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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Better than I expected, I might even try the second in the series, despite it being VERY YA
adventurous
Overall, a solid first instalment for the trilogy. A little slow to start, but good worldbuilding. The characters were varied and believable. Enjoyable amount and style of humour and the slow romance build was fab. The plot thickened slowly like jam on the stove top, becoming deliciously gelatinous and stickier with every chapter. Interested to learn more about some of the mysteries we got a glimpse at in this one.
Could be improved with third person narrative instead of first (personal preference, I know, but at some points being in Lyra's head felt clunky?) and I wasn't keen on the final shock reveal. Although I didn't see it coming, I could think of 2 or 3 other twists that would be far more satisfying and gut-wrenching than the outcome we had (but maybe I was just hoping to have my old black, symbol-ised heart deteriorate to dust, because I love pain?). There was no real cliff hanger to pull me into the next book, but since it has solid reviews I'll be giving it a go.
Could be improved with third person narrative instead of first (personal preference, I know, but at some points being in Lyra's head felt clunky?) and I wasn't keen on the final shock reveal. Although I didn't see it coming, I could think of 2 or 3 other twists that would be far more satisfying and gut-wrenching than the outcome we had (but maybe I was just hoping to have my old black, symbol-ised heart deteriorate to dust, because I love pain?). There was no real cliff hanger to pull me into the next book, but since it has solid reviews I'll be giving it a go.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
I very much so enjoy books that explore space and do so while low-key discussing the science involved with it. From the early discussions of how space travel works with "crinkles", to the visualizations of galaxies through the main deck "window", and the exploration with the Q-net, I thought Maria V. Snyder did a phenomenal job pacing, story-telling, and character development.
At first Lyra came off as a petulant teenager, who would fight her parents at any turn when it came to leaving her friends on Xinji and traveling to Yulin. She had the pity party with her friends at her "funeral" and the rebellious teen was in full force on board the spaceship to Yulin. My opinion of her didn't change much until she was offered the internship as a navigator and you began to see how truly smart, cunning, and secretly devilish she could really be. I really enjoyed her relationship with the captain and Hoshi on board the ship and it did a great job of showing her growth as a wormer and an all around young adult. I really started to wonder how well would she be at being a navigator, or maybe a wormer, but then wondered with what happened with her brother Phoenix if she would leave her parents.
The development and relationship between Lyra and Niall I found to be quite the same as the relationships my students would tell me when I was an educator. The back and forth pettiness between the two, the nicknames, the rudeness, but all of that stemmed from a place that really showed how much each cared for each other and how they needed each other deeply even though they would never fully admit that. As the story progress and the first loot attack happens, you begin to see the start of this long-lasting relationship, which only gets stronger with the attack by the HoLFs while rebuilding The General.
Speaking of The General and the Terracotta Warriors, I loved the intricacies of the octagon, the number 8, the symbols carved into the warriors and how all of that lead to the discoveries by Lan, Lyra, and Niall. I often found myself while reading wondering about the true purpose of those 64 sites of Terracotta Warriors and why there were on those planets. We learn that of course that it is due to the HoLFs, or as Lyra puts it the shadow-blobs. I still find myself wondering though as to why aliens mimicked the Chinese warriors and what is the significance of those 64 planets.
Of course the story with Lan, Lyra, and the super wormer was the main story behind this great read. I won't go into detail here, but I knew something was amiss when she focused on the first loot attack and their leader's eyes. I guess one could say that Officer Tight Pants really blew the whistle on the whole looter/wormer aspect (that will make sense after reading lol). I found it very touching at the end when they announced that a new Junior Officer, Ara Yinhexi Lawrence, would be joining the security team and that she may play a much larger role in the series as a whole. I look forward to seeing where Maria V. Synder takes our "new" character and to what worlds and troubles she will discover.
Overall - 4.5/5 as it was a truly enjoyable and engaging read that left me wanting more of the world started in Yulin and hoping that it extends outwards as the team begins Navigating the Stars.
At first Lyra came off as a petulant teenager, who would fight her parents at any turn when it came to leaving her friends on Xinji and traveling to Yulin. She had the pity party with her friends at her "funeral" and the rebellious teen was in full force on board the spaceship to Yulin. My opinion of her didn't change much until she was offered the internship as a navigator and you began to see how truly smart, cunning, and secretly devilish she could really be. I really enjoyed her relationship with the captain and Hoshi on board the ship and it did a great job of showing her growth as a wormer and an all around young adult. I really started to wonder how well would she be at being a navigator, or maybe a wormer, but then wondered with what happened with her brother Phoenix if she would leave her parents.
The development and relationship between Lyra and Niall I found to be quite the same as the relationships my students would tell me when I was an educator. The back and forth pettiness between the two, the nicknames, the rudeness, but all of that stemmed from a place that really showed how much each cared for each other and how they needed each other deeply even though they would never fully admit that. As the story progress and the first loot attack happens, you begin to see the start of this long-lasting relationship, which only gets stronger with the attack by the HoLFs while rebuilding The General.
Speaking of The General and the Terracotta Warriors, I loved the intricacies of the octagon, the number 8, the symbols carved into the warriors and how all of that lead to the discoveries by Lan, Lyra, and Niall. I often found myself while reading wondering about the true purpose of those 64 sites of Terracotta Warriors and why there were on those planets. We learn that of course that it is due to the HoLFs, or as Lyra puts it the shadow-blobs. I still find myself wondering though as to why aliens mimicked the Chinese warriors and what is the significance of those 64 planets.
Of course the story with Lan, Lyra, and the super wormer was the main story behind this great read. I won't go into detail here, but I knew something was amiss when she focused on the first loot attack and their leader's eyes. I guess one could say that Officer Tight Pants really blew the whistle on the whole looter/wormer aspect (that will make sense after reading lol). I found it very touching at the end when they announced that a new Junior Officer, Ara Yinhexi Lawrence, would be joining the security team and that she may play a much larger role in the series as a whole. I look forward to seeing where Maria V. Synder takes our "new" character and to what worlds and troubles she will discover.
Overall - 4.5/5 as it was a truly enjoyable and engaging read that left me wanting more of the world started in Yulin and hoping that it extends outwards as the team begins Navigating the Stars.
I really really enjoyed this. I listened to the audiobook and it lent itself really well to that medium I think. I really liked Lyra as a main character, she was flawed but resilient and I definitely appreciated that. I also adored Niall, he was such a grumpy sweetheart. The plot was smart and I didn't actually guess the 'twist' towards the end, the bigger plot as it were is also super interesting and I am so looking forward to the next one.
I'm not usually a fan of space stories, but checked this out from the library on a whim. The writing and plot is engaging, and I actually liked the main character for the whole book - which usually isn't the case in ya novels for me.
It's now 5 am and I already checked out book 2. Which I'll start after a nap...
It's now 5 am and I already checked out book 2. Which I'll start after a nap...
This is a brilliant book.
The main character’s is snarky and funny and I immediately wanted to keep reading just to see what she’d get up to.
The story is fascinating and the sci fi elements are clearly explained. Maria was even so kind to message me to help me make sure I had a good understanding of time dilation when I posted in a Facebook group asking other fans for advice.
You cannot go wrong with any of Maria’s books and this one is definitely amazing!
The main character’s is snarky and funny and I immediately wanted to keep reading just to see what she’d get up to.
The story is fascinating and the sci fi elements are clearly explained. Maria was even so kind to message me to help me make sure I had a good understanding of time dilation when I posted in a Facebook group asking other fans for advice.
You cannot go wrong with any of Maria’s books and this one is definitely amazing!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes