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herielma's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
pufforrohk's review against another edition
4.0
Seven of Infinities is a novella set in the Vietnamese-inspired science fictional universe of Xuya. This setting allows de Bodard to tackle different genres, and this time she writes a murder-mistery/novel, with good results.
I really liked Sunless Woods, the retired thief mindship that tries to impress the scholar Vân and their interaction with the other members of the former group.
It's not my favorite novella in this setting, but as usual, it's well written and with compelling characters.
I really liked Sunless Woods, the retired thief mindship that tries to impress the scholar Vân and their interaction with the other members of the former group.
It's not my favorite novella in this setting, but as usual, it's well written and with compelling characters.
the_discworldian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hermitqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
nmcannon's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.0
After enjoying her Dominion of the Fallen series, Fireheart Tiger, and In the Vanishers’ Palace, I was eager to dive into de Bodard’s science fiction novellas. Luckily, my wife has a bunch on her Kindle!
Vân is a poor scholar barely making end’s meet. Her work ethic and good reputation hide her from questions about her illegal homemade mem-implant. Her careful life is interrupted by a very rude someone dumping a corpse in her tutoring room. Seeking help, she finds her way to mindship Sunless Woods, a thief who may just come out of retirement for a beautiful girl.
While hard sci-fi is very different from fantastical historical fiction, Seven of Infinities had some classic de Bodard elements. The Việt characters, culture and setting are essential weaves and wefts. Sapphic themes and kisses delight. Non-Euclidian geometry flips the reader topsy-turvy, though thankfully not as violently as In the Vanishers’ Palace. Sunless Woods’ character is based on the great French thief, Arsène Lupin, and the literary reference added extra spice to my read. Sunless Woods is a more realistic take on Lupin. She feels her age and expresses actual doubt, hahah. If you’ve read the Lupin stories around WWI, you might find Sunless Woods more familiar. Some minor world-building niggles distracted me during my read: the exact mechanics of the ship’s avatars, how solid a mindship’s touch was, and how the mindships had human sense memories. Contrary to annoying me, these niggles left me wanting more.
I want to read more of this universe! The Tea Master and Detective is on the Kindle….
My review of The Tea Master and the Detective: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9020cccd-a9e0-4fdc-9e9b-053ad0397837
My review of The Tea Master and the Detective: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9020cccd-a9e0-4fdc-9e9b-053ad0397837
annieb123's review against another edition
5.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Seven of Infinities is a novella set in the Xuya universe by Aliette de Bodard. Released 20th Oct 2020 by Subterranean Press, it's 176 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Well written speculative fiction has the ability to engage, to inform, to inspire, and to take us out of ourselves. This is beautifully written SF and combines many of my Favorite Things - science fiction, intellect, beautifully written prose, appealing character driven plot, and a solid murder mystery.
Although part of a wider fictional setting, I read this one as a standalone and had no trouble inserting myself into the story. The author is adept at providing the necessary context without spoon feeding or info-dumping. In fact the writing is sublime, with well rendered 3 dimensional characters subtly and realistically drawn. It's no surprise, the author has collected an impressive list of awards and accolades from the public and her peers (multiple Nebulae, BSFA, etc). Although her first language is (apparently) French, she writes in English and indeed, quite impressively well and subtly.
This was one of my best reads for 2020 and I fully intend to go at once and find the other ancillary books. Gorgeous and well written. Although the plotting is completely dissimilar and I dislike comparing authors, a lot of the most beautifully wrought phrasing contained here reminds me of the same things which appeal to me in the short stories of Cat Rambo.
Really exceptionally good. More, please.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Seven of Infinities is a novella set in the Xuya universe by Aliette de Bodard. Released 20th Oct 2020 by Subterranean Press, it's 176 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Well written speculative fiction has the ability to engage, to inform, to inspire, and to take us out of ourselves. This is beautifully written SF and combines many of my Favorite Things - science fiction, intellect, beautifully written prose, appealing character driven plot, and a solid murder mystery.
Although part of a wider fictional setting, I read this one as a standalone and had no trouble inserting myself into the story. The author is adept at providing the necessary context without spoon feeding or info-dumping. In fact the writing is sublime, with well rendered 3 dimensional characters subtly and realistically drawn. It's no surprise, the author has collected an impressive list of awards and accolades from the public and her peers (multiple Nebulae, BSFA, etc). Although her first language is (apparently) French, she writes in English and indeed, quite impressively well and subtly.
This was one of my best reads for 2020 and I fully intend to go at once and find the other ancillary books. Gorgeous and well written. Although the plotting is completely dissimilar and I dislike comparing authors, a lot of the most beautifully wrought phrasing contained here reminds me of the same things which appeal to me in the short stories of Cat Rambo.
Really exceptionally good. More, please.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
sillypunk's review against another edition
5.0
Another lovely story in a a great series: https://blogendorff.com/2021/01/03/book-review-seven-of-infinities/
mmarques's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I always enjoy the work of Aliette de Bodard, and am especially fond of her Xuya novels. It took a little longer to get into this story, but I loved how it developed and wrapped up.
This book is full of strong female characters in a Vietnamese space empire.
This book is full of strong female characters in a Vietnamese space empire.