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hawkeyegonzalez 's review for:
The Rise of Endymion
by Dan Simmons
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Based on the reviews, I thought that this book might not be great, but I at least expected it to be on par with book 3, Endymion. Unfortunately, it is far worse than that.
I would say what the plot of this book is, but I'm not completely sure. I know that ultimately it's about Aenea's journey as messiah to break the shackles of the Pax and their almost weaponization of the Cruciform. That's the gist of it. However, there are so many side quests that are done for seemingly no other reason than to try to expand the universe for the reader. They serve no actual purpose to the plot.
Speaking of no purpose to the plot, there are surprise reveals for some of the characters that mean absolutely nothing. It feels like they were put in just for shock value, and that's it. I didn't feel anything for them, and they didn't feel earned at all.
For the characters, once again the best character in the series is just a bit part, and that's Captain de Soya. He (and the Shrike) has easily been the most complex and relatable character, but he hardly shows up. Instead, the main focus is of course Raul and Aenea and their relationship. It's been said several times before how creepy their romance is, and I completely agree. It's bad enough that he started as her protector when she was 12, and now they are lovers. What makes it so much worse is he constantly calls her "kiddo" and refers to her as "my friend" interchangeably with "my love." To top it all off, he says one of the creepiest things I've ever read in a book:
"I could not stop looking at her face, her eyes. I was afraid that if I touched her bare skin again, visible voltage would leap between us. I remembered that electric shock whenever we had touched when she was a kid." WTF is this?!?! No. Just no.
This series gave me similar feelings to the Acts of Caine series. Much like Heroes Die, the first two books of Hyperion Cantos are some of the best sci-fi I've ever read. But, much like Acts of Caine, the fourth and final book absolutely jumps the shark and is a complete mess. If I was to recommend this to anyone, I would say to stop after the second book. It's a complete story after that, and while the third book isn't bad, it's not worth reading when the conclusion is this.
I would say what the plot of this book is, but I'm not completely sure. I know that ultimately it's about Aenea's journey as messiah to break the shackles of the Pax and their almost weaponization of the Cruciform. That's the gist of it. However, there are so many side quests that are done for seemingly no other reason than to try to expand the universe for the reader. They serve no actual purpose to the plot.
Speaking of no purpose to the plot, there are surprise reveals for some of the characters that mean absolutely nothing. It feels like they were put in just for shock value, and that's it. I didn't feel anything for them, and they didn't feel earned at all.
For the characters, once again the best character in the series is just a bit part, and that's Captain de Soya. He (and the Shrike) has easily been the most complex and relatable character, but he hardly shows up. Instead, the main focus is of course Raul and Aenea and their relationship. It's been said several times before how creepy their romance is, and I completely agree. It's bad enough that he started as her protector when she was 12, and now they are lovers. What makes it so much worse is he constantly calls her "kiddo" and refers to her as "my friend" interchangeably with "my love." To top it all off, he says one of the creepiest things I've ever read in a book:
"I could not stop looking at her face, her eyes. I was afraid that if I touched her bare skin again, visible voltage would leap between us. I remembered that electric shock whenever we had touched when she was a kid." WTF is this?!?! No. Just no.
This series gave me similar feelings to the Acts of Caine series. Much like Heroes Die, the first two books of Hyperion Cantos are some of the best sci-fi I've ever read. But, much like Acts of Caine, the fourth and final book absolutely jumps the shark and is a complete mess. If I was to recommend this to anyone, I would say to stop after the second book. It's a complete story after that, and while the third book isn't bad, it's not worth reading when the conclusion is this.