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A review by jonjas
Sand by Hugh Howey
4.0
Really well-written, it moves along quickly and the characters feel real. My biggest complaint would be the lack of background- obviously it’ll be explained later in the series, but when nothing is explained I’m left wondering “ok, but why is it like this?” You can’t help but ask how such an improbably world came to be, and it takes you outta the story a bit.
It’s also a bit too fast-paced at points. There’s plenty of description, that’s not what I mean- it’s more that you’re whisked from one exciting event to another with no time to catch your breath. It’s all action, and fun as that is- you want some build-up at a certain point. That and (spoiler).. you know the main characters will make it out ok. It’s kinda a thing with a lot of fiction of this ilk, no one wants to kill off a protagonist, but it also makes things feel somewhat inevitable.
On the positive side- Howry does well in sneaking some very real social commentary in there. Idk if it’s intended, I shouldn’t say “sneaking” as if he isn’t just writing what he knows of humanity- but the way the social classes work, the rich lording over everything, that one asshole (spoiler) turning on his people for a spot at the table- it all feels very real, very reflective of our own world. It’s never overwhelming or out of place.
Very well done book, overall. Might have to read the rest of the series in the future.
It’s also a bit too fast-paced at points. There’s plenty of description, that’s not what I mean- it’s more that you’re whisked from one exciting event to another with no time to catch your breath. It’s all action, and fun as that is- you want some build-up at a certain point. That and (spoiler).. you know the main characters will make it out ok. It’s kinda a thing with a lot of fiction of this ilk, no one wants to kill off a protagonist, but it also makes things feel somewhat inevitable.
On the positive side- Howry does well in sneaking some very real social commentary in there. Idk if it’s intended, I shouldn’t say “sneaking” as if he isn’t just writing what he knows of humanity- but the way the social classes work, the rich lording over everything, that one asshole (spoiler) turning on his people for a spot at the table- it all feels very real, very reflective of our own world. It’s never overwhelming or out of place.
Very well done book, overall. Might have to read the rest of the series in the future.