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rednikki's review
5.0
Short version: this series is fantastic and all my science fiction reading friends should try to dig it up.
I read the first book in this series when I was a kid, and had no idea there were more books. I loved this book now, but wish the younger me could have read it; I would have identified a lot with Lydee.
Sargent expands on the worlds she created in the first novel. However, she doesn't focus too much on the world-building aspect; the emphasis is given to the relationships between the characters, both positive and negative.
Warning - spoilers ahead!
Many of the characters as portrayed here are uncomfortable. Sargent is content to have her character's flaws be upfront and center. Daiya is just as prickly as she was in the first book; Reiho is captive to his fears; Etey is still cold; Silla has become very angry and somewhat bloodthirsty; and Lydee is bullheaded with a strong angry streak (not unlike her sister in the first book).
Though most of the characters go through transformation in this novel, not all of them are "fixed" by the end of it. I think this is one of the strengths of Sargent's writing; she's willing to put the characters in an uncomfortable yet realistic place, to allow them to be flawed when she could tie up everything in a neat and happy ending. Sometimes I found that frustrating; I was sad that none of Lydee's friends chose to join her on Earth after Lydee's experience was over. I'm hoping that some of them will have changed their mind by the third book.
I love the way Sargent portrays people's struggle with change - and in this book, she adds in struggles with the meaning of life. Very well done.
I read the first book in this series when I was a kid, and had no idea there were more books. I loved this book now, but wish the younger me could have read it; I would have identified a lot with Lydee.
Sargent expands on the worlds she created in the first novel. However, she doesn't focus too much on the world-building aspect; the emphasis is given to the relationships between the characters, both positive and negative.
Warning - spoilers ahead!
Many of the characters as portrayed here are uncomfortable. Sargent is content to have her character's flaws be upfront and center. Daiya is just as prickly as she was in the first book; Reiho is captive to his fears; Etey is still cold; Silla has become very angry and somewhat bloodthirsty; and Lydee is bullheaded with a strong angry streak (not unlike her sister in the first book).
Though most of the characters go through transformation in this novel, not all of them are "fixed" by the end of it. I think this is one of the strengths of Sargent's writing; she's willing to put the characters in an uncomfortable yet realistic place, to allow them to be flawed when she could tie up everything in a neat and happy ending. Sometimes I found that frustrating; I was sad that none of Lydee's friends chose to join her on Earth after Lydee's experience was over. I'm hoping that some of them will have changed their mind by the third book.
I love the way Sargent portrays people's struggle with change - and in this book, she adds in struggles with the meaning of life. Very well done.
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