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sabsey's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This started off so good but it went so downhill in the last third :/
I was mostly disappointed in how what appeared to be a really fun mystery pivoted into very conventional and unoriginal plot points - I've just seen this done in SFF before, and I wanted more than what this novel was giving
I also wasn't impressed in how the female characters were treated - a surprising amount of misogyny in both the world and how the women were characterised - there were only two main women and they were both accessories and love interests to the overwhelming cast of men - and this book also fell into the tired trope of 'more competent and talented female sidekick yet the man is considered the hero.
(Seriously, it was getting ridiculous how often Holden deferred to Naomi and how she consistently kept the ball rolling and figuring things out miles ahead of everyone else - at one point they even joke about why he's the Captain instead of her).
I might still read the rest of the series because apparently it gets better, but it has a lot of ground to make up for.
I was mostly disappointed in how what appeared to be a really fun mystery pivoted into very conventional and unoriginal plot points - I've just seen this done in SFF before, and I wanted more than what this novel was giving
I also wasn't impressed in how the female characters were treated - a surprising amount of misogyny in both the world and how the women were characterised - there were only two main women and they were both accessories and love interests to the overwhelming cast of men - and this book also fell into the tired trope of 'more competent and talented female sidekick yet the man is considered the hero.
(Seriously, it was getting ridiculous how often Holden deferred to Naomi and how she consistently kept the ball rolling and figuring things out miles ahead of everyone else - at one point they even joke about why he's the Captain instead of her).
I might still read the rest of the series because apparently it gets better, but it has a lot of ground to make up for.
jamesarosen's review against another edition
4.0
I love the mix of genres
I think the overall arc and the weaving of plots is quite good
The pacing really kept me engaged… after the first quarter, which was a bit tough
The bad
The women are reduced to objects of desire or fantasy, with just the barest sketch of a character.
There are lots of tough negotiations, but very little collaboration.
I think the overall arc and the weaving of plots is quite good
The pacing really kept me engaged… after the first quarter, which was a bit tough
The bad
The women are reduced to objects of desire or fantasy, with just the barest sketch of a character.
There are lots of tough negotiations, but very little collaboration.
shannon_rose6897's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
ethanhunt's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
5.0
As I have a thing for filmed books, as soon as I read that there is a series made, I grabbed up this book and soon started it. That I already bought the Novella [b:The Butcher of Anderson Station|11570653|The Butcher of Anderson Station (Expanse, #0.5)|James S.A. Corey|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316999513s/11570653.jpg|16511459], helped, as the series was already on my radar.
Most of the book two alternating pov's, Miller (the detective) and Holden (the righteous man).
Complicated enough to grab ones attention even for the long read this has been.
A lot of action and some bloody fights keep the action going, but peppered with a few twists and decisions which while looking good or even inevitable at the time they where made, they have more or less unexpected results, and show that there might be a problem setting all information free.
Moral and later in the book self-justice gets discussed, although this is one case I think it is justified.
Still, to see it developed, handled and discussed makes for a nice change, in a lot of US-American books I read the last few years, this gets not questioned, or all acting persons agree with the vigilante (which I normally do not, this one case being the exception of the rule).
This book, the first in a series, has for me the makings of a TV-series which could be the next Game of Thrones, but a skimmed a few reviews of the next book, and I may be wrong, although the ratings are even higher. Still bought it, and will read it soon. Not sure wether this series is finished, but so far 5 novels and a couple of shorties / novellas have been published, so they may go on. Edit: have not checked correctly, or it has been added recently, but on Goodreads they list this series now as 9 books, with #06 expected to be published 2016, the following without a planned date.
Will comment this review when I have watched the (currently 4 episodes) TV-Series.
Most of the book two alternating pov's, Miller (the detective) and Holden (the righteous man).
Complicated enough to grab ones attention even for the long read this has been.
A lot of action and some bloody fights keep the action going, but peppered with a few twists and decisions which while looking good or even inevitable at the time they where made, they have more or less unexpected results, and show that there might be a problem setting all information free.
Moral and later in the book self-justice gets discussed, although this is one case I think it is justified.
Still, to see it developed, handled and discussed makes for a nice change, in a lot of US-American books I read the last few years, this gets not questioned, or all acting persons agree with the vigilante (which I normally do not, this one case being the exception of the rule).
This book, the first in a series, has for me the makings of a TV-series which could be the next Game of Thrones, but a skimmed a few reviews of the next book, and I may be wrong, although the ratings are even higher. Still bought it, and will read it soon. Not sure wether this series is finished, but so far 5 novels and a couple of shorties / novellas have been published, so they may go on. Edit: have not checked correctly, or it has been added recently, but on Goodreads they list this series now as 9 books, with #06 expected to be published 2016, the following without a planned date.
Will comment this review when I have watched the (currently 4 episodes) TV-Series.
mattbasil's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nonlinearpaolo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hlflosser's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first space opera I’ve read. Now I’m hooked. I’ve always loved the star war movies but never ventured out into books set in space. This was a great start. It had a little but of everything. Noir feeling with an detective a little bit of horror with the descriptions of things and humor with the banter.
hoggnogg's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.5
An excellent book, mainly sci fi with some horror mixed in and a touch of humour every now and again. It makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next, at no point did I feel that any part of the book wasn't needed in order to progress the story.