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crimsoncor's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely incredible book. Such a bleak future, though it avoids the completely depressing feel of [b:84K|35511975|84K|Claire North|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508570699l/35511975._SY75_.jpg|56923809]. A fascinating main character and an interesting mystery that becomes so much more as it unravels. This is clearly a series about the "broken" people of the world; the ones for whom their differences makes everything harder and yet also in some ways easier.
bookwormmuse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
emath98's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
frasersimons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Colour me pleasantly surprised.
The first book was good but not like this at all. An indentured detective back on Earth is tasked with solving the murder of a cult leader he has a tumultuous and complicated history with. We get much more world building around the Gov-Corps and world powers, but I think you could certainly read this or the first books as stand alone and not feel like you’d miss anything pivotal, yet still feel rewarded for seeing the connective tissue.
My favourite part is how everyone is chipped, and how Newman makes the concept of immersive UI and technologies accessible. Rather than info dump the idea of hybrid reality, she is incorporates it seamlessly into the everyday negotiation of life, and educates the reader as needed. Hybrid reality is still rather rare in scifi and especially cyberpunk trappings, probably because people like the idea of a more analog retro future in the subgenre. Seeing it done well is a treat.
This is a more plot heavy book than the first, though the character work is still very good, and the world convincing. It is less concerned with larger thematics, which isn’t a bad thing. I think much of what can be said about capitalization, Corportocracy, labour, stratification of class—has lost its heft, after being tread on over and over. While the themes are still present, Newman has at the centre the feelings around the loss of agency around digging yourself further in the hole to feel any semblance of humanity, and how crushing it is to feel owned.
It is a bleak world, as one expects from cyberpunk, and perhaps a bit of a surprise after the first book, with the idea of humanity on another planet bringing the assumption that maybe the world has pulls together somewhat, even if it’s overshadowed by the government corporations mentioned in the first book. Anxiety, though, permeates the main characters of both books, as well as the future. Yet there is a nice balance of embodied humanity in the characters, attempting to fight for any scrap of agency they can. It’s not about fighting back against the corporations, it’s about the human condition in such a place and future, which makes everything relatable.
The first book was good but not like this at all. An indentured detective back on Earth is tasked with solving the murder of a cult leader he has a tumultuous and complicated history with. We get much more world building around the Gov-Corps and world powers, but I think you could certainly read this or the first books as stand alone and not feel like you’d miss anything pivotal, yet still feel rewarded for seeing the connective tissue.
My favourite part is how everyone is chipped, and how Newman makes the concept of immersive UI and technologies accessible. Rather than info dump the idea of hybrid reality, she is incorporates it seamlessly into the everyday negotiation of life, and educates the reader as needed. Hybrid reality is still rather rare in scifi and especially cyberpunk trappings, probably because people like the idea of a more analog retro future in the subgenre. Seeing it done well is a treat.
This is a more plot heavy book than the first, though the character work is still very good, and the world convincing. It is less concerned with larger thematics, which isn’t a bad thing. I think much of what can be said about capitalization, Corportocracy, labour, stratification of class—has lost its heft, after being tread on over and over. While the themes are still present, Newman has at the centre the feelings around the loss of agency around digging yourself further in the hole to feel any semblance of humanity, and how crushing it is to feel owned.
It is a bleak world, as one expects from cyberpunk, and perhaps a bit of a surprise after the first book, with the idea of humanity on another planet bringing the assumption that maybe the world has pulls together somewhat, even if it’s overshadowed by the government corporations mentioned in the first book. Anxiety, though, permeates the main characters of both books, as well as the future. Yet there is a nice balance of embodied humanity in the characters, attempting to fight for any scrap of agency they can. It’s not about fighting back against the corporations, it’s about the human condition in such a place and future, which makes everything relatable.
myriadreads's review against another edition
4.0
A fast-paced genre bender, sci-fi/murder mystery. I couldn't put it down! In a future where several large gov-corps rule the world, many people find themselves working under contract just to survive, with no hope of ever living free lives. Carlos is a detective, using the tools of a new age to solve crimes, but his only joy is in coming and eating real food, expensive and hard to come by. When the charismatic leader of a powerful cult is found dead, Carlos will apply himself to the puzzle, though it means confronting a past that he's successfully hidden from for years.
Newman has a gift for bringing a future world to life in the details without being heavy handed. Note: while this follows in the same universe as Planetfall, it is only connected, not a sequel. I think you could read this one as a standalone, or read it first, and still understand the premise perfectly.
Newman has a gift for bringing a future world to life in the details without being heavy handed. Note: while this follows in the same universe as Planetfall, it is only connected, not a sequel. I think you could read this one as a standalone, or read it first, and still understand the premise perfectly.
chlcrc617's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
peachilli's review against another edition
3.0
Murder mystery isn’t Emma Newmans strong suit and I wish instead of that being the primary focus she had done her incredible world building in the commune both when Carlos was a child and perhaps from an alternative perspective as the commune was after he left the Center. I wish I could have come to care for more characters, especially for Dee, Alejandro, and Carlos’ father but I felt too distant from them and their lives…
frogreads_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is amazing. It took me on a trip i did not expect. I loved the concepts of corporate greed and nonpersonhood. The tie in with the first book was great. Excited to read the next in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Minor: War
ipsograph's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75