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erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read as a Mystery book recommendation, I found this a lot more sci-fi, queer romance, and I'm not upset about it. The thing that really amused me was that the language used is a strange commingling. It integrates words from Spanish, French and Hindi and things into common parlance. The name for the platforms for the mass transit system is andén (platform or terrace, from Spanish).
It is, for all that, a Holmesian mystery trope, with a gifted and socially inept savant investigator and her smart-but-not-too-smart counterpart being the conversation partner and someone to bounce ideas off of.
The relationship between the two is not without its flaws. Both women are focused on their own goals, while being more and more captivated by each other, but they aren't always great at communicating their plans or trusting each other enough to be forthright about.. ok.. anything.
The science fiction leans a bit hard on the fiction and is a little spare on the science. Some of the sciencey bits I have seen done better in other places (*cough* Neal Stephenson *cough*) and bits of it I find contrast with the approach of other stories that keep a genetic record of Terran biodiversity. It's cute though, and is some futuristic world-building which forms a comfy backdrop for the human story.
I think it's also got the right pace.. if it was longer, I probably wouldn't be as interested in finding a copy of the next one in the series.
It is, for all that, a Holmesian mystery trope, with a gifted and socially inept savant investigator and her smart-but-not-too-smart counterpart being the conversation partner and someone to bounce ideas off of.
The relationship between the two is not without its flaws. Both women are focused on their own goals, while being more and more captivated by each other, but they aren't always great at communicating their plans or trusting each other enough to be forthright about.. ok.. anything.
The science fiction leans a bit hard on the fiction and is a little spare on the science. Some of the sciencey bits I have seen done better in other places (*cough* Neal Stephenson *cough*) and bits of it I find contrast with the approach of other stories that keep a genetic record of Terran biodiversity. It's cute though, and is some futuristic world-building which forms a comfy backdrop for the human story.
I think it's also got the right pace.. if it was longer, I probably wouldn't be as interested in finding a copy of the next one in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Colonisation and Confinement
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Confinement, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
purplepenning's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
What a little fascinator this is! It's a gas-lamp Holmesian mystery fantasy set on a gas giant of a planet in a cozy dystopian future. I know, but really. The Mimicking of Known Successes presents a sort of sliding-scopic story of preservation, conservation, and growth that plays out on personal, institutional, and planetary levels. There's so much to unpack in this deceptively sparse tale. Perfect for a winter's evening.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Confinement and Cursing
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