Reviews

Children of God by Mary Doria Russell

green_with_3nvy's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-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

4.0

westachio's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

librarian_of_valencia's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this book and was pulled into the plot, eager to see what happened next and where the story was going.

However, I felt it lacked the power of the first book, and I found the ultimate resolution lacking. There was so much build-up and so little payoff, in the end.

Still, Russell writes beautiful prose, and her characters are well drawn.

vidhi26p's review against another edition

4.0

If you read the first book, you absolutely *need* to read this one. I was so hesitant picking this up, it seemed Emilio’s story was finished well and honestly? I wasn’t that interested in going back to this world. But this sequel isn’t even a sequel — it’s a continuation as the first book simply wasn’t the end of the story. There is more truth to tell and lies to uncover.

And I happily discovered that without the hindrance of unknown actors & characters with this book picking up literally minutes after the Sparrow ends. It was much more enjoyable & fun to read all throughout rather than just at the end, in contrast to the Sparrow.

decapode's review against another edition

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

3.5

toniclark's review against another edition

5.0

I debated about whether to read this one after reading The Sparrow. i was afraid to be disappointed by a sequel. However, I'm now glad that I didn't let too much time elapse between them. The books should definitely be read one after the other, read almost as two halves of one book. And for me, the sequel measured up, did not disappoint. Russell brings so much scientific knowledge to bear on these books and wrestles with many perspectives on God and religion without seeming to push any one on the reader. In an interview, the author said, "It doesn't matter if God is real or not — once the idea exists, it can change history."

Note; I have never read much sci-fi and have no idea where this work fits within the genre. I never felt as though I was reading science fiction. I see that Nancy Pearl felt that this book was mistakenly categorized as science fiction, and that it is really "a philosophical novel about the nature of good and evil and what happens when a man tries to do the right thing, for the right reasons and ends up causing incalculable harm." I agree.

joellenroberts's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

liketheday's review against another edition

4.0

The Society of Jesuits is set on sending a second mission to Rakhat to try again, as it were, and attempt to open up trade agreements with the Jana'ata that will be mutually beneficial. The Father General wants Emilio to return to the planet, but Emilio, understandably, is only willing to train people to go in his stead. The Father General, ever wily, figures out some way to get Emilio on that ship.
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lesliekirby's review against another edition

4.0

I'm a sucker for redemption, what can I say. More interesting in some ways than The Sparrow, since it highlights the misunderstandings in the first book (making The Sparrow all the more tragic). Don't pause after Sparrow, go right into this book.

carmiendo's review

4.0

i liked the first book better. i liked how this one fleshed out the story.