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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Interesting context with a unique romance element, not sure I understand all the magic or the world context especially the government villians, feels like there will be a sequel note has some mild context and abuse triggers.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping
You can’t choose your family. Sometimes you’re lucky and have a close, loving one. Others aren’t so lucky. Here we discover why being able to choose friends is so crucial.
As a fan of "Ashoka," I honestly was expecting more from E.K. Johnston's "Aetherbound." While a brilliant sci-fi in its own right, the problems I had were enough for me to rate it only a three-star.
First, I would like to address the fact that I think this book should be New Adult and not Young Adult. Bodily autonomy, transgender characters, and sex should be discussed in YA books, but the way these themes were central to Johnston's book created issues; mainly in that much was left to innuendo and vague references did not fully delve into the nuances of the subjects. To be short, those parts were confusing enough that I often had to reread sections to fully understand what they were referencing. This lack of clarity would have been far better solved by using the correct terms and not "YA-ing" it.
Secondly, the pacing of this book really threw me. The first half is all about Pendt's life on the Harland and horrifyingly dystopic in a perfect way that sets up the setting of the book and the Hegemony. But once we get to Brannick station, there was a shift — suddenly, for the next more than a quarter of the book, there is almost no conflict or serious problems. The introduction of the Brannick brothers, too, I thought, seemed out of place and odd. I think this book would have been better served as dual perspectives that started from the beginning. I think that would have also given space for more lore and setting to be developed to fully flesh out the world.
Lastly, I felt there were parts that felt, frankly, unoriginal to me. Olgasas are essentially just purrgils from "Star Wars." The romance, aside from one of the characters being trans (which was, in my opinion, a WONDERFUL addition to the story that actually matters and was handled beautifully), was uninspired. It was sweet but didn't give me anything to fall in love over.
Fortunately, the magic system in this book is fascinating and completely unlike anything else I've seen, save possibly "Gideon the Ninth." The use of calories for a catalyst was brilliant since it is such a limited resource in space. This and the lore that this book is obviously just an introduction for and truly its saving graces. This book reads like a prologue because you know more will happen later. And while I enjoyed the that there was so much else going on in the world that didn't pertain to Pendt but was still happening, it made me want to delve into those stories more, and at times, made Pendt's story boring by comparison.
In short, "Aetherbound" was a sci-fi with a lot of potential that I felt just wasn't realized. I'm hoping the next books in the series will provide more action, lore, and conflict.
First, I would like to address the fact that I think this book should be New Adult and not Young Adult. Bodily autonomy, transgender characters, and sex should be discussed in YA books, but the way these themes were central to Johnston's book created issues; mainly in that much was left to innuendo and vague references did not fully delve into the nuances of the subjects. To be short, those parts were confusing enough that I often had to reread sections to fully understand what they were referencing. This lack of clarity would have been far better solved by using the correct terms and not "YA-ing" it.
Secondly, the pacing of this book really threw me. The first half is all about Pendt's life on the Harland and horrifyingly dystopic in a perfect way that sets up the setting of the book and the Hegemony. But once we get to Brannick station, there was a shift — suddenly, for the next more than a quarter of the book, there is almost no conflict or serious problems. The introduction of the Brannick brothers, too, I thought, seemed out of place and odd. I think this book would have been better served as dual perspectives that started from the beginning. I think that would have also given space for more lore and setting to be developed to fully flesh out the world.
Lastly, I felt there were parts that felt, frankly, unoriginal to me. Olgasas are essentially just purrgils from "Star Wars." The romance, aside from one of the characters being trans (which was, in my opinion, a WONDERFUL addition to the story that actually matters and was handled beautifully), was uninspired. It was sweet but didn't give me anything to fall in love over.
Fortunately, the magic system in this book is fascinating and completely unlike anything else I've seen, save possibly "Gideon the Ninth." The use of calories for a catalyst was brilliant since it is such a limited resource in space. This and the lore that this book is obviously just an introduction for and truly its saving graces. This book reads like a prologue because you know more will happen later. And while I enjoyed the that there was so much else going on in the world that didn't pertain to Pendt but was still happening, it made me want to delve into those stories more, and at times, made Pendt's story boring by comparison.
In short, "Aetherbound" was a sci-fi with a lot of potential that I felt just wasn't realized. I'm hoping the next books in the series will provide more action, lore, and conflict.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I could write a long screed about why this book isn't very good, but who has the time?
Let me summarize: this is a short book that's high on the exposition that doesn't really remember to have a plot until 80% of the way through. When it comes, the plot is laughable, dealt with by the first plan that the heroes come up with and with no twists at all and not even any clever ideas from either side of the issue.
And even then, the resolution is stupid, because what's at risk is priceless beyond all measure and there are literally thousands of people who know the secret that the protagonists are hiding from the antagonists.
On top of all that, regarding the LGBTIQ representation in this book that it's been widely tagged with, it's so shockingly unclear that one of the main characters is trans that readers of a short, simple book somehow missed it.
I've read and liked several other books from this author. This was a complete miss in my opinion.
Let me summarize: this is a short book that's high on the exposition that doesn't really remember to have a plot until 80% of the way through. When it comes, the plot is laughable, dealt with by the first plan that the heroes come up with and with no twists at all and not even any clever ideas from either side of the issue.
And even then, the resolution is stupid, because what's at risk is priceless beyond all measure and there are literally thousands of people who know the secret that the protagonists are hiding from the antagonists.
On top of all that, regarding the LGBTIQ representation in this book that it's been widely tagged with, it's so shockingly unclear that one of the main characters is trans that readers of a short, simple book somehow missed it.
I've read and liked several other books from this author. This was a complete miss in my opinion.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I did not get on with this one at ALL.
Parts of it made me extremely uncomfortable (other reviews cover this) and I didn't even realise it included a trans character until I read those reviews. So I don't think that really counts as representation?!?!!!
There was no tension, everything the characters did seemed to be "because plot" and what should have been the pivotal scene takes place in literally 2 pages?
Not doing a star rating because I can't even imagine how hard it was to write a coherent novel during lockdown, and it sounds like the author's other books have been better received.
Parts of it made me extremely uncomfortable (other reviews cover this) and I didn't even realise it included a trans character until I read those reviews. So I don't think that really counts as representation?!?!!!
There was no tension, everything the characters did seemed to be "because plot" and what should have been the pivotal scene takes place in literally 2 pages?
Not doing a star rating because I can't even imagine how hard it was to write a coherent novel during lockdown, and it sounds like the author's other books have been better received.