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vivlia's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
extremelysoundyoungpotato's review
4.0
Wow. I'm actually impressed. The surprise stems from the fact that of the many new releases I sample each year, only a very few are worth my time. Originally picked out of the crowd because I thought my mother-in-law would like it, I ended up finishing it for myself. Well-written, engaging, and believable, this successful sci-fi/detective fiction crossover left me satisfied and entertained, without any moral baggage. I appreciated the good vs. evil trope, when so much of sci-fi (and most other genres, to be honest) emphasizes the shades of grey, but what made me really keep reading was the strength of the writing itself. Would never have known it was a co-written project based on the prose alone. There were a few issues: some unrealistic dialogue/motivations regarding pregnancy, the 'umbilicals', the number of times a doorway 'irised', and - the most heinous - using Our Lord's name in vain several times in the latter half. The technology/science/space elements were simple enough for me to understand, but the writing hit that perfect balance between detail and the accepted unknown to make me believe. Sure, I could be nit-picky and say the plot was too simplistic, but I'm not going to. Because *the writing* kept me intrigued. The way I'm harping might may it sound like the best-written book I've read - it's not. Rather, 'Wormhole' avoids so many traps in both sci-fi and detective fiction and merges the best of both worlds, which is such a relief after reading the filth both sci-fi and detective fiction offer.
lyleblosser's review
4.0
An entertaining mash-up of murder mystery, police procedural, and high-tech exploration of a potential colony world light-years from Earth. With aliens!
effervescenteloise's review
Wormhole was set up to be an interesting science fiction detective story, but the further I got into it the more and more i came to dislike its vision of the future. "Those greedy Chinese own everything now" is not new, engaging, or worthwhile as a setting if you do nothing interesting with it. The characters constantly yearn for a return to the old imperialism before the Chinese, and it just left me feeling empty and sad. Topping that off with quite frankly laughable writing of its female characters made me set this book down with no intention of picking it back up.
madelaine__grace's review
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
tien's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I must admit that it's the mystery with a futuristic setting that interests me. And I truly enjoyed this part of the book. I love the characters and even as the vision of this future is so heartbreaking yet I was drawn to it. The complexity and the show down at the end were very engaging.
On the other hand, I just couldn't engage with the other half of the novel. The one that was set in a foreign planet. I found myself a bit bored and characters did not call to me at all. Until, of course, one of the detectives turned up then it was all go go go.
Overall, Wormhole was an interesting premise, intriguing mystery, and a fantastic world building. I'd like to see more of these detectives.
My thanks to Angry Robot for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts
On the other hand, I just couldn't engage with the other half of the novel. The one that was set in a foreign planet. I found myself a bit bored and characters did not call to me at all. Until, of course, one of the detectives turned up then it was all go go go.
Overall, Wormhole was an interesting premise, intriguing mystery, and a fantastic world building. I'd like to see more of these detectives.
My thanks to Angry Robot for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts
annarella's review
4.0
It's hard to review a book like this one, a mix of sci-fi and thriller as the relevant elements can be different.
That said I enjoyed it and liked how it worked creating an interesting world and a quite solid mystery.
I would be curious to read another sci-fi thriller by these authors.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
That said I enjoyed it and liked how it worked creating an interesting world and a quite solid mystery.
I would be curious to read another sci-fi thriller by these authors.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
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