Reviews

A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys

awildbrady's review against another edition

hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

codemasterpi's review

adventurous challenging hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

a_mo_zing's review

hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.25

funktious's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book made me feel really, really old. I nearly DNF'd in the Zealand chapters, but kept going because I think it's important to read outside of your comfort zone and experience. By the end I was more invested in the story and glad I finished it.

A unique first contact story, very 'alien' aliens, mothers as diplomats, lots of representation of different identities, a glimpse of a future where we've moved past violence and have learned to talk through our problems and brainstorm solutions together. 

But oh it just felt so 'worthy' and exhausting. I'm all for representation and being comfortable with your identity and found families - yay for all of it but there was just SO MUCH. The corporate chapters / characters felt particularly cartoonish.

We really don't get to learn much about the characters at all, beyond their pronouns and relationships. The plot is mostly political wrangling and positioning via endless dialogue. The constant use of technology to consult / share knowledge with others / vote on outcomes whilst in those dialogues was also exhausting and off putting - I do not want to end up with a thousand sub reddits plugged into my brain 24/7. And then there's the human / alien sex, which I skipped entirely.

The main thing that was missing for me though, was any clear love of the earth as motivation for wanting to stay here. There was a bit of it in the second half, but it was very science and data heavy, rather than the reverence or awe I was looking for. 

occlude's review

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

Very mid as the kids say. Has a lot of interesting ideas, but often felt pedestrian in the reading. Suffers from the common problem of the contortions required to make a small cast of characters pivotal in such a large event as first contact. 

silasburke's review

My libby expired! I was intrigued but it felt a little slow at the beginning. Would try again in the future! 

ash24314's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative lighthearted 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? No

4.0

adecker91's review

medium-paced

3.5

Just spent the entire time wondering why no one suggested only the interested humans going with the Ringers. Compromise is a thing and it never occurred to anyone.

lemh's review against another edition

Could not finish unfortunately for reasons that have already been stated in many of the reviews. I might revisit in the future.

katha_st's review against another edition

Sex with alien species