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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
:/ I tried so hard to like this, y’all.
It’s certainly action-packed, so if that’s your thing, then go for it. But that nonstop action comes at the cost of zero character development. Why am I supposed to root for/care about Viv? Because I don’t. I know basically nothing about her except she’s rich and smart. The only member of the central crew that I had even a little soft spot for was Gray, because I thought he was cute and funny. Everyone else, I just did not care about.
Also, the writing just...isn’t great? The transitions from scene to scene, chapter to chapter, are jarring and messy. I often had to reread sections because I was just entirely lost. The world that Gladstone was building seemed really cool and interesting. I wish I could have understood even half of it.
I was here for the queer rep. But all-around, disappointing.
It’s certainly action-packed, so if that’s your thing, then go for it. But that nonstop action comes at the cost of zero character development. Why am I supposed to root for/care about Viv? Because I don’t. I know basically nothing about her except she’s rich and smart. The only member of the central crew that I had even a little soft spot for was Gray, because I thought he was cute and funny. Everyone else, I just did not care about.
Also, the writing just...isn’t great? The transitions from scene to scene, chapter to chapter, are jarring and messy. I often had to reread sections because I was just entirely lost. The world that Gladstone was building seemed really cool and interesting. I wish I could have understood even half of it.
I was here for the queer rep. But all-around, disappointing.
I loved this book. It made me wonder if Max Gladstone has been reading a lot of another of my favorite authors, Becky Chambers, because the first 80% or so reminded me in good ways of her books. (space travel! found family! learning how to be a person!)
And then the last 20% made me wonder if Gladstone has been also reading a lot of theology and psychoanalytically infused philosophy lately, because it was a bit of a theological/philosophical treatise on personality, identity, and meaning, only told by way of a rip-roaring adventure story climax.
Just . . . how? What a book. I think something about living in painful and difficult times makes (some) authors write beautiful, deeply humane books.
Highly recommended.
And then the last 20% made me wonder if Gladstone has been also reading a lot of theology and psychoanalytically infused philosophy lately, because it was a bit of a theological/philosophical treatise on personality, identity, and meaning, only told by way of a rip-roaring adventure story climax.
Just . . . how? What a book. I think something about living in painful and difficult times makes (some) authors write beautiful, deeply humane books.
Highly recommended.
Bizarre and awesome and original and weird and delightful and interesting.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death
Minor: Sexual content, Torture, Alcohol
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
An oddly paced novel that seems episodic, structured as though better suited as sort of a TV mini-series.
For me, there wasn't enough development in Viv/Empress tension, except that she tended to be a bit single-minded, solution-focussed, except not--because this simulation of Viv is supposed to be markedly different for caring about her friends. The Silicon Valley/tech industry PM stuff that is supposed to be cute was irritating, and I wondered where this could have gone if it pushed harder on the idea that a tech billionaire with Thanos-level arrogance about solving the world's problems becomes an intergalactic tyrant. Now that I've typed that out, I don't think I would find that very interesting either, but instead we get a more traditional type of battle of the chosen one with a deeper-than-you-know connection to the antagonist, in a sort of fun world and cast of characters, which, I guess, is fine.
For me, there wasn't enough development in Viv/Empress tension, except that she tended to be a bit single-minded, solution-focussed, except not--because this simulation of Viv is supposed to be markedly different for caring about her friends. The Silicon Valley/tech industry PM stuff that is supposed to be cute was irritating, and I wondered where this could have gone if it pushed harder on the idea that a tech billionaire with Thanos-level arrogance about solving the world's problems becomes an intergalactic tyrant. Now that I've typed that out, I don't think I would find that very interesting either, but instead we get a more traditional type of battle of the chosen one with a deeper-than-you-know connection to the antagonist, in a sort of fun world and cast of characters, which, I guess, is fine.
Weirdly complementary thematically to the Good Place, except it's a space opera and the protagonist is simultaneously Eleanor, the judge, Michael and Shawn? Really, the thematic linkage is that we accomplish more when we go together and we are made up of parts of the important people in our lives. Max Gladstone tells interesting stories in interesting ways.