Scan barcode
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 themesmaryellen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood and Panic attacks/disorders
twistykris's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Death, and Genocide
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
aelis_'s review
adventurous
dark
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Racism
Moderate: Torture
meshell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I listened to the audiobook for this one, because I've been having a hard time getting a paper copy of this book (Despite preordering a few months ago. Supply chain issues with books are no joke right now!)
As promised, this book answered some questions left over from the last book, but left me with more - I read the book one a year ago, so it took a few chapters to warm up to what was going on, but eventually everything clicked together and I remembered where we had left off. The story walks a fine line between hopeless and hopeful in a really terribly fantastic way, and I was always wondering what would happen next.
I enjoyed the character development, especially with Elza and Rachel, since the last book (if I remember correctly) was mostly focused on Tina - and despite having feelings about not having the paper book, the audiobook was actually so great. It was impossible to pick a favourite, everyone was well matched to their respective parts, and they each brought the book alive.
Greatly looking forward to book 3!
As promised, this book answered some questions left over from the last book, but left me with more - I read the book one a year ago, so it took a few chapters to warm up to what was going on, but eventually everything clicked together and I remembered where we had left off. The story walks a fine line between hopeless and hopeful in a really terribly fantastic way, and I was always wondering what would happen next.
I enjoyed the character development, especially with Elza and Rachel, since the last book (if I remember correctly) was mostly focused on Tina - and despite having feelings about not having the paper book, the audiobook was actually so great. It was impossible to pick a favourite, everyone was well matched to their respective parts, and they each brought the book alive.
Greatly looking forward to book 3!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Xenophobia
Minor: Abandonment
enchantressreads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
“When someone tries to twist you into the wrong shape, that’s when you have to stand up and show them who you are.”
It’s hard to summarize a high action sequel to a high action series. So much went on during Victories Greater than Death, that summarizing Dreams Bigger than Heartbreak would be a disservice.
Instead, I will talk about how much I love every single one of these characters. Even the bad ones… they’re written as such a contrast to the lovely found family, sometimes it takes me by surprise how evil they can really be. I loved learning more about the government and the way certain planets work. The princesses, the AI voice in their heads. All fascinating.
And let me tell you, I’m absolutely terrified. I was practically screeching the last third of this book. I have no idea how they’re going to handle this, but I know for sure, they can. I’m rooting for every single one of them—except that one guy. Fuck that guy.
Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced review copy! Dreams Bigger than Heartbreak releases on April 5th.
CW: death, war, violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
More...