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booksandteatime's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
kappafrog's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I can't believe how bad this book turned out to be! It was so disappointing. The prologue chapter was great, with a moody sci-fi setting and an interesting mystery. But the rest of the book was in first person perspective from a character who was insufferable. This read like a parody of what someone thinks an academic would think like, not like any real person I've ever met. The vocabulary was distractingly over-the-top in its use of obscure words. The POV character had no personality, and the other main character, Mossa, was infuriating and manipulative.
The worldbuilding was really flimsy, which was really surprising since the worldbuilding in Infomocracy by the same author had been so interesting and a big appeal of the book. It made no sense that humanity had settled on a gas giant instead of one of Jupiter's many moons. I felt like the author had an image and a vibe she started with of people on platforms in the misty gases of Jupiter, but it didn't pan out into worldbuilding that made any sense. We got no sense of the government, any justice system outside of these romantic but unrealistic lone wolf Investigators, or even the extent of the population. Were there different languages, cultures, etc? None of this was explored and left the world feeling like an empty stage for the two main characters to zoom around. The characters have to wear "atomscarfs" to protect them from the atmosphere even though they live in a mostly climate-controlled bubble. The extinction of all Earth animals and plants is a major plot point in the book, but there are pigeons and cats mentioned in passing, who aren't wearing atomscarfs, so the purpose of the atomspheric protection gear is rendered moot at the same time as one of the biggest plot points is casually undercut. The role of misogyny in the world was unclear, with some vague references to it still being a factor in this far-future world (for no clear reason) and cringeworthy repetition of internet-speak like "Why are men" as a response.
The plot also had a lot of problems. Thecat attack and the responses to it - Mossa's Tough Girl stoicism and a complete lack of action from the mauzooleum or any other authorities - were all absurd. We don't meet the main villain until the climax, before which he had never even been named. Every side character is completely one-dimensional. As for the romance, we are told that Pleiti is attracted to Mossa and that they were previously in a relationship , but I never saw any evidence that there was any meaningful reason for these characters to get together. Mossa commits a nasty act of police brutality at one point, kicking a man who's not been convicted of any crime while he's in chains on her floor , and the whole thing with hoping Pleiti would show up at the platform in the climax was downright manipulative.
All in all, a really disappointing showing from an author who I think is capable of much better. There is nothing to recommend about this book beyond the cool prologue. It felt like a sketch of ideas the author thought would be cool but didn't make any sense when put together.
The worldbuilding was really flimsy, which was really surprising since the worldbuilding in Infomocracy by the same author had been so interesting and a big appeal of the book. It made no sense that humanity had settled on a gas giant instead of one of Jupiter's many moons. I felt like the author had an image and a vibe she started with of people on platforms in the misty gases of Jupiter, but it didn't pan out into worldbuilding that made any sense. We got no sense of the government, any justice system outside of these romantic but unrealistic lone wolf Investigators, or even the extent of the population. Were there different languages, cultures, etc? None of this was explored and left the world feeling like an empty stage for the two main characters to zoom around. The characters have to wear "atomscarfs" to protect them from the atmosphere even though they live in a mostly climate-controlled bubble. The extinction of all Earth animals and plants is a major plot point in the book, but there are pigeons and cats mentioned in passing, who aren't wearing atomscarfs, so the purpose of the atomspheric protection gear is rendered moot at the same time as one of the biggest plot points is casually undercut. The role of misogyny in the world was unclear, with some vague references to it still being a factor in this far-future world (for no clear reason) and cringeworthy repetition of internet-speak like "Why are men" as a response.
The plot also had a lot of problems. The
All in all, a really disappointing showing from an author who I think is capable of much better. There is nothing to recommend about this book beyond the cool prologue. It felt like a sketch of ideas the author thought would be cool but didn't make any sense when put together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Toxic relationship, Murder, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Misogyny, Vomit, and Medical content
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, Violence, Medical content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
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
beccaand's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
valjeanval's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s an ok mystery, a decent sci-fi, and a full romance. Kind of forgettable for me though with some cool concepts. I just never really bonded with any characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, Violence, and Death
city_girl_writer's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Definitely better for me via audio. I grew to like the sapphic romance and the cosy gaslamp sci-fi setting was nice and unique was well. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood and Murder
Minor: Suicide
annemaries_shelves's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was exactly what I wanted - a semi-cozy mystery scifi novella with a sapphic pairing.
The mystery worked really well within the confines of the novella length - it had just enough clues to keep you guessing but wasn't overly complicated or drawn out. I think I need to seek out more shorter mysteries because they work well with my patience levels for getting to the resolution.
My favourite part was the world-building - the concept of building settlements on Jupiter is fascinating and I loved every detail that was revealed through the 170 pages. I want more!
Mossa and Pleiti were adorable, but I wish there were more Mossa POV chapters than just the Prologue. I think it would've felt more balanced that way. And the romance is very slow-burn - there's not a lot happening on that front aside from re-emergence of feelings/pining. I wouldn't call it a romance book - just a romantic sub-plot.
The writing was nice too and the author had a fancier and well-placed vocabulary overall. Perhaps to reflect the academic Pleiti and the hyper-intelligent Investigator Mossa...? or just her own incredible intelligence as an author.
I would absolutely want to read more in this world, and Infomocracy (which I recall the hype when it was published) has moved up my tbr list a bit now.
The mystery worked really well within the confines of the novella length - it had just enough clues to keep you guessing but wasn't overly complicated or drawn out. I think I need to seek out more shorter mysteries because they work well with my patience levels for getting to the resolution.
My favourite part was the world-building - the concept of building settlements on Jupiter is fascinating and I loved every detail that was revealed through the 170 pages. I want more!
Mossa and Pleiti were adorable, but I wish there were more Mossa POV chapters than just the Prologue. I think it would've felt more balanced that way. And the romance is very slow-burn - there's not a lot happening on that front aside from re-emergence of feelings/pining. I wouldn't call it a romance book - just a romantic sub-plot.
The writing was nice too and the author had a fancier and well-placed vocabulary overall. Perhaps to reflect the academic Pleiti and the hyper-intelligent Investigator Mossa...? or just her own incredible intelligence as an author.
I would absolutely want to read more in this world, and Infomocracy (which I recall the hype when it was published) has moved up my tbr list a bit now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
schnaucl's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I really liked the world building but found I couldn't connect to the characters.
Setting the story on Jupiter was an interesting choice, and I liked the Classical studies and the mauzooleum. I even had some sympathy for the villains of the story because they're right, if they only get one shot, it's going to be very difficult to ever actually take the chance to reset Earth to something similar to what it was before.
Setting the story on Jupiter was an interesting choice, and I liked the Classical studies and the mauzooleum.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Suicide