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lpdx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Medical content, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Death, Drug use, Body horror, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Violence, Torture, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Genocide, Confinement, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Addiction, Classism, Colonisation, Islamophobia, and Racism
lady_valhella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Vomit, Drug use, Body horror, Medical trauma, Torture, Addiction, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Deadnaming, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, and Medical content
alyxinthestars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Drug use, Slavery, Vomit, Torture, and Death of parent
starccato's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Addiction, Body horror, Colonisation, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Classism, War, Xenophobia, Violence, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma
Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This kind of felt like watching an old school Star Trek to me? It reminded me so much of my love for Voyager. It was full of snarky, witty banter, at times a little cheesy but in a way that is a hallmark of old school scifi; it’s full of fast paced action and gun fights and plans where everything goes wrong but you have hope at the end of an episode things will be okay. It just felt like such a classic space opera, it was so much fun, I laughed out loud throughout. Rig is an absolute walking disaster and I LOVE HER. I also really loved the sweet romance storyline between Ginka and Crane. A wonderful debut!
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for sending me an ARC of this book, that has not affected my opinions in this review.
Content warnings: violence, gun violence, blood, war, kidnapping, drug use, addiction, medical trauma, injury details, vomit
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Blood
azrah786's review against another edition
4.0
**I received a proof copy from Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, gore, death, body horror, medical trauma, vomit, drug use
A highly enjoyable sci-fi debut that you'll love if you’re a fan of high-stakes heists and daring rescue missions!
Taking place in a galaxy where 3 factions – Ascetic, Ossuary and Pyrite – vie for supremacy, Bluebird follows a factionless, gunslinging rebel named Rig who has fled her life as a Pyrite weapon’s developer and now works as part of the Nightbirds, a resistance organisation that helps to free other indentured individuals and their families.
However, her past and her ex-faction are always on her heels since she stole schematics to a weapon when she made off, and things become more dire when her sister’s life is thrown into the mix. Thus with the help of some of her associates, her Librarian girlfriend and a reluctant ally, who happens to be a kickass bounty hunter, Rig sets out to save her sister as well as keep what she stole out of faction hands.
This book was a whole lot of fun! Though the pacing was a bit here and there and the protagonist had a tendency to repeat her thoughts, Pierlot has balanced an action packed space adventure with a thought provoking exploration of colonial themes. Through the primary storyline and an accompanying side story told through recurring interludes, we’re introduced to an array of morally ambiguous characters that you want to immediately rally behind and given a glimpse at a rich, Star Wars-esque universe that you just want to discover more of.
For a standalone the worldbuilding packs just enough background on the characters and setting in a way that is not overly excessive as to draw away from the main plot. Though it is obvious that the plot is but a small story in a bigger saga and it would be cool if this was ever expanded on in the future, I'm especially curious to know more about the Nightbirds!
Rig is a spunky individual who fights her battles with quippy remarks just as much as she does with her twin guns, Panache and Pizzazz. Her escapades have her jumping from one planet to another, giving us a glimpse at the varying ways of life and political tensions under the 3 factions in power. In fact each of the primary characters showcase varying aspects of the subjugation of these factions, the obligations they feel towards them and the inner conflicts they each face as a result. I found the character arc of Ginka, the bounty hunter, to be the most interesting to follow.
The character relationships were also particularly well written. There were some romance subplots present, more or less falling in with the forbidden love trope that were equal parts sweet and angst ridden. However, I’ve got to say it was the friendship that formed between Rig and Ginka that stole the show for me – I just love me some good old reluctant teamwork paired with witty banter that results in camaraderie!
All in all despite being a little predictable, the story was highly entertaining all the way through and I look forward to seeing what Pierlot writes next!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death, Blood, Drug use, and Body horror
Moderate: Vomit, Gore, and Medical trauma