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namaenani's review
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
prof_chronotis's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hannahhbic's review
5.0
One of my faves of 2020. A more adult version of [b:Aurora Rising|30075662|Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle, #1)|Amie Kaufman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560056657l/30075662._SY75_.jpg|50493990] with more gore and more gays. If all of history was retold as SF, I'd actually remember it!
tashkant's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
gabalodon's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very pleasant surprise for me. I don't know anything but the very basic info about Alexander the Great and I don't often pick up sci-fi and space reads, but I had heard good things which is why I picked it up. This was a very fun, extremely complex epic space drama with war and friendships and betrayals and assassinations and overbearing parents and murderous parents and more! And the amount of effort put into the world-building was staggering. My only complaints are the tense and person changes when in Persephone's POV for no apparent reason, and the sheer amount of fast-paced action happening meant that the relationships weren't fleshed out quite as much as I wanted them to be, but she did a good job weaving it in their dynamics where she could. And I loved the huge and diverse cast of characters, I just want MORE of them!! Can't wait for the sequels!!
winterbee's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
It takes forever until the action starts, but once it starts, it doesn‘t stop. In the beginning, there‘s too many people to really follow.
I liked it a lot, but it‘s very plot-driven, so I didn‘t get too attached to the characters.
I liked it a lot, but it‘s very plot-driven, so I didn‘t get too attached to the characters.
callunavulgari's review against another edition
3.0
I did a HUGE disservice to this book by listening to it on audible instead of getting a paper copy. Not because the narrator was crap, because she was actually really good. This is just the type of book that I have to pay a little more attention to, and unfortunately, audiobooks only have two-thirds of my attention at the best of times.
So I gave this a three even though it’s probably only a two insofar as I had a lot of trouble getting it to hold my attention. But I have a feeling that if I’d read a physical copy that it would have been a four or five. Hence the boosting to a three.
With all that said, the parts that I was able to focus on I enjoyed. I liked the characters. The plot line lost me approximately a million times, but I really do think that’s my fault rather than the book. I loved the world building. I’m already planning my next trip to the local bookstore so I can grab a physical copy and do a reread later.
So I gave this a three even though it’s probably only a two insofar as I had a lot of trouble getting it to hold my attention. But I have a feeling that if I’d read a physical copy that it would have been a four or five. Hence the boosting to a three.
With all that said, the parts that I was able to focus on I enjoyed. I liked the characters. The plot line lost me approximately a million times, but I really do think that’s my fault rather than the book. I loved the world building. I’m already planning my next trip to the local bookstore so I can grab a physical copy and do a reread later.
eithne26's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
themanfromdelmonte's review against another edition
4.0
It’s a bit of a doorstop at 450+ pages. I nearly gave up on it over the first hundred but it picks up in pace quite nicely after that. Court politics, land and space based conflicts all par for the course for space opera.
One of the criticisms I usually level at this material is that the milieu isn’t different enough given that it’s supposed to be set centuries from now and that’s true here too However, the author settles more firmly into her world as the novel progresses and the slightly clunky feeling I experienced to begin with eased off. (But please, no more references to Heffalumps)
The characters develop slowly but build into more rounded and believable entities by the end. I hope there will be more things for Sun’s other Companions to do in the sequels.
I will be investing in the second part of the trilogy.
One of the criticisms I usually level at this material is that the milieu isn’t different enough given that it’s supposed to be set centuries from now and that’s true here too However, the author settles more firmly into her world as the novel progresses and the slightly clunky feeling I experienced to begin with eased off. (But please, no more references to Heffalumps)
The characters develop slowly but build into more rounded and believable entities by the end. I hope there will be more things for Sun’s other Companions to do in the sequels.
I will be investing in the second part of the trilogy.