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silentrequiem's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Moderate: Murder, Medical content, Police brutality, Death, and Confinement
Minor: Sexism, Classism, and Ableism
tyches_dice's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It’s a hard sell to give me a book and go “this woman is in the 1% and is entirely prepared to throw her name and money around in a kinda entitled way” but nonetheless, I liked it. It’s a murder mystery In Space - it’s amazing that I read it at all given my deeply ingrained distrust of space and general lack of interest in mysteries but I’m glad I did. On page one Kowal got the difference between centripetal and centrifugal force correct, which I think is just there to let nerds like me know we’re safe 😂.
Things I also like about the book:
1) The gender politics - people default to a gender neutral term until pronouns are revealed (do I wish more major characters used something other than he/him or she/her? Yes, but I do appreciate the attempt)
2) Tesla’s chronic pain/disability and the trauma she went through are treated seriously and compassionately - and we are supposed to hate characters who don’t treat it that way. I’d call the ableism in the book relatively minor in that regard.
3) Tesla being gently called out when her 1% starts to come out, and her trying to keep her privilege in check.
4) Fantine and Gimlet
A couple things I liked a little less:
1) I thought the mystery was pretty easy to solve - I had a suspicion almost immediately and was sure by halfway through the book. This is a YMMV situation though, I’m very good at deducing the culprit in a mystery, and don’t mind figuring it out if the narrative is compelling.
2) The alcohol - a cocktail recipe every chapter? The drinking literally all the time? With Tesla’s history?! There are definitely people in my life I could never recommend this book to.
3) Tesla IS a little annoying.
Things I also like about the book:
1) The gender politics - people default to a gender neutral term until pronouns are revealed (do I wish more major characters used something other than he/him or she/her? Yes, but I do appreciate the attempt)
2) Tesla’s chronic pain/disability and the trauma she went through are treated seriously and compassionately - and we are supposed to hate characters who don’t treat it that way. I’d call the ableism in the book relatively minor in that regard.
3) Tesla being gently called out when her 1% starts to come out, and her trying to keep her privilege in check.
4) Fantine and Gimlet
A couple things I liked a little less:
1) I thought the mystery was pretty easy to solve - I had a suspicion almost immediately and was sure by halfway through the book. This is a YMMV situation though, I’m very good at deducing the culprit in a mystery, and don’t mind figuring it out if the narrative is compelling.
2) The alcohol - a cocktail recipe every chapter? The drinking literally all the time? With Tesla’s history?! There are definitely people in my life I could never recommend this book to.
3) Tesla IS a little annoying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism
alisonvh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? No
5.0
This book was so much fun! What could be better than a murder mystery set on a space cruise ship? This was my first Mary Robinette Kowal book, but it won’t be my last!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Drug use, Blood, Death, Alcohol, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Police brutality
Minor: Ableism
iono's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Police brutality, Alcohol, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Medical content, Sexism, Ableism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Violence and Medical trauma
Minor: Ableism, Police brutality, and Kidnapping
rory_o_rama's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Everything from the pacing, to the world building, variety of characters and multiple red herrings - it was all executed flawlessly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Ableism and Death
Minor: Kidnapping
caitlin_bookchats'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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Ableism, Murder, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Transphobia, Sexual content, and Blood
librarybribery'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Chronic illness
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism and Sexism
There are murders that take place on the spaceship, but not in view and descriptions are mild. The main character suffers from panic attacks and chronic back pain due totrips's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was the most okay-est book I've ever read.
I enjoy the mystery genre and love sci-fi, so I thought a combo of the two would make a for a great read. I appreciated the disability representation in Tesla, and her westie Gimlet was obviously so cute, but I think that's kind of where my genuine praise for the book ends.
The plot was interesting enough to keep reading and the prose is perfectly good, but there really wasn't any point where I was wowed or ultimately, truly intrigued. Like, this is a mystery novel I should at least have a bit of curiosity towards who the true culprit is!
The security on board Tesla's cruise ship to Mars was laughably incompetent to the point of disbelief and Tesla's husband doesn't really have much character imo. It was frustrating how Tesla actively would think "I just want to be normal and not famous and rich" and then use her fame and wealth to get what she wants all throughout the book.
Actually, I think that was my main problem, tl;dr book is fine except Tesla turned into kind of a Karen one too many times for me. Even when she was justified in her outrage, it just didn't hit well. Alas!
I enjoy the mystery genre and love sci-fi, so I thought a combo of the two would make a for a great read. I appreciated the disability representation in Tesla, and her westie Gimlet was obviously so cute, but I think that's kind of where my genuine praise for the book ends.
The plot was interesting enough to keep reading and the prose is perfectly good, but there really wasn't any point where I was wowed or ultimately, truly intrigued. Like, this is a mystery novel I should at least have a bit of curiosity towards who the true culprit is!
The security on board Tesla's cruise ship to Mars was laughably incompetent to the point of disbelief and Tesla's husband doesn't really have much character imo. It was frustrating how Tesla actively would think "I just want to be normal and not famous and rich" and then use her fame and wealth to get what she wants all throughout the book.
Actually, I think that was my main problem, tl;dr book is fine except Tesla turned into kind of a Karen one too many times for me. Even when she was justified in her outrage, it just didn't hit well. Alas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Body horror and Violence
Minor: Misogyny and Ableism
bibliomania_express's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal is a murder mystery set aboard a space cruise. When a woman is murdered and Tesla Crane's spouse Shal is arrested, she decides to figure out who the murderer is. This book had so many twists and turns and kept me guessing literally the whole time. The red herrings were well integrated and convincing, and the tangle of secrets perfect for this closed-circle mystery.
I also loved the characters. Tesla is smart and determined, but also struggles with PTSD and chronic pain. There are characters of multiple different ethnicities, and this is a world where gender essentialism is frowned upon and presenting pronouns is common.
Fantine, Tesla's lawyer, is my absolute favourite character. An absolute riot, and her colourful curses added the perfect touch of humour to offset the serious issues like murder, discrimination, ableism, and complete police incompetence. I also loved that Shal is a retired private detective, with some Sherlockian callbacks.
The only reason this book isn't a five star for me is that there was a lot of worldbuilding that needed to happen to make the plot work, and some of that got a bit too tangled and complex for what I want in a cross-genre mystery. There were a couple too many minor characters with dodgy reactions that just aren't explained well
I also loved the characters. Tesla is smart and determined, but also struggles with PTSD and chronic pain. There are characters of multiple different ethnicities, and this is a world where gender essentialism is frowned upon and presenting pronouns is common.
Fantine, Tesla's lawyer, is my absolute favourite character. An absolute riot, and her colourful curses added the perfect touch of humour to offset the serious issues like murder, discrimination, ableism, and complete police incompetence. I also loved that Shal is a retired private detective, with some Sherlockian callbacks.
The only reason this book isn't a five star for me is that there was a lot of worldbuilding that needed to happen to make the plot work, and some of that got a bit too tangled and complex for what I want in a cross-genre mystery. There were a couple too many minor characters with dodgy reactions that just aren't explained well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Murder, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Police brutality and Sexism
Minor: Kidnapping