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jaybatson's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
I received an advance copy of this book from Goodreads. I assure you the free book doesn't affect my review.
This is a well-written book you must read if you've read the prior ones in the trilogy.
First, let's just say that there was a fair bit of time between when I read the 2nd book, and this one (3rd). Because there are likely a fair number of us in the same boat, the author thankfully wove lots of the info / characters / history from prior books into the narrative in a very skillful way. It didn't feel like there was a "recap dump" for the first three chapters. Kudos for this.
Second, it was nice to see the "end of the story". Because book 2 definitely left many things unresolved. This closed all the loops.
Third, the author says this is the last one in the series. Good. The idea has run it's course.
In fact, I had a few notions that this is how I felt about the about the book overall. I kinda was happy to read it because I wanted to see the end of the story, but the compelling ideas from the first book(s) were all played out. So this one feels like it's kind of obligatory. The wrap-up.
THAT SAID, there are some VERY culture-current bits of writing in there about how political governance is done well (or not).
One in particular REALLY showed up for me:
This is a well-written book you must read if you've read the prior ones in the trilogy.
First, let's just say that there was a fair bit of time between when I read the 2nd book, and this one (3rd). Because there are likely a fair number of us in the same boat, the author thankfully wove lots of the info / characters / history from prior books into the narrative in a very skillful way. It didn't feel like there was a "recap dump" for the first three chapters. Kudos for this.
Second, it was nice to see the "end of the story". Because book 2 definitely left many things unresolved. This closed all the loops.
Third, the author says this is the last one in the series. Good. The idea has run it's course.
In fact, I had a few notions that this is how I felt about the about the book overall. I kinda was happy to read it because I wanted to see the end of the story, but the compelling ideas from the first book(s) were all played out. So this one feels like it's kind of obligatory. The wrap-up.
THAT SAID, there are some VERY culture-current bits of writing in there about how political governance is done well (or not).
One in particular REALLY showed up for me:
The move fit within China's three-prong policy of global dominance. The first - the acquisition of intellectual property through monopoly and outright theft - was called "Made in China 2025." The second involved building infrastructure and providing loans to create vassal states and was called the "Belt and Road Initiative." The last was a mandate that all Chines companies acquire intelligence by surveillance, of both their fellow Chinese and the rest of the world, and was called "Military-Civil Fusion".
Though the last of this isn't openly described as such in 2021, it strikes home as fundamentally true. And given what's happening on Earth today, this is another moment that should make citizens of other countries sit up and take notice.
There are other quoted too:
There are other quoted too:
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. (The real Thomas Paine said that.)
And More.
These things definitely show a great author. It's just that she's having to make a mountain out of ... the kinda predictable end of the story.
Still, worth your time if you read the first two.
These things definitely show a great author. It's just that she's having to make a mountain out of ... the kinda predictable end of the story.
Still, worth your time if you read the first two.
More...