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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think this is quite a difficult book to love, and if I'd read it when my head wasn't in exactly the right place I doubt I would have enjoyed it. But I did, very much.
The first part of the book is horrific, with the main character enduring terrible abuse in a seriously messed-up environment. I think Johnston writes it well, but I can definitely imagine it being too much for some people (it definitely would have been too much for me on a normal day; I just happened to be able to handle it on that particular day).
The second part of the book is much happier - on another day I might argue that it's *too* happy, with all the problems solved eye-rollingly easily, every issue that crops up resolved neatly and conveniently after very little time spent working on a solution.
But what I wanted was uncomplicated sweetness where the good guys foil the bad guys and all is well, and that's what I got. What I normally would have found impossibly annoying, I found very soothing here. When my head was buzzing and I couldn't concentrate on anything, Aetherbound was relaxing, easing me into a story I didn't have to think too hard about.
And today at least, that worked for me.
The first part of the book is horrific, with the main character enduring terrible abuse in a seriously messed-up environment. I think Johnston writes it well, but I can definitely imagine it being too much for some people (it definitely would have been too much for me on a normal day; I just happened to be able to handle it on that particular day).
The second part of the book is much happier - on another day I might argue that it's *too* happy, with all the problems solved eye-rollingly easily, every issue that crops up resolved neatly and conveniently after very little time spent working on a solution.
But what I wanted was uncomplicated sweetness where the good guys foil the bad guys and all is well, and that's what I got. What I normally would have found impossibly annoying, I found very soothing here. When my head was buzzing and I couldn't concentrate on anything, Aetherbound was relaxing, easing me into a story I didn't have to think too hard about.
And today at least, that worked for me.
I have not finished a book (that wasn't a novella) in one-sitting in quite some time. Years, maybe. But once I sat down to read this one, I didn't stop until I was done. Five stars.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
With a solid sense of place and well-defined rules, Johnston proves yet again to be a spectacular sci-fi writer. The strictness of the world and it's physics played very nicely alongside the elements of magic.
Our protagonist, Pendt, is an intelligent and driven woman who has grown up paying for every breath of air, every bit of food, and she knows how to make each one count. Her intelligence is only rivaled by her tenacity and drive, and therefore makes for a very interesting lead.
Johnston approaches science and magic with candid prose that allows you to understand the rules without pages worth of explanation. She stays true to the science of space and colonization, while playing in the uncharted waters of genetic magic and extra-corporeal manipulation. This all adds up to a fresh, exciting, and easily grasped magic system.
The world contains a clear sense of history, with the weight of empires past still holding yoke over the current populace. The people are morally grey, as they should be in a dog-eat-dog space archipelago where rebellion and survival weave a confusing web. It is this clear sense of place and history that makes such a unique and sturdy backdrop for the events of the story to take place.
The story moves at a clipped pace, where decisions are forced to happen quickly, or not at all. But at the same time, Johnston allows the passage of time, especially for space travel, which can feel weighty and suspense-fully slow trodden. This mixture of paces moves in a natural ebb and flow that builds a pleasing story arch through which you will want to travel.
If you like science-based sci-fi with a hint of fantasy, blunt and intelligent female leads, and a practical ecosystem of a world: read this book.
Our protagonist, Pendt, is an intelligent and driven woman who has grown up paying for every breath of air, every bit of food, and she knows how to make each one count. Her intelligence is only rivaled by her tenacity and drive, and therefore makes for a very interesting lead.
Johnston approaches science and magic with candid prose that allows you to understand the rules without pages worth of explanation. She stays true to the science of space and colonization, while playing in the uncharted waters of genetic magic and extra-corporeal manipulation. This all adds up to a fresh, exciting, and easily grasped magic system.
The world contains a clear sense of history, with the weight of empires past still holding yoke over the current populace. The people are morally grey, as they should be in a dog-eat-dog space archipelago where rebellion and survival weave a confusing web. It is this clear sense of place and history that makes such a unique and sturdy backdrop for the events of the story to take place.
The story moves at a clipped pace, where decisions are forced to happen quickly, or not at all. But at the same time, Johnston allows the passage of time, especially for space travel, which can feel weighty and suspense-fully slow trodden. This mixture of paces moves in a natural ebb and flow that builds a pleasing story arch through which you will want to travel.
If you like science-based sci-fi with a hint of fantasy, blunt and intelligent female leads, and a practical ecosystem of a world: read this book.
The story’s shaky and certain plot points are kind of murky; nonetheless, I liked this story about choosing one’s family, instead of the horror story one grew up with.
Content warning for abusive control over food calories and treating women as incubators.
This book was a little hard to read at times. The magic system uses calories and on the space ship food is tightly controlled. Also you have to have a purpose on the ship or you are sold off to slavers. This futuristic dystopian is a cruel world and the main character tries to find joy in it.
This book was a little hard to read at times. The magic system uses calories and on the space ship food is tightly controlled. Also you have to have a purpose on the ship or you are sold off to slavers. This futuristic dystopian is a cruel world and the main character tries to find joy in it.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No