brainship series, in my opinion (and likely to remain so.) All thanks to the exceedingly agreeable collaboration of Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. Lackey seems to add a bit more heart and humor to McCaffrey's vision. I wish I could find more books co-authored in this way, but from what I can tell, this was sadly the only one they did together.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND KNOW OF ANY OTHER MCCAFFREY/LACKEY COLLABORATIONS, PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS. I WANT TO BE WRONG!!!
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
4.0
I've lost track of the number of times I've read this book, and yet Tia's story still makes me cry every time.
moki's review against another edition
4.0
aside from the funky pacing of the second half of the book and the emotional development, this is such a solid book lmao. the prose is GREAT. fun, quick read
fastfinge's review against another edition
4.0
I've noticed a strong pattern in all of the Anne McCaffrey books I've tried to read. If she wrote the book herself, I never like it. If, however, the book[return]has a co-author, I usually find it at least good. This book, co-authord by an author who's solo works I've already liked and read, is excelent. I've read[return]all of the other books in the ship series, and this is by far the best of the bunch. If you don't plan on reading the entire series, at least read this[return]book. It stands just fine by itself; don't worry that it's book 3. The rest of the series isn't bad either, but I could take it or leave it.
errspace's review
2.0
The characters seem well-developed, but there isn't really any story besides the relationship. Lots of stuff made me roll my eyes, especially the made-up words obviously used in place of swearing. It reads like some kind of 'young adults' book in places.
milo10000's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5