Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This author came highly recommended to me by a friend who'd read their Ahsoka novel. It didn't disappoint. I like very much how grounded and real living in space and on a space station was in this book. It wasn't overly burdened with technical jargon and your understanding of the science of space travel wasn't an obstacle to enjoying this book (though I do love a good number crunching, physics explaining space adventure). I really appreciate how the magic system in this book was a portal into a discussion on bodily autonomy and choice. I also appreciate how the magic system itself wasn't overly complicated because I feel as though the point of the book wasn't the magic but the people and the choices they made with their abilities. In the end, despite the setting, this book was about the choices people make given their circumstances and I really enjoyed it.
Things I Liked:
Things I Liked:
- Typical gender roles were swapped or abandoned altogether. This was a refreshing romance and action/adventure story because of that.
- The magic system was not overly complicated nor was the technical jargon overbearing. This let me see clearly the characters behind the decisions.
- The action of the book was driven by the choices of the people in the story - there were politics, economic systems, etc in the book but those things served as the backdrop against which people acted.
- There wasn't anything about the cruelty or the romance present in the book that was gratuitous. The book was an engaging read that I didn't feel the need to take a "break" from because while the themes were hefty, the manner in which they were presented didn't knock me on my heels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Trafficking
Minor: Child death, Grief
This book is set in space and the characters in it (in the beginning) are on a ship where the line between cruelty and survival blurs and in some cases disappears entirely. Because of the manner in which they operate their ship, there is a hyper-focus on food intake. Each crew member's food intake is carefully rationed and controlled to ensure survival but nothing more. Food allotments are controlled to the gram and harsh punishments are exacted for hoarding, wasting or spoiling food.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Trafficking, War
Minor: Child death, Colonisation
I hate to say ‘for readers of…’, but this book had an energy very similar to These Broken Stars. And the epilogue suggests the series will build in a similar way.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"Aetherbound" is a thought-provoking story about survival and self-determination that fantasy lovers will enjoy.
Full review: https://robyntocker.weebly.com/aetherbound.html
Full review: https://robyntocker.weebly.com/aetherbound.html
It's rarely good to finish a book and be surprised to find that it wasn't the author's first. This was just inept.
E.K. Johnston tackles a lot of difficult topics in Aetherbound—food security issues and related issues with eating; physical and emotional abuse of children; human trafficking; forced insemination/rape; eugenics; indentured servitude; colonialism—and while I don't think it's impossible to do so well in a slim YA novel, Johnston doesn't pull it off.
There's no depth to either the characters, their relationships, or the concept of the book as a whole. Nothing is fleshed out, and Johnston seems weirdly uninterested in the implications of the scenarios she sets up. There are plot holes and logical improbabilities/impossibilities all over the place, although I could have overlooked some of them if the characters weren't so dull.
E.K. Johnston tackles a lot of difficult topics in Aetherbound—food security issues and related issues with eating; physical and emotional abuse of children; human trafficking; forced insemination/rape; eugenics; indentured servitude; colonialism—and while I don't think it's impossible to do so well in a slim YA novel, Johnston doesn't pull it off.
There's no depth to either the characters, their relationships, or the concept of the book as a whole. Nothing is fleshed out, and Johnston seems weirdly uninterested in the implications of the scenarios she sets up. There are plot holes and logical improbabilities/impossibilities all over the place, although I could have overlooked some of them if the characters weren't so dull.
did i miss the queer character that’s supposed to be in here or did they just lie about it
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Normally, I am not a fan of mixing fantasy and sci-fi or specifically having a magic system mixed with the science fiction part. However, this book did it really well and I actually enjoyed it.
Pen was a compelling character and made me think about how much culture and environment impact children and child rearing. The world building was also well done and I found the way that families were structured in this space fairing world interesting to think about. The ship versus station dynamic was interesting as well as the political aspects of it. I also enjoyed the rebellion plot line. The magic system that depends on calories was also interesting especially when you combine it with space where resources can be scarce.
I appreciated the themes around family and found family. If this book had a sequel I would read it but as a stand alone it is complete.
Pen was a compelling character and made me think about how much culture and environment impact children and child rearing. The world building was also well done and I found the way that families were structured in this space fairing world interesting to think about. The ship versus station dynamic was interesting as well as the political aspects of it. I also enjoyed the rebellion plot line. The magic system that depends on calories was also interesting especially when you combine it with space where resources can be scarce.
I appreciated the themes around family and found family. If this book had a sequel I would read it but as a stand alone it is complete.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
look this book should have been 200 pages longer and every problem cured with a better editor (lowkey who edited this...do you know what plot structure is) but. but. come on. the themes of medical violence and forced starvation and food as not just fuel but enjoyment and power.... that shit is radical and i loved it
(also anyone who missed the trans rep is fucking blind ! learn to read pls)
(also anyone who missed the trans rep is fucking blind ! learn to read pls)