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bluejayreads's review against another edition
3.75
I generally prefer fantasy over scifi, especially scifi as hard as Adrian Tchaikovksy tends to write. But I picked this up because I enjoyed his novella Elder Race and was willing to try something else. This is fairly hard scifi, but it had solid and likeable characters, a strong plot that manages to have our protagonists hopping from planet to planet without ever feeling contrived or like a fetch quest, and some absolutely amazing worldbuilding concepts. So many of the ideas were unique and tied into a great story. The amazing worldbuilding manages to make the whole story feel intricate and vivid, even though the plot isn't particularly complex. Adrian Tchaikovsky is a great writer and I enjoyed the read. I'm on the fence about reading book two - not becuase I think it will be bad or that there isn't room for a sequel, but becuase sequels are usually not quite as good as book one and while I liked this book, I wouldn't say I love it or call it a favorite. But again, this book was good, so I'm not ruling it out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Genocide, Body horror, Ableism, and Blood
Minor: Slavery, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Gore, and Confinement
Unrealityiono's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Medical content, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia
Minor: Ableism, Kidnapping, Murder, and Torture
sheilajenn's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I tried to read Shards of Earth but found it just too long and slow. This, however, is a short, enjoyable read. It's mostly about the "prime directive" (don't interfere in less developed cultures) but partly about loneliness and emotional repression.
It's told in alternating chapters from a fantasy perspective and a science fiction perspective--the princess, and the anthropologist studying her people. To the princess, high technology is magic. I like how the style is very different between the two points of view.
It got a little Lovecraftian at the end, which I do not like at all but am willing to overlook in a good enough book.
It's told in alternating chapters from a fantasy perspective and a science fiction perspective--the princess, and the anthropologist studying her people. To the princess, high technology is magic. I like how the style is very different between the two points of view.
It got a little Lovecraftian at the end, which I do not like at all but am willing to overlook in a good enough book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Lovecraftian, involving standard traits like body horror, dimensional portals, and colors that drive you mad
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