Reviews

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

saloninareads's review against another edition

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dark informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No

2.25

druidessie's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow, just wow. “A Desolation Called Peace” by Arkady Martine is an amazing read. The first book was really good, but this was even better! Her characters are so good. I especially loved two of the new ones (Twenty Cicada aka Swarm and Nine Hibiscus) and the way Eight Antidote got fleshed out in this book.

Like the first one, it’s a sci-fI political thriller, but the sequel adds a heavy dose of military space opera and a first-contact scenario very reminiscent of the movie Arrival. There’s also a really good reason she included Stanislav Petrov in the dedication. If you don’t know who that is, go look him up and learn about the little known incident which was arguably the closest humanity has ever come to nuclear war.

jayrude's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.0

izzenithal's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes
Need to read again— I had expectations for pacing based on the first novel and I think that screwed a bit with my reading experience w this one. Really, really excellent though.

jwolflink3's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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? It's complicated

2.5

sonialuto's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

shrugabug's review against another edition

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5.0

it is hard for a sequel to be better than an already amazing first book, but martine manages it

sthenic's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

dupe's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lucasbrooks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Slow start, but enjoyed the wider scope than the first book - could really feel the swath and weight of the empire. Climax may have ended a little too quickly for my tastes