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calliepey's review
4.0
I think what I enjoyed the most about this story was how much it brought me back to my childhood and the stories I used to borrow from the libraries during my summers. There's science, mystery, and other worldly intrigue. Griffin Dane crashes unintentionally on the pleasure planet Artemis and finds way more than he bargained for. Each character he meets is uniquely crafted for their own purpose on the planet by the creators who passed away centuries ago. The beautiful Adara and her puma Sand Shadow save him from certain death. I enjoyed the dynamic between Griffin, Adara and Terrell. Sand Shadow is her own treat and I just adore her.
All of that said, there were a few drawbacks. There was a lot of head hopping as the perspective switched frequently between sometimes every person in the room to explain the scene. Once I adjusted to this writing style, I could navigate a little better. There are lots of mentions of assault and forced breeding, so please be aware if this is a trigger. Lastly, it ends on a cliffhanger. One that I'm not sure I'm interested in enough to continue.
All in all, I had downloaded it awhile ago because of the name without reading the blurb and I'm not entirely unhappy that I finally read it.
All of that said, there were a few drawbacks. There was a lot of head hopping as the perspective switched frequently between sometimes every person in the room to explain the scene. Once I adjusted to this writing style, I could navigate a little better. There are lots of mentions of assault and forced breeding, so please be aware if this is a trigger. Lastly, it ends on a cliffhanger. One that I'm not sure I'm interested in enough to continue.
All in all, I had downloaded it awhile ago because of the name without reading the blurb and I'm not entirely unhappy that I finally read it.
trike's review
3.0
This was a decent enough story. It's the type of Planetary Romance that would have been right at home in the 1970s and 1980s: a guy crashlands on a long-lost planet and as he enlists help from the locals to get back to his orbiting ship he becomes engaged in their lives along the way.
It's a bit lightweight, which is no big deal. I was annoyed by a few sudden deus ex machina moments (suddenly the space visitor and one of the scholars can communicate via dreams) but the worse issue is that about 2/3 of the way through I realized there was no way she was going to wrap this story up in the pages she had left. Sure enough, there's no really satisfying ending. The local warlord is defeated but he gets away and the initial dilemma of getting off-planet is still unresolved.
It was decent enough and I'd give it to a teenager without hesitation, but I won't be back for the sequel.
It's a bit lightweight, which is no big deal. I was annoyed by a few sudden deus ex machina moments (suddenly the space visitor and one of the scholars can communicate via dreams) but the worse issue is that about 2/3 of the way through I realized there was no way she was going to wrap this story up in the pages she had left. Sure enough, there's no really satisfying ending. The local warlord is defeated but he gets away and the initial dilemma of getting off-planet is still unresolved.
It was decent enough and I'd give it to a teenager without hesitation, but I won't be back for the sequel.
meghanc303's review
2.0
This book was the kind of comfortable, relaxed sci-fi that I would've loved when I was younger--a formula that delivers every time. But as my reading has matured with age, this formula can run a little dry, like it does here in Artemis Awakening. Woman hunter with psychically bonded pet puma meets man who crash-landed on her planet--an awesome premise, but one that I've read before. (Minus the puma).
But what really made this book one that I stopped reading in the middle was that I found it so similar to Lindskold's Firekeeper series, which I have loved for years and highly recommend. If you're looking for thought-provoking sci-Fi adventure with more of an adult bent, leave this one on the shelf and grab a Firekeeper novel instead.
Recommended to: pre-teen/teen readers that love animals and adventures, your significantly younger cousin who refuses to stop talking Twilight, those new to sci-fi, or lovers of sci-fi looking for a cozy winter read
But what really made this book one that I stopped reading in the middle was that I found it so similar to Lindskold's Firekeeper series, which I have loved for years and highly recommend. If you're looking for thought-provoking sci-Fi adventure with more of an adult bent, leave this one on the shelf and grab a Firekeeper novel instead.
Recommended to: pre-teen/teen readers that love animals and adventures, your significantly younger cousin who refuses to stop talking Twilight, those new to sci-fi, or lovers of sci-fi looking for a cozy winter read
tortue_abroad's review
1.0
HEY FRODO, I have another abomination for you to throw into Mount Doom. Honestly, I would have kicked this book shortly into it if I weren't reading it for a book club, but at least the first half of it was merely low key bad and boring. What a difference the half way point of this makes.
Male POV is then taken by Powerful Man to his den of rape and torture so that MPOV can help PM do technology things. During! this! Time! MalePOV is offered sex slaves to sleep with and though he doesn't actually rape them, some seem willing and so it is difficult to resist because like, it's been a while since he got laid. He wonders if they really are sex slaves or the information they heard about this was made up! Excuse me, I need to go shot-put this fucker into the sun! HAHA! Later, he has to mimic sleeping with one of the sex slaves to get information from her and she is SO GRATEFUL he's not raping her that they cuddle affectionately. One moment, I'm going to go collect the carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen this plot has been broken down into and slam dunk it into a black hole!
I didn't even have time to get into the fact that this EASILY could have been a short story instead of a novel from all the dead space taken up by the male and female POV characters constantly thinking if they were going to bone. If only they weren't trapped in a love triangle that can't get resolved until the end of the series, oh no!
Reader, I did not care for this.
Spoiler
I have extensive notes on this garbage, but it isn't worth the effort to type it all out. Essentially, a Powerful Man that our Male POV might need help from is kidnapping women to rape and breed them and create a master race from regressive genes. We then spend half of the book in the most lackadaisical attempt to find these women, and half the time our male POV basically forgets they're even hidden somewhere because he's so entranced by the technology that powerful man can offer him. Wow, this man can't get any worse and still be our male POV we're meant to sympathize with, right? HAHA! HOW QUAINT A HOPE!Male POV is then taken by Powerful Man to his den of rape and torture so that MPOV can help PM do technology things. During! this! Time! MalePOV is offered sex slaves to sleep with and though he doesn't actually rape them, some seem willing and so it is difficult to resist because like, it's been a while since he got laid. He wonders if they really are sex slaves or the information they heard about this was made up! Excuse me, I need to go shot-put this fucker into the sun! HAHA! Later, he has to mimic sleeping with one of the sex slaves to get information from her and she is SO GRATEFUL he's not raping her that they cuddle affectionately. One moment, I'm going to go collect the carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen this plot has been broken down into and slam dunk it into a black hole!
I didn't even have time to get into the fact that this EASILY could have been a short story instead of a novel from all the dead space taken up by the male and female POV characters constantly thinking if they were going to bone. If only they weren't trapped in a love triangle that can't get resolved until the end of the series, oh no!
Reader, I did not care for this.
cyclical's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
spiringempress's review
3.0
The only comment I have is this: whoever wrote the synopsis for this book obviously did not read this book. Never have I ever, read a book that had absolutely nothing to do with it's supposed synopsis on the back cover.
reddjena's review
5.0
I'm more of a fantasy reader usually, which means that I absolutely LOVED Lindskold's Firekeeper series! However, when I learned that her newest series also had intelligent animal companions, I decided to give it a try. Turns out, Lindskold is just as talented at science fiction writing as fantasy. I was immediately pulled in by the characters and think that Lindskold kept good pacing with exposition, world building, and action. Here's what you need to know!
Pros:
Strong female lead character
Intelligent animal companions
Interesting, intriguing backstory and world building
Excellent pacing
Relationships have time to develop realistically
It's the first in a series
Cons:
Choice of plot device (no spoilers here)
Strange "mechanical" blurbs at the end of chapters
Obviously, the pros outweigh the cons :) Mostly the "mechanical" blurbs were lost on me when I read them, but they did make sense the further I read into the story. I am definitely excited for the next book!
Pros:
Strong female lead character
Intelligent animal companions
Interesting, intriguing backstory and world building
Excellent pacing
Relationships have time to develop realistically
It's the first in a series
Cons:
Choice of plot device (no spoilers here)
Strange "mechanical" blurbs at the end of chapters
Obviously, the pros outweigh the cons :) Mostly the "mechanical" blurbs were lost on me when I read them, but they did make sense the further I read into the story. I am definitely excited for the next book!
books_dipped_in_colour's review against another edition
4.0
everything about this book was great. from beginning to end, could not put it down