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roganshannon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy to review.
Representation: Multiple queer characters, characters over 40, BIPOC
Gita Chithra is the captain of an intergalactic ship, The Tempest, and her crew does retrieval and assistance, fairly simple work. She has two daughters that are AGIs, Artificial General Intelligences, and she raised/trained them from their inception. There’s an artificial alien-made solar system, nicknamed Loki’s Ring, that very little is known about, because any attempt to get close is destroyed. Gita gets a frantic message from Ri, one of her daughters, warning of a mysterious contagion that’s killed and infected everyone on Loki’s Ring. Gita has to go help of course, and her crew is in for the ride. They’re faced with horrors, and have to call for help from an old friend that she hasn’t spoken to for a long time.
Rating: 4.5/5 This is the second book from Stina in the same universe, but a completely different location and cast. I really enjoyed Persephone Station, and I immensely enjoyed this one as well. I appreciate how casually queer Stina makes her characters, and they don’t hesitate to have a big variety in ages and genders. There are some well into their 50s, maybe older, which is fantastic to see in sci-fi. I feel like I can’t adequately sum up what this book is about, because there’s so much happening all at once. Loki’s Ring is the main focus sure, but there’s also several sub-plots completely unrelated, or are happening to lead up to the main event. The description also makes it seem like it’s only one POV, but there’s multiple, mostly between two or three people. I didn’t mind all of what was happening, but it does feel like it could have been streamlined a bit, or made the flow more smooth if it was from an omniscient narrator rather than specific POVs. As an example of how much is happening: an admin managing politics, a heist, corporations trying to claim territory, pirates and criminals, alien tech, salvage operations, military involvement, and that’s not even everything. Don’t expect an action-packed story though, there’s plenty of quiet and slow moments throughout the whole story. “Space opera” isn’t an entirely accurate description of this. If you enjoy sci-fi and wide-ranging stories, this is definitely a great read.
Representation: Multiple queer characters, characters over 40, BIPOC
Gita Chithra is the captain of an intergalactic ship, The Tempest, and her crew does retrieval and assistance, fairly simple work. She has two daughters that are AGIs, Artificial General Intelligences, and she raised/trained them from their inception. There’s an artificial alien-made solar system, nicknamed Loki’s Ring, that very little is known about, because any attempt to get close is destroyed. Gita gets a frantic message from Ri, one of her daughters, warning of a mysterious contagion that’s killed and infected everyone on Loki’s Ring. Gita has to go help of course, and her crew is in for the ride. They’re faced with horrors, and have to call for help from an old friend that she hasn’t spoken to for a long time.
Rating: 4.5/5 This is the second book from Stina in the same universe, but a completely different location and cast. I really enjoyed Persephone Station, and I immensely enjoyed this one as well. I appreciate how casually queer Stina makes her characters, and they don’t hesitate to have a big variety in ages and genders. There are some well into their 50s, maybe older, which is fantastic to see in sci-fi. I feel like I can’t adequately sum up what this book is about, because there’s so much happening all at once. Loki’s Ring is the main focus sure, but there’s also several sub-plots completely unrelated, or are happening to lead up to the main event. The description also makes it seem like it’s only one POV, but there’s multiple, mostly between two or three people. I didn’t mind all of what was happening, but it does feel like it could have been streamlined a bit, or made the flow more smooth if it was from an omniscient narrator rather than specific POVs. As an example of how much is happening: an admin managing politics, a heist, corporations trying to claim territory, pirates and criminals, alien tech, salvage operations, military involvement, and that’s not even everything. Don’t expect an action-packed story though, there’s plenty of quiet and slow moments throughout the whole story. “Space opera” isn’t an entirely accurate description of this. If you enjoy sci-fi and wide-ranging stories, this is definitely a great read.
arkwen452's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
Loki's Ring, a remarkable and intricate sci-fi novel, delves into the profound themes of life, duty, commitment, and the convergence of alien technology with maternal responsibilities. Amidst the intricate web of political and militant entities lies the discovery of a potentially lethal virus in a restricted alien space, coveted by multiple factions.
The narrative unfolds with vivid descriptions and imaginative exploration. Gita, our central character, emerges as a profoundly empathetic and caring individual. Readers will resonate with her relentless pursuit to rescue her daughter and companions, showcasing her unwavering commitment to preserving lives. Notably, Gita's empathy extends beyond humanity to the cohabiting AI entities, adding a layer of complexity to the novel's world.
While the story is compelling and adventurous, a lingering sense of manipulation surrounds Gita's character, a pawn chosen for her empathetic nature. Her altruistic endeavors unwittingly lead to peril for herself, her crew, and those who come to her aid. The irony lies in her AI daughter's intentional objective to deliver the virus to the very person who dispatched her into the depths of Loki's Ring.
Although the world-building captivates, the storyline and character progression leave something to be desired. A pervasive feeling of disappointment arises, as the narrative falls short of expectations. Despite the letdown, Loki's Ring remains an entertaining exploration of a captivating and diverse universe.
sigrace111's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
qujoy's review against another edition
5.0
So good! So gooood!!!
I read this book with such joy.
She managed high stakes and compassion and tragedy and chosen family and space racing and queer fun and pirates and AIs that made me cry.
The pace accelerated through the second half until I lost my breath and ignored my family to read it all.
I read this book with such joy.
She managed high stakes and compassion and tragedy and chosen family and space racing and queer fun and pirates and AIs that made me cry.
The pace accelerated through the second half until I lost my breath and ignored my family to read it all.
pseudonymist_'s review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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? Yes
4.5
persephonelunari's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
henren'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? Yes
3.5
allie_rose's review against another edition
3.25
Somehow this felt like a sequel but wasn’t? So much happened beforehand and offscreen that I found it difficult to care or understand about the here and now
tentenlibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
3.25
arguhlincozzi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, and Death