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bickleyhouse's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
I love this series, so far. I've seen several seasons of the TV show, so I'm still playing catch-up with the books, but they seem to have followed the story fairly closely in the show. I will say that I like Amos a lot more in the books than I do in the TV show.
In this book, we are introduced to Sargeant Roberta Draper, who likes to be called "Bobbi" or "Gunny." She is a Martian soldier, and she is huge, compared to Earthers. At the beginning of the story, she and her squad mates are faced with a monster that is composed of the protomolecule that James Holden and company faced on Eros in the first book. Bobbie Draper is the only survivor. She winds up meeting the assistant to the undersecretary of executive administration of the UN, Chrisjen Avasarala. I absolutely love this character. I liked her in the TV show (I think she was perfectly cast), and I like her even more in the books.
We are also dealing with a situation on Ganymede, where a doctor's child (Mei) has been kidnapped because of an immunity disorder that she has. A number of other children were kidnapped, as well. Her father, Praxidike (we just call him Prax), is looking for her, and hires Holden and company to help him.
That's as far into the plot as I will go, here. But the writing continues to be engaging, and, as I said, it doesn't feel like a 600 page book at all. These guys have done a marvelous job of crafting a great science fiction story. I look forward to reading more.
There is some great humor in this story, as well. The interactions between the characters makes me laugh frequently, especially when we are focused on James Holden, Naomi, Alex (the pilot) and Amos. The banter between them is reminiscent of the banter that flows between the Soobs on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
There is one thing I may have missed, though. I don't get the reference to the title. Who, or what, is Caliban?? It's very possible I just glossed over it, while reading.
I recommend this book, this series, to any lover of planetary science fiction.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
arkane'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: War and Violence
cursed10fold'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
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Body horror
anntharai'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
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Classism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, and War
geekmom's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Kidnapping, Gun violence, War, and Body horror
cosmopsis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Ableism
saroreen'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Blood, and War
Moderate: Child abuse and Vomit
Minor: Pedophilia and Trafficking
bookswithbethx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Gore, Death, Confinement, Blood, Medical content, Chronic illness, Animal death, Violence, Child death, Physical abuse, Vomit, Alcohol, Child abuse, Torture, Slavery, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Genocide
roksyreads'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, War, and Body horror
Minor: Child abuse
thedinosaurkid'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
3.75
Graphic: War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Genocide, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail