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obscurepages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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? No
4.5
Excuse me but who gave Martha Wells the right to create this masterpiece?? ðŸ˜
Like the first four installments in this series, Network Effect is a delight. But unlike the first four, this one is a full-length novel instead of just a novella. Of course, I was so excited when I learned this was a full novel! More Murderbot, yay! But then, oh. I remember that Martha Wells is a genius when it comes to plots, world-building, and human relationships. I was in for a ride.
This was just so good. I don't think I can fully explain how humorous, tense, exciting, and wonderful this was. And I just love how this book (and the whole series in general) was plot-driven, and yet it did not neglect the characters, no not at all. In fact, you fall in love with the characters as you read! I love Murderbot, I love ART, and I especially love their chemistry together. Like how did these two AI/bot constructs give me a lot of feels? Made me cry and laugh and gasp all throughout the book? (view spoiler) I love their banter and their semi-emotional conversations. Of course, I love their humans, too lol.
And the plot! Somehow the author managed to expound on the corporate greed and corruption in this universe, and we see it more as the characters interact with a new planet and colonies. I also love how the plot delved into alien intelligence and life, especially with the antagonists they were facing here. Wells was able to make this more engaging and unique, and I really enjoyed that.
This, of course, was also action-packed. There might have been a few chapters that seemed idle in terms of pacing. But then I turn into a new chapter, and we're back on the rollercoaster. I thought the storytelling here was just exquisite. The way the author left clues for the readers, which also happened to be crucial for the characters in the book? That was just brilliant. Also, the perspectives?! I did not see that coming, but it was just incredible.
AND ONE LAST POINT: the way this book features robots as the main characters but still highlights the complexity and beauty of humanity and free will? Precious.
Overall, this book is a sensational installment and a great first full novel for the Murderbot series. I am so excited to dive into the next book. 🥹
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Marking this book as part of my reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2024.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Gore, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
trailofdebris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Gore
eleanora's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Abandonment, Gore, Medical content, and Colonisation
michaelcattigan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
bluestockingbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Grief, Classism, Cursing, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Minor: Blood, Deportation, War, Murder, Confinement, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
pedanther's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Colonisation, Confinement, Blood, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Cursing, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Gore
Minor: Slavery
waterwolves's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Violence
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
I love Murderbot. Its snarky comments, its jaded outlook, its loyalty to its humans, its love of soap operas - I’m just smitten. I first read this several years ago but didn’t remember it very well. I’m about to start System Collapse which takes place immediately after Network Effect so I reread this to refresh my spotty memory.
As with all the Murderbot books, the story moves fast, the characters are as fleshed out as can be when some are fleshless, and the plot has Murderbot back with its friend ART, a research vessel, where Murderbot gets to rescue ART’s crew from … well, the plot is complicated.
But the writing is excellent, really drawing the reader in from the beginning. I hope, hope, hope there will be many more Murderbot stories in our future.
As with all the Murderbot books, the story moves fast, the characters are as fleshed out as can be when some are fleshless, and the plot has Murderbot back with its friend ART, a research vessel, where Murderbot gets to rescue ART’s crew from … well, the plot is complicated.
But the writing is excellent, really drawing the reader in from the beginning. I hope, hope, hope there will be many more Murderbot stories in our future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
etherealisnt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
The Murderbot Diaries' first full novel! Murderbot needs to deal with its crew getting mixed up in a space kidnapping, taking on a strange planet and its colony, while keeping everyone (mostly) intact and alive. An old friend from the past makes a return with a urgent help request. Murderbot just needs to get through all of it in one piece (mentally, emotionally & physically)... how challenging can it be?
It could be one more weird anomaly in this unending cycle of what the fuck.
I am so entangled in this universe that leaving is impossible (not that I'd even want to do that). I feel like someone grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me so hard that my brain got bounced around.
What the fuck? I was NOT prepared for all of these emotions and the raw reality of learning to live. This was more than I could even dreams of - Murderbot, its crew, ART with its crew, space adventures and a fuckton more! (So much happened in here I swear.)
I hate it when humans and augmented humans ruin things for no reason. Maybe because I was a thing before I was a person and if I’m not careful I could be a thing again.
Well, the adventures were overshadowed by the amount of emotional damage that every other page of this book decided to hit me with. I was genuinely worried and crying by the last chapters, it's not even funny (the book is funny tho). Nevertheless, the writing, the characters, the plot and all the dynamics are to die for! I am thrilled to continue the series and get to witness even more of Murderbot's journey! <3
I don't want to not see you again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Violence, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Colonisation, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Grief, Slavery, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
maeverose's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning was good, it dragged a bit in the middle for me but picked up in the last third and I ended up liking it a lot I loved the almost horror-esque moment at the end.
I love Murderbot
I love it’s reactions to people’s concern for it, and I love that we got to see so much emotional character development in this book. I would give Murderbot the whole world if I could.
I love ART
I love their ‘relationship’ and I’m curious if it really will remain purely platonic or not. Murderbot seems very ace-coded so I assume it will but the way they kept using parallels to romantic relationships is making me wonder.
I already like 3
There are an unnecessary amount of characters and that leaves us with a lot of them being underdeveloped. I do wish I had a better sense of each of their personalities.
I’m gonna have to re read the first book because I don’t remember if they ever fully explained alien remnants. I know they were brought up in the first book but it’s been over a year since I read that one and I’m a little lost on what the alien remnants are exactly. I wanna know more. They seem to be both organic and code? They can infect AI like a computer virus but also humans like a viral infection.. how does that even work? Do the characters even know?
I love Murderbot
I love it’s reactions to people’s concern for it, and I love that we got to see so much emotional character development in this book. I would give Murderbot the whole world if I could.
I love ART
I already like 3
There are an unnecessary amount of characters and that leaves us with a lot of them being underdeveloped. I do wish I had a better sense of each of their personalities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Excrement and Sexual content
Note on the gore: it’s pretty much in line with the rest of the series in that it’s written in that not-super-descriptive robotic type of way, but it’s definitely a bit more descriptive and more abundant in this book.