Scan barcode
theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
5.0
I was cutting it a little bit close to the end of this round with this title. I knew I wanted to read it but I also wanted to leave it for last as a reward since I was expecting to enjoy it quite a bit. Thankfully due to being able to listen to the audio as well as read the ebook, I was able to finish it on time and submit my score.
This book has the kind of beginning I love to have in a sci-fi book. The issues that need to be solved are introduced relatively early on and along with that we also already get an introduction to the ethical issues and tensions in the society at large as well as among the smaller assemble of characters. While these components have plenty added on later on in the book, this gives the story a very solid beginning foundation to build on.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but they were all very distinct from each other and I found myself deeply invested in all of them. The range of characters she created was also very wide, both in the sense of species as well as personality wise. I love how the majority of them seemed to be “good” or “bad” at first glance but later on revealed themselves to be scattered all across the spectrum between white and black. “Morally gray” is my favorite type of character because it often adds a lot more layers to their personality in stories. We were able to see the good and the bad in several of the characters, even those where you’d least expect it, which added a confusing sense of solidarity and compassion for all sides of the conflict.
There were only three things that I struggled with in this book but I would consider them all minor details. Nonetheless, despite being minor, I don’t really want to go into too much detail here because that would give away major plot lines that I don’t want to spoil for you. I just found one particular scene between characters somewhat unrealistic, thought it surprising for another character to have certain resources at her disposal, and one POV wasn’t quite as persuading to me as I would’ve liked because his experiences were fascinating so I would’ve loved for that to have been done a little more convincingly. Overall though, these didn’t affect my enjoyment a whole lot because there were just too many things that I absolutely adored.
Up until this round, this book has easily been my favorite in the competition. It was so well rounded, well written, and had me on the edge of my seat so many times. There is a finalist that I absolutely adore and will read for the third time to give an exact score for the competition but I expect it to be a tight race and believe that Scrimgeour has a very good chance to finish out with the top spot! I’m really looking forward to the books in this last round and how they compare to each other.
This book has the kind of beginning I love to have in a sci-fi book. The issues that need to be solved are introduced relatively early on and along with that we also already get an introduction to the ethical issues and tensions in the society at large as well as among the smaller assemble of characters. While these components have plenty added on later on in the book, this gives the story a very solid beginning foundation to build on.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but they were all very distinct from each other and I found myself deeply invested in all of them. The range of characters she created was also very wide, both in the sense of species as well as personality wise. I love how the majority of them seemed to be “good” or “bad” at first glance but later on revealed themselves to be scattered all across the spectrum between white and black. “Morally gray” is my favorite type of character because it often adds a lot more layers to their personality in stories. We were able to see the good and the bad in several of the characters, even those where you’d least expect it, which added a confusing sense of solidarity and compassion for all sides of the conflict.
There were only three things that I struggled with in this book but I would consider them all minor details. Nonetheless, despite being minor, I don’t really want to go into too much detail here because that would give away major plot lines that I don’t want to spoil for you. I just found one particular scene between characters somewhat unrealistic, thought it surprising for another character to have certain resources at her disposal, and one POV wasn’t quite as persuading to me as I would’ve liked because his experiences were fascinating so I would’ve loved for that to have been done a little more convincingly. Overall though, these didn’t affect my enjoyment a whole lot because there were just too many things that I absolutely adored.
Up until this round, this book has easily been my favorite in the competition. It was so well rounded, well written, and had me on the edge of my seat so many times. There is a finalist that I absolutely adore and will read for the third time to give an exact score for the competition but I expect it to be a tight race and believe that Scrimgeour has a very good chance to finish out with the top spot! I’m really looking forward to the books in this last round and how they compare to each other.
queenmackenzie's review
5.0
Those Left Behind is exactly the kind of space opera I like: character driven, with lots of planets, a political scheme or two, and something dark and half-forgotten slumbering beyond the stars. As the first in a trilogy, this book does not waste time! It quickly introduces the various point of view characters, only some of which are human, and then artfully builds up their settings. Ridley, Alvera, and Kojan are all humans aboard the Ranger, a scout ship leaving the crowded world of New Pallas in search of a new place for humanity. They each bring their own baggage to the mission: Ridley is a linguistics expert from the surface and has to contend with the prejudices of the residents of Exodus Station, Alvera is the leader of the mission and is struggling with the weight of that responsibility, and Kojan is the pilot and the son of the previous governor of Exodus Station who was overthrown by Alvera for experimenting on surfacers. When they punch through a wormhole left behind by whoever build Exodus Station, they arrive in a galaxy already teeming with life and find that they are the last colony to arrive there via the Waystations.
There are already humans there, but there are also dachryn, siolean, jarkaath, and iskaath. The other two points of view of Those Left Behind are Rivus, a dachryn Legionnaire, and Niole, a siolean deserter. Through them we get a feel of the galaxy, ruled by the Coalition and preparing for another war with the Idran-Vaar, a group of people made up of all the various races who are united by their desire to fight and claim a space of their own in the outer rim. I really loved the variety of the species, and the way in which both Rivus and Niole begin to question their roles within the Coalition over the course of their arcs. Along with all the politics, there is also a larger threat: when the Ranger comes through the Waystation – the last of four to be used – it activates a signal that begins counting down. When Rivus is sent to investigate, he discovers that there might be a greater threat out there than the Idran-Vaar, something long forgotten and now being summoned.
As I said, that is absolutely the kind of magnitude to an SF plot that I love! It reminds me of the protomolecule in Corey’s Leviathan Wakes and the Architects in Tchaikovsky’s Shards of Earth. Hopefully in the sequels this lives up to the expectation. The other thing I really enjoyed was the fact that the humans get split up very quickly, thus giving a greater insight into their new setting, and also weaving more strands into the plot that come together very nicely towards the end. I especially loved Ridley’s chapters because of her linguistics and the way she resents the universal translators for taking away her need to learn new languages, so decides to learn them anyway. Without spoiling too much, all three humans are in a bit of a tough spot at the end of Those Left Behind, so I’m keen to carry on and see how they get out of their scrapes! If you’re a sci-fi fan, I cannot recommend this series enough! Scrimgeour writes incredibly well, and has created a fleshed out world and real people that I am invested in.
galexywitch's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
mythical_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
To add context to this rating: I often thought while reading that this was in the 4.25-5/5 star rating range. I immensely enjoyed the experience and think that the Scringeour is quite adept at juggling storylines, a large cast of characters, and content that is engaging and full of humanity. Heck, there is a planet of what essentially anounts to hybridized Florida and Australia, with all of the inhabitants amped up in scale. I think Eleion and how Iskaath operate within their planet, the galaxy, and other factions of their own race was really fascinating. I liked Kojan and his relationship with his absolute sorry excuse for a mother, Ojara. I really enjoyed Alvera (and her AI, Chase, by the end) in her very oniony-layered morally grey-ness. I enjoyed learning of the Siolean's flaring radiation abilities. There is a lot to enjoy.
For the writing, there are some points where we are told one thing (in an importance sense), and a chapter or two later it no longer holds true. Sometimes this felt like a bit of a copout, but I wouldn't call it bad writing per se... maybe more towards lazy for lack of a better word? It would just be sudden (without providing any spoilers).
It is also a bit tricky to gauge the passing of time here. Some chapters pickup weeks or months after the last time we had that POV, but it's almost like we are carrying right on from the ending point before. Or we are just told time has passed and someone has been learning all about a new race or language this whole time. Again, it felt a little cheap in the sense of a quick route to get x result for a character. But in the context of the story and characters as a whole it still does work.
It is for the a ove two reasons that I dropped the rating, even though again I want to stress that I really REALLY enjoyed this book. I can't bring myself to go above a 3.75 rating. I am hoping the author shores up on those points in the sequels.
Next, I want to talk about approachability as I find science fiction can get a bit of a bad wrap for readers coming from fantasy or other genres, and it being dry. So I want to try and address how fun and quick of a ride this book is.
Initially, I felt like this space opera sci-fi was approachable enough to be someone's literal first foray into sci-fi, with the caveat that they do want something space opera oriented. Chapter 4 and beyond the story really opens up and becomes something a bit more complex however. I wouldn't say it is suitable to be THE first sci-fi book someone ever picks up, but it's not super intricately complex to the point that I would dissuade someone of it either.
In an attempt at assigning an arbitrary "difficulty" rating at who this would be suitable for, I'll use: 1 (never read sci-fi), 2 (enjoys sci-fi casually), 3 (regularly reads sci-fi), 4 (advanced sci-fi reader, who prefers complex subject matter), and 5 (could write a PhD on sci-fi literature)... I would think that this book would be for the 1.5 opening end of that spectrum. But I also don't mean it won't be a fun ride for super well versed sci-fi readers either. The spin on first contact trope here was pretty unique and refreshing IMO. And I am looking forward to the sequels after the pressure cooker that the author has setup to close out this book.
For the writing, there are some points where we are told one thing (in an importance sense), and a chapter or two later it no longer holds true. Sometimes this felt like a bit of a copout, but I wouldn't call it bad writing per se... maybe more towards lazy for lack of a better word? It would just be sudden (without providing any spoilers).
It is also a bit tricky to gauge the passing of time here. Some chapters pickup weeks or months after the last time we had that POV, but it's almost like we are carrying right on from the ending point before. Or we are just told time has passed and someone has been learning all about a new race or language this whole time. Again, it felt a little cheap in the sense of a quick route to get x result for a character. But in the context of the story and characters as a whole it still does work.
It is for the a ove two reasons that I dropped the rating, even though again I want to stress that I really REALLY enjoyed this book. I can't bring myself to go above a 3.75 rating. I am hoping the author shores up on those points in the sequels.
Next, I want to talk about approachability as I find science fiction can get a bit of a bad wrap for readers coming from fantasy or other genres, and it being dry. So I want to try and address how fun and quick of a ride this book is.
Initially, I felt like this space opera sci-fi was approachable enough to be someone's literal first foray into sci-fi, with the caveat that they do want something space opera oriented. Chapter 4 and beyond the story really opens up and becomes something a bit more complex however. I wouldn't say it is suitable to be THE first sci-fi book someone ever picks up, but it's not super intricately complex to the point that I would dissuade someone of it either.
In an attempt at assigning an arbitrary "difficulty" rating at who this would be suitable for, I'll use: 1 (never read sci-fi), 2 (enjoys sci-fi casually), 3 (regularly reads sci-fi), 4 (advanced sci-fi reader, who prefers complex subject matter), and 5 (could write a PhD on sci-fi literature)... I would think that this book would be for the 1.5 opening end of that spectrum. But I also don't mean it won't be a fun ride for super well versed sci-fi readers either. The spin on first contact trope here was pretty unique and refreshing IMO. And I am looking forward to the sequels after the pressure cooker that the author has setup to close out this book.
allyens's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alina_leonova's review against another edition
5.0
This book is described as an epic, galaxy-spanning space opera full of exploration, adventure, and ancient alien mysteries that fans of Mass Effect, The Expanse and Star Wars will love. It reflects my own impressions, and as a fan of The Expanse, I definitely felt that the book had a similar vibe while remaining fresh and unique.
Characters
There are five POV (point of view) characters in the book. I have to admit, when I saw their names in the chapter titles, I was worried that it could make the story hard to follow. I was wrong! N.C. Scrimgeour did a great job making sure that the characters are easy to distinguish, and the story flows naturally. If anything, the number of characters only added to the plot, driving it forward and allowing the reader to explore various planets and cultures. Three of the protagonists are human, and two are alien, which I always find fascinating.
This is very much a character-driven novel, where each of the protagonists has their unique motivations, personality and a compelling backstory.
You know how sometimes when you read a multiple POV book where each chapter is dedicated to a different character, you're a bit unhappy when a chapter ends? It takes some time to adjust to the next character, and maybe you like following some of them more than others? *Those Left Behind* was a rare example when that didn't happen! I was equally excited to read about each character's adventures, while every chapter uncovered a bit more about the world and the beings populating it.
I often have trouble remembering names, but N.C. Scrimgeour made it really easy to distinguish between the characters by placing them in unique contexts that made it immediately apparent who was who. Each of them felt like a real person.
Plot
The plot is clear, easy to follow and engaging. It's a fast-paced story with lots of exciting action that unravels more layers of complexity as it progresses.
World-building
The world in Those Left Behind is fascinating to explore, and I enjoyed this aspect of the novel a lot! The events take place on multiple planets and deal with different alien species. We also get a glimpse of a cyberpunk human world that the main characters leave behind.
I loved the complexity of the universe and the diplomatic relationships between various species of aliens and humans. It's a nuanced world with various tensions within each group, different kinds of inequalities and challenges arising from the unique traits of the alien species, history and the present circumstances.
I absolutely love the trope of alien artifacts left behind by previous civilizations, so I very much enjoyed their presence in the book. Their secrets are yet to be uncovered later in the series, but what I've learned so far is enough to excite and assure me that there is an epic and compelling story behind them.
Impressions
I loved the book and can't wait to continue with the series! It has everything that accounts for a great space opera. There are fascinating alien species with unique capabilities, interplanetary tensions, contradictory interests and powers, mysterious alien artifacts and high stakes.
Multiple POVs work great for the story, and the characters are complex, real and fleshed out. The world is engrossing and immersive, the plot is exciting and captivating, unraveling more intricacies as it moves forward. It's written in a clear way that makes following along effortless.
You might enjoy the book if you enjoy space operas with interstellar travel, interesting aliens, good character development and complex worlds.
This review was first published on my website about sci-fi where you'll find more reviews, interviews, lists, short stories and more.
Characters
There are five POV (point of view) characters in the book. I have to admit, when I saw their names in the chapter titles, I was worried that it could make the story hard to follow. I was wrong! N.C. Scrimgeour did a great job making sure that the characters are easy to distinguish, and the story flows naturally. If anything, the number of characters only added to the plot, driving it forward and allowing the reader to explore various planets and cultures. Three of the protagonists are human, and two are alien, which I always find fascinating.
This is very much a character-driven novel, where each of the protagonists has their unique motivations, personality and a compelling backstory.
You know how sometimes when you read a multiple POV book where each chapter is dedicated to a different character, you're a bit unhappy when a chapter ends? It takes some time to adjust to the next character, and maybe you like following some of them more than others? *Those Left Behind* was a rare example when that didn't happen! I was equally excited to read about each character's adventures, while every chapter uncovered a bit more about the world and the beings populating it.
I often have trouble remembering names, but N.C. Scrimgeour made it really easy to distinguish between the characters by placing them in unique contexts that made it immediately apparent who was who. Each of them felt like a real person.
Plot
The plot is clear, easy to follow and engaging. It's a fast-paced story with lots of exciting action that unravels more layers of complexity as it progresses.
World-building
The world in Those Left Behind is fascinating to explore, and I enjoyed this aspect of the novel a lot! The events take place on multiple planets and deal with different alien species. We also get a glimpse of a cyberpunk human world that the main characters leave behind.
I loved the complexity of the universe and the diplomatic relationships between various species of aliens and humans. It's a nuanced world with various tensions within each group, different kinds of inequalities and challenges arising from the unique traits of the alien species, history and the present circumstances.
I absolutely love the trope of alien artifacts left behind by previous civilizations, so I very much enjoyed their presence in the book. Their secrets are yet to be uncovered later in the series, but what I've learned so far is enough to excite and assure me that there is an epic and compelling story behind them.
Impressions
I loved the book and can't wait to continue with the series! It has everything that accounts for a great space opera. There are fascinating alien species with unique capabilities, interplanetary tensions, contradictory interests and powers, mysterious alien artifacts and high stakes.
Multiple POVs work great for the story, and the characters are complex, real and fleshed out. The world is engrossing and immersive, the plot is exciting and captivating, unraveling more intricacies as it moves forward. It's written in a clear way that makes following along effortless.
You might enjoy the book if you enjoy space operas with interstellar travel, interesting aliens, good character development and complex worlds.
This review was first published on my website about sci-fi where you'll find more reviews, interviews, lists, short stories and more.
jeremyh's review
adventurous
challenging
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
lizzy_22's review
4.0
Good start to an intriguing story. World building is complex and I had to remind myself a few times who was who but overall a really fun read. I have book 2 ready to go.
tuftymctavish's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0