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A review by breadbowling
Mass Effect: Ascension by Drew Karpyshyn
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A lot of the problems I had with the writing of the first Mass Effect novel were resolved in this one, and the story telling felt both more natural and more consistent. It was really interesting to learn more about the Ascension program and Cerberus's activities--I've got a lot of time for the Illusive Man being The Worst. I also really enjoyed how much we got to see of life for the quarians. (Though I still feel like Kahlee Sanders is a bit underdeveloped, as a character.) Over all, I really enjoyed it.
That said, this book is very...heavy, in a way. Many of the pov characters are unpleasant or difficult to tolerate, and I feel like Karpyshyn depicted that very well. Still, Grayson's arc was really interesting. And, as an autistic person, I sympathised a lot with Gillian; it was difficult to deal with how the majority of the cast either pathologised or used her (or both).
That said, this book is very...heavy, in a way. Many of the pov characters are unpleasant or difficult to tolerate, and I feel like Karpyshyn depicted that very well. Still, Grayson's arc was really interesting. And, as an autistic person, I sympathised a lot with Gillian; it was difficult to deal with how the majority of the cast either pathologised or used her (or both).