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booksandlemonsquash's review
3.0
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Aether Ones gives you a mystery set in a sci-fi environment, and I think the way we get to focus on the mystery elements but still get such a big influence from the space setting was pretty good.
Unfortunately, I don't think we got to see enough of the world - what we see is really intriguing and I needed more world building to really understand some of the implications of the events. There are some serious political implications, and we don't really get time to establish the players or their motivations. We also don't get to see why Leilani is doing what she is at the start. After that, her actions are mostly clear, but the lack of world building around it makes it harder to follow. This mostly impacts the mystery - the science seems fairly solid and some of the details we do get are utterly fab. I especially love Leilani's little friend doing all the tiny tech things!
The book also jumps around a little bit (one page they rescue someone, the next there are inside jokes about getting them drunk etc) in a way that makes it a little jarring.
Having said all this, I did still enjoy it - it's fast-paced, action-filled and intriguing. I think I'd happily have given it four stars if we had the world-building elements, but because I struggled to follow it a little, I had to knock it down.
3 stars.
Aether Ones gives you a mystery set in a sci-fi environment, and I think the way we get to focus on the mystery elements but still get such a big influence from the space setting was pretty good.
Unfortunately, I don't think we got to see enough of the world - what we see is really intriguing and I needed more world building to really understand some of the implications of the events. There are some serious political implications, and we don't really get time to establish the players or their motivations. We also don't get to see why Leilani is doing what she is at the start. After that, her actions are mostly clear, but the lack of world building around it makes it harder to follow. This mostly impacts the mystery - the science seems fairly solid and some of the details we do get are utterly fab. I especially love Leilani's little friend doing all the tiny tech things!
The book also jumps around a little bit (one page they rescue someone, the next there are inside jokes about getting them drunk etc) in a way that makes it a little jarring.
Having said all this, I did still enjoy it - it's fast-paced, action-filled and intriguing. I think I'd happily have given it four stars if we had the world-building elements, but because I struggled to follow it a little, I had to knock it down.
3 stars.
kmowery's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
dinipandareads's review
3.0
TL;DR: If you're looking for a fast-paced sci-fi set in space with an intense mystery and one of the most badass heroines I've ever had the pleasure to encounter, then this could be the book for you. We've got secret agents, corrupt military/navy forces, power-hungry royals, a huge mix of alien races, a special kind of magic and crazy cool futuristic technology, and lots of battles. While so many elements made this an entertaining read, I did struggle a bit with the time jumps and minimal world-building. Still, this was a very run read and I enjoyed seeing how the mystery unfolded!
Check out my full review on my blog!
Check out my full review on my blog!
bridgets_books's review
4.0
Aether Ones is a gripping science fiction novel presenting two opposing worlds, each convinced of their supremacy. Fighting for justice in a world where nothing is as it seems is the heroine, Leilani Falconi.
Lei makes an extraordinary lead character. She’s a sarcasm spouting firebrand willing to sacrifice all to bring peace and the rightful ruler back to power.
The author gives us fantastic creatures and technology from her fertile mind. The story’s nonstop action and intricate twists & turns will keep you on your toes as you turn the pages.
If mystery, mayhem, and battles are what you look for in a science fiction thriller, Aether Ones is the book for you.
I received a copy of the book for a blog tour. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Lei makes an extraordinary lead character. She’s a sarcasm spouting firebrand willing to sacrifice all to bring peace and the rightful ruler back to power.
The author gives us fantastic creatures and technology from her fertile mind. The story’s nonstop action and intricate twists & turns will keep you on your toes as you turn the pages.
If mystery, mayhem, and battles are what you look for in a science fiction thriller, Aether Ones is the book for you.
I received a copy of the book for a blog tour. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
bridgets_books's review against another edition
4.0
Aether Ones is a gripping science fiction novel presenting two opposing worlds, each convinced of their supremacy. Fighting for justice in a world where nothing is as it seems is the heroine, Leilani Falconi.
Lei makes an extraordinary lead character. She’s a sarcasm spouting firebrand willing to sacrifice all to bring peace and the rightful ruler back to power.
The author gives us fantastic creatures and technology from her fertile mind. The story’s nonstop action and intricate twists & turns will keep you on your toes as you turn the pages.
If mystery, mayhem, and battles are what you look for in a science fiction thriller, Aether Ones is the book for you.
I received a copy of the book for a blog tour. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Lei makes an extraordinary lead character. She’s a sarcasm spouting firebrand willing to sacrifice all to bring peace and the rightful ruler back to power.
The author gives us fantastic creatures and technology from her fertile mind. The story’s nonstop action and intricate twists & turns will keep you on your toes as you turn the pages.
If mystery, mayhem, and battles are what you look for in a science fiction thriller, Aether Ones is the book for you.
I received a copy of the book for a blog tour. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
avoraciousreader68's review
fast-paced
4.0
Book source ~ The Write Reads Tour
Leilani “Lei” Falconi is an agent for the Imperial Investigative Service and has been for many years. The IIS polices the two areas of space that was brought about by the Great Sundering. Aether space is where magic or eldrich is used and kuldain is where technology excelled. There’s been an uneasy peace between the two realities, but something or someone is stirring up trouble and that makes Lei’s job even harder. She stumbles upon a case involving suspicious deaths and the further she gets pulled into the investigation the more tangled and dangerous it becomes. Will this be the one to retire her permanently?
This is a rich and layered world with a great many varied inhabitants. There’s magic and technology galore, too. While this story is told from Lei’s POV there are several other characters who are front and center. There’s a shitton of action. Lei is always in the thick of things and she’s always the biggest badass around. Which is not always favorable. I’m a bit disappointed that Lei gets out of every situation because she is nearly literally pulling some kind of technology out of her ass to help her succeed and advance the story. She’s like this Uber Character that can never do wrong, always kicks ass, and everyone admires her. However, I like her despite this flaw in how she is written. The characters around her are many and varied so it takes some time to sort them all out. The worlds are complicated, the politics even more so. And that’s before you toss a mystery into the mix. But Lei’s story will pick you up and carry you right along until the end. Or is it?
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