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verumsolum's review
4.75
Wow… this book (and this trilogy) continued to grab me and propel me through its pages. These characters feel so real in their emotional reactions to these events that are so much bigger than I can comprehend. Sometimes I wish I understood the plot a little better, but I have no regrets about persisting with these characters and what they have to face!
crochetchrisie's review against another edition
4.0
3.5stars
There was too much going on for me to keep up with the characters sometimes. I was happy with the character arcs and the plot, it was just a lot to keep track of.
There was too much going on for me to keep up with the characters sometimes. I was happy with the character arcs and the plot, it was just a lot to keep track of.
sagethuja's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
lawbooks600's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Representation: Black and Asian characters
Score: Five points out of ten.
One year ago, I read the first instalment of the Unstoppable trilogy: Victories Greater Than Death--a massive disappointment. One year later, it was time to read the second part of the series: Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak. Unfortunately, when I picked it up, read and finished it, it was equally underwhelming. No library has the third part, Promises Stronger Than Darkness, but I won't read that; I'm done with this author.
It starts (more like continues) with the characters that need no introduction: Tina, Elza and Rachel, all living separate lives but none of them are on Earth anymore. Elza desires to be the first human to enter The Palace of Scented Tears, while Rachel can't draw after encountering an alien artefact and Tina seizes an opportunity to study at the Royal Space Academy but unexpectedly does not fulfil others' expectations there. Sounds disjointed? It sure is. It was a struggle to read each individual narrative. Splitting the book into three parts each starring a protagonist would be better; not to mention I couldn't connect or relate to any of them in the first place. The character soup didn't help either, as there were so many non-human people I had to meet that I couldn't remember or keep track of them. Rachel goes to a black hole to attempt to restore her artistic abilities, and Elza meets the antagonist from Victories Greater Than Death, Marrant, all while Tina stumbles upon the Bereavement. Nothing much happened in the first 300 pages. Damina, Kez and Yiwei were predominantly in the background. However, the last 100 quickened the pace to its detriment as I couldn't comprehend all the events that occurred. The malicious organisation, the Compassion, returns to execute their vitriolic plan to extinguish entire species by inserting black holes that eat suns from the inside, slowly destroying civilisations. Which is what happened to the Irriyaians and why most of them are dead now, including another person, Yatto. Tina also ceased to exist during the disordered pandemonium when she transformed into captain Thaoh Argentian, which concluded Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak on a low note.
Score: Five points out of ten.
One year ago, I read the first instalment of the Unstoppable trilogy: Victories Greater Than Death--a massive disappointment. One year later, it was time to read the second part of the series: Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak. Unfortunately, when I picked it up, read and finished it, it was equally underwhelming. No library has the third part, Promises Stronger Than Darkness, but I won't read that; I'm done with this author.
It starts (more like continues) with the characters that need no introduction: Tina, Elza and Rachel, all living separate lives but none of them are on Earth anymore. Elza desires to be the first human to enter The Palace of Scented Tears, while Rachel can't draw after encountering an alien artefact and Tina seizes an opportunity to study at the Royal Space Academy but unexpectedly does not fulfil others' expectations there. Sounds disjointed? It sure is. It was a struggle to read each individual narrative. Splitting the book into three parts each starring a protagonist would be better; not to mention I couldn't connect or relate to any of them in the first place. The character soup didn't help either, as there were so many non-human people I had to meet that I couldn't remember or keep track of them. Rachel goes to a black hole to attempt to restore her artistic abilities, and Elza meets the antagonist from Victories Greater Than Death, Marrant, all while Tina stumbles upon the Bereavement. Nothing much happened in the first 300 pages. Damina, Kez and Yiwei were predominantly in the background. However, the last 100 quickened the pace to its detriment as I couldn't comprehend all the events that occurred. The malicious organisation, the Compassion, returns to execute their vitriolic plan to extinguish entire species by inserting black holes that eat suns from the inside, slowly destroying civilisations. Which is what happened to the Irriyaians and why most of them are dead now, including another person, Yatto. Tina also ceased to exist during the disordered pandemonium when she transformed into captain Thaoh Argentian, which concluded Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak on a low note.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Genocide, Grief, Death, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Full trigger warnings: Blood, grief and loss depiction, death of a father in the past and a friend, dead bodies, genocide, earthquake, emesis, bullying and murder mentioned, physical assault and injury, fire, military violence and war themestwowheelsaway's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed Victories Greater than Death, the first book in the series, quite a bit, but felt more than anything that I'd like the second book even more-- and I was right. With less need to frantically worldbuild, Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak focuses more heavily on characters and relationships. Where it does expand the universe, the basics are covered, so we get to see the cool corners and idiosyncracies of the world(s).
A couple favorite things:
-a VERY good identity reveal
-a great heist
-Rachael got the agency she deserved in this book, and more
-Elza kicks a whole lot of butt
-lots of different kinds of relationships (romantic/otherwise) are explored and valued
This is a bit of a soapbox I like to get on but this is a highly successful middle book of a trilogy- it has its own plot that builds and resolves nicely, but in a way that leaves me extremely excited for the conclusion.
A couple favorite things:
-a VERY good identity reveal
-a great heist
-Rachael got the agency she deserved in this book, and more
-Elza kicks a whole lot of butt
-lots of different kinds of relationships (romantic/otherwise) are explored and valued
This is a bit of a soapbox I like to get on but this is a highly successful middle book of a trilogy- it has its own plot that builds and resolves nicely, but in a way that leaves me extremely excited for the conclusion.
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak is the second installment within the Unstoppable series. Just like the first book, I absolutely fell in love with everyone's adventures throughout this. I was a little sad that they were on separate ones though for most of this book. Still, everything was completely magical and really fun to enjoy.
I honestly never expect to get so emotional when it comes to Tina, Rachael or Elza. Yet, I always do. Or maybe I just melted into an emotional puddle towards the end of this because so much was going on and I mentally couldn't take it. Either way, I also hoped for the best but expected the absolute worst.
That ending was so freaking good and I'm still not over it. Definitely can't wait for the next book to come out because I really need to know what is going to happen next. Again, I need good news but will probably learn to cope with whatever outcome I get. Seriously so happy that I got the chance to read this and can't wait for Charlie's next space adventure masterpiece!
Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak is the second installment within the Unstoppable series. Just like the first book, I absolutely fell in love with everyone's adventures throughout this. I was a little sad that they were on separate ones though for most of this book. Still, everything was completely magical and really fun to enjoy.
I honestly never expect to get so emotional when it comes to Tina, Rachael or Elza. Yet, I always do. Or maybe I just melted into an emotional puddle towards the end of this because so much was going on and I mentally couldn't take it. Either way, I also hoped for the best but expected the absolute worst.
That ending was so freaking good and I'm still not over it. Definitely can't wait for the next book to come out because I really need to know what is going to happen next. Again, I need good news but will probably learn to cope with whatever outcome I get. Seriously so happy that I got the chance to read this and can't wait for Charlie's next space adventure masterpiece!
katehyde's review against another edition
I really wanted to like this book. I enjoyed the first one in the series, but this one “split the party” in different ways and introduced SO MANY new characters and new alien species that it was impossible for me to keep track of who was who and which species they are and what they’re doing. I kept getting confused, and I realized that even if I finish the book, I probably wouldn’t understand it very well.
shoosha's review against another edition
3.0
Another in a long line of book twos in a trilogy that I've been reading and again it's just hard to write a book two I think.
I like this world. I am invested. But it's lacking something I kind of expect from Charlie Jane... A depth of purpose. Now, it may be because it has this YA tag on it - but I've read challenging YA novels before and there's just something slightly lackluster about this second book compared to the fun of the first. However, the plot was moved forward and there is a cliff hanger of what is coming next, so you know I'll read the last one as well (and any and everything Charlie Jane writes)!
.
Overall a meh - but Charlie Jane's meh is better than other people's best efforts so it's still worth the ride.
I like this world. I am invested. But it's lacking something I kind of expect from Charlie Jane... A depth of purpose. Now, it may be because it has this YA tag on it - but I've read challenging YA novels before and there's just something slightly lackluster about this second book compared to the fun of the first. However, the plot was moved forward and there is a cliff hanger of what is coming next, so you know I'll read the last one as well (and any and everything Charlie Jane writes)!
.
Overall a meh - but Charlie Jane's meh is better than other people's best efforts so it's still worth the ride.
cognos's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5