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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Aetherbound follows Pendt in this slow-burn space opera that gives ownership of one’s body back to women and holds up the ideals that a family is not born of blood but born of love.
Captivating
Broken up into parts, Johnson gives Aetherbound a strong foundation. Opening with the history of the world, Johnson introduced readers into a world of space travel and science mingled with magic. It is fascinating and unique, giving the story a firm footing.
Aetherbound is able o ground the reader in the details, in the coldness of space travel, and the corruption of government for power and space dominance. Different skills make some more or less valuable. For Pendt, being a gene-mage makes her less valuable in the eyes of her family on the ship the Harland.
Admittedly, the pacing part one is a bit slow. However, despite the slow pace, the reader is drawn into the narrative. Through Pendt, the reader is experiencing the coldness of space, how the women on the ship lack ownership of their bodies, how their government enforces the idea that they have to have children to run the ship. It is a cold and heartbreaking view of the world, but realism, the way Johnson tackles the argument of ownership of one’s body, is impactful because it has roots in realism.
It is a scary thought to lose control over one’s body, to be thought of as nothing more than a breeding machine, which forces Pendt to challenge herself and decide to run away.
Aetherbound is able o ground the reader in the details, in the coldness of space travel, and the corruption of government for power and space dominance. Different skills make some more or less valuable. For Pendt, being a gene-mage makes her less valuable in the eyes of her family on the ship the Harland.
Admittedly, the pacing part one is a bit slow. However, despite the slow pace, the reader is drawn into the narrative. Through Pendt, the reader is experiencing the coldness of space, how the women on the ship lack ownership of their bodies, how their government enforces the idea that they have to have children to run the ship. It is a cold and heartbreaking view of the world, but realism, the way Johnson tackles the argument of ownership of one’s body, is impactful because it has roots in realism.
It is a scary thought to lose control over one’s body, to be thought of as nothing more than a breeding machine, which forces Pendt to challenge herself and decide to run away.
Thoughtful
Johnson is very good at storytelling. They draw the reader into the narrative and the world created here, inspiring readers to feel and connect to the narrative and the characters.
Pendt could be read as stiff, but when the reader reflects on her cold upbringing, how she was given just enough calories to survive daily and nothing more, the reader understands her.
And Pendt grows. Once she is on the station and meets the Brannick twins, her life changes, evolving both her and the story. Ned and Fisher are twins who want to help bring about a revolution but in different ways. Moreover, together they grow into this strong family unit. Pendt marries Ned to stay on Brannick station and remove any claim her family would have on her, and soon discovers they a family is more than just blood.
Pendt forms a family with the Brannick twins and the whole station, who come to love her as their own. Pendt discovers that her worth is not based on what she can offer people but what she can offer herself. Being diminished by her family, groomed to think she was worthless, Pendt discovers that she is powerful and learns to love herself.
Pendt could be read as stiff, but when the reader reflects on her cold upbringing, how she was given just enough calories to survive daily and nothing more, the reader understands her.
And Pendt grows. Once she is on the station and meets the Brannick twins, her life changes, evolving both her and the story. Ned and Fisher are twins who want to help bring about a revolution but in different ways. Moreover, together they grow into this strong family unit. Pendt marries Ned to stay on Brannick station and remove any claim her family would have on her, and soon discovers they a family is more than just blood.
Pendt forms a family with the Brannick twins and the whole station, who come to love her as their own. Pendt discovers that her worth is not based on what she can offer people but what she can offer herself. Being diminished by her family, groomed to think she was worthless, Pendt discovers that she is powerful and learns to love herself.
Final Thoughts
Aetherbound is a slow burn novel, but the ideas, the passion, draw in the reader. Coupled with the powerful messages, Aetherbound stands out from the crowd and reminds readers that we all have a right to control our bodies and that our family is not only determined by blood but can be one made of love and acceptance.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNFed at 70 percent. I couldnt even stick out an hour & a half to listen to the rest of this story. Every moment was grueling. Not one notable character, plotline, or moment in anything I read.
HUH?!??? FETUS?!???!
rtc maybe
7/14/2021:
This book is the definition of, “Had us in the first half, not gonna life.”
I thought I was going to love Aetherbound. Beautiful cover with a pretty girl? (LMAOOOO THAT ALWAYS PULLS ME IN HFJDKSOS) Spacefaring sci-fi with rigid, though breakable structures? A compelling, complex protagonist (at first)? TRANSGENDER PRIMARY CHARACTER?!?!!? sign me upppppppppp
and everything changed when part two attacked
this book had an excellent start and truly thrilling build-up, but simply forgot to make the story worthwhile. I appreciated certain aspects, such as the ones I listed, but the second half (or even, the last three-fourths) of the story were so underwhelming and rushed that I found myself wishing that my Sora audiobook could exceed 3x in playback speed. the main relationships were rushed — this could have been attributed to how short the book is (5 hours in audiobook form), which I usually appreciate if the book has substance — and each plot point disappointed
I kind of want to lower this to 2 stars but it’s an excellent premise on-paper so it’s a 3
twitter ☆ instagram ☆ youtube ☆ tiktok ☆ blog
rtc maybe
7/14/2021:
This book is the definition of, “Had us in the first half, not gonna life.”
I thought I was going to love Aetherbound. Beautiful cover with a pretty girl? (LMAOOOO THAT ALWAYS PULLS ME IN HFJDKSOS) Spacefaring sci-fi with rigid, though breakable structures? A compelling, complex protagonist (at first)? TRANSGENDER PRIMARY CHARACTER?!?!!? sign me upppppppppp
and everything changed when part two attacked
this book had an excellent start and truly thrilling build-up, but simply forgot to make the story worthwhile. I appreciated certain aspects, such as the ones I listed, but the second half (or even, the last three-fourths) of the story were so underwhelming and rushed that I found myself wishing that my Sora audiobook could exceed 3x in playback speed. the main relationships were rushed — this could have been attributed to how short the book is (5 hours in audiobook form), which I usually appreciate if the book has substance — and each plot point disappointed
I kind of want to lower this to 2 stars but it’s an excellent premise on-paper so it’s a 3
twitter ☆ instagram ☆ youtube ☆ tiktok ☆ blog
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5. This was an interesting concept and I felt it was executed well, part of it didn’t sit overly well with me but that’s just personal preference when it comes to things like childbearing, procreation etc.
I adored Fisher and loved his characterization. Pendt was an enjoyable main character and it was easy to root for her. I loved the worldbuilding and the sci aspect was well done. I'm a big fan of E.K. Johnston and this was no exception.
I adored Fisher and loved his characterization. Pendt was an enjoyable main character and it was easy to root for her. I loved the worldbuilding and the sci aspect was well done. I'm a big fan of E.K. Johnston and this was no exception.