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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
When I reviewed Record of a Spaceborn Few, the third instalment in the Wayfarers series, I concluded by stating that "where Chambers really excels is in the world building." I was slightly wrong - this author is not just a world builder, but has exquisitely crafted an entire universe. It's always absorbing, always engaging, always interesting.
This time we revisit a character from the original novel. Pei the Aeluon captain returns, stopping off on the planet Gora on the way to visit her lover Ashby. Interspecies relationships for Aeluon are taboo and here we see Pei wrestling with her secret. Joining her at what is essentially an intergalactic version of a motorway service station crossed with an airport, are a mismatch of several different alien species: Roveg (an exiled Quelin), Speaker (an Akarak who is separated from her sister Tracker who is still on the ship) and Ouloo (the Laru owner of the aforementioned service station who is a single mother to Tupo). When a technological failure means all ships are grounded for longer than expected, these characters are forced together and in typical Chambers fashion, learn more about themselves and each other.
One joy contained for the dedicated follower of the Wayfarers series is that this book does not centre a human as one of the chief protagonists. Instead, we get to fully and deeply embrace the weird and wonderful quirks of the alien species that Chambers has created. This allows the reader to hold up a mirror to their human experience. For example, Laru children use gender neutral pronouns until they come of age. Such a detail is sensitively explained throughout thus allowing us to question our own social constructs. It's funny how concepts such as race, sexual orientation and gender seem less worth fighting about when we begin to take into consideration a whole plethora of alien species. There are many thought provoking moments as each character finds themselves, not just in the middle of a journey through space, but in the middle of a journey in their life.
Like the three novels proceeding this one, there's a lovely sense of family and unity that is gently woven throughout the story. I always feel warm and fuzzy as I immerse myself in these writings. Chambers' characters teach us to embrace difference and to learn to love when it might be easier to run away and hide. This is something that in 2021 we all so desperately need.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the publisher via NetGalley UK.
This time we revisit a character from the original novel. Pei the Aeluon captain returns, stopping off on the planet Gora on the way to visit her lover Ashby. Interspecies relationships for Aeluon are taboo and here we see Pei wrestling with her secret. Joining her at what is essentially an intergalactic version of a motorway service station crossed with an airport, are a mismatch of several different alien species: Roveg (an exiled Quelin), Speaker (an Akarak who is separated from her sister Tracker who is still on the ship) and Ouloo (the Laru owner of the aforementioned service station who is a single mother to Tupo). When a technological failure means all ships are grounded for longer than expected, these characters are forced together and in typical Chambers fashion, learn more about themselves and each other.
One joy contained for the dedicated follower of the Wayfarers series is that this book does not centre a human as one of the chief protagonists. Instead, we get to fully and deeply embrace the weird and wonderful quirks of the alien species that Chambers has created. This allows the reader to hold up a mirror to their human experience. For example, Laru children use gender neutral pronouns until they come of age. Such a detail is sensitively explained throughout thus allowing us to question our own social constructs. It's funny how concepts such as race, sexual orientation and gender seem less worth fighting about when we begin to take into consideration a whole plethora of alien species. There are many thought provoking moments as each character finds themselves, not just in the middle of a journey through space, but in the middle of a journey in their life.
Like the three novels proceeding this one, there's a lovely sense of family and unity that is gently woven throughout the story. I always feel warm and fuzzy as I immerse myself in these writings. Chambers' characters teach us to embrace difference and to learn to love when it might be easier to run away and hide. This is something that in 2021 we all so desperately need.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the publisher via NetGalley UK.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
N/A
lighthearted
reflective
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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:
Yes
Last book in the Wayfarers series. Very cozy space opera.
Due to a planet-wide power outage, 3 different travelers are stranded at a rest stop/motel. Told to shelter in place until the crisis is over, they slowly engage with each other and the innkeepers. All of them are regular people trying to do their best at what needs to be done; all of them have made extraordinary choices.
Told from multiple points of view, Note: none of these POV characters are human, although they are united by a disgust at learning that human adults eat cheese voluntarily.
Due to a planet-wide power outage, 3 different travelers are stranded at a rest stop/motel. Told to shelter in place until the crisis is over, they slowly engage with each other and the innkeepers. All of them are regular people trying to do their best at what needs to be done; all of them have made extraordinary choices.
Told from multiple points of view, Note: none of these POV characters are human, although they are united by a disgust at learning that human adults eat cheese voluntarily.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
Oh how I loved this one.
Precaution:
If you're looking for action or adventure, this is not the book for you.
This book is basically a handful of aliens who can't leave their current stop over. An accident with the satellites makes it impossible to enter or leave orbit.
So our three very different travellers, and the two owners of the Five-Hop have a lot of time to get to know each other.
I loved learning about the different cultures and just how actually alien and different these species are! No "humans, but in green", but really unique and divers and just all around fascinating characters. From very soft and furry to a hard shell, these have nothing in common, and on the other hand aren't so different after all...
Becky Chambers once more manages to create personalities that just had me spellbound from start to finish, even though there is (almost) no action or adventure at all to be found. Just learning their stories and seeing them interact and grow from the experience was as comforting as it was interesting!
Once again a book that touches on raw topics, but at the end leaves you with a smile, a sigh, and a warm heart.
Precaution:
If you're looking for action or adventure, this is not the book for you.
This book is basically a handful of aliens who can't leave their current stop over. An accident with the satellites makes it impossible to enter or leave orbit.
So our three very different travellers, and the two owners of the Five-Hop have a lot of time to get to know each other.
I loved learning about the different cultures and just how actually alien and different these species are! No "humans, but in green", but really unique and divers and just all around fascinating characters. From very soft and furry to a hard shell, these have nothing in common, and on the other hand aren't so different after all...
Becky Chambers once more manages to create personalities that just had me spellbound from start to finish, even though there is (almost) no action or adventure at all to be found. Just learning their stories and seeing them interact and grow from the experience was as comforting as it was interesting!
Once again a book that touches on raw topics, but at the end leaves you with a smile, a sigh, and a warm heart.