Scan barcode
A review by kp_hobbitreads
Cibola Burn by James S.A. Corey
4.5
#1 Leviathan Wakes: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#1.5 The Butcher of Anderson Station: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 Caliban's War: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2.5 Gods of Risk: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#2.7 Drive: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#3 Abaddon's Gate: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 The Churn: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
#4 Cibola Burn: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
Me: "I don't think I can hate a character more than I hated Ashford.
Adolphus Murty: "Hold my beer."
It's been about two years since the end of Abaddon's Gate. The gates are opened and now there are thousands of new habitable planets up for grabs and a land rush has begun. Refugees from Ganymede have settled on one of the new planets they've named Ilus. But, when scientists and security forces attempt to land on the planet and claim dominion, things go from bad to worse fast. Holden is tasked by Avasarala and Fred Johnson to keep the peace and they find themselves caught between settlers who are trying to eek out a life in a new place and the company which owns the official claim. When a catastrophic event is compounded by the spread of a deadly disease and Detective Miller is back and need's Holden's help, it's a race against the clock to find a cure and safe everyone.
In addition to Holden, we have 3 new POV characters: Dimitri Havelock who was Detective Miller's partner back on Ceres and is now working for Royal Charter Energy aboard the Edwards Israel. Basia Merton, a welder from Ganymede who lost his son Katoa (who shared a rare genetic disorder with Pax's daughter Mei) who has come to Ilus in hopes of keeping his family safe. And lastly, Elvi Okoye who is a biologist from Earth who hopes to study New Terra, but who finds herself in the middle of a disaster she never expected.
This book is definitely telling a much smaller story; and a very human one. It's full of complicated and imperfect people, most of whom are doing the best they can with the hand they've been dealt. But, it's also about how easy it is to dehumanize your "enemy" in the pursuit of your own goals. And, those who are far more concerned with being right than doing what is right. "There was no point to the attack except spite and the kind of violence that passed for meaning in the face of despair."
Three Things:
1. Basia's story broke my heart. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child and then trying so hard to get your family to safety only to end up in another big mess. He made some bad choices - no doubt. But, given his anger and grief I also understand why he made them.
2. I really loved all the Holden/Amos interactions we got in this book. "'I also,' Holden continued, 'may have shoved him down and stolen his hand terminal.' 'Stop making me fall in love with you, Cap, we both know it can't go anywhere.'''
3. I loved Elvi and Fayez together. In my head, they are living happily ever after and nothing bad is ever going to happen to them again.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to see what happens next.
content warnings: loss of a child (previous book), grief, bombings, violence, death, bigotry, murder, flooding, misogyny, body horror, gore, confinement, suicidal ideation, medical content
#1.5 The Butcher of Anderson Station: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 Caliban's War: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2.5 Gods of Risk: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#2.7 Drive: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#3 Abaddon's Gate: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 The Churn: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
#4 Cibola Burn: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
Me: "I don't think I can hate a character more than I hated Ashford.
Adolphus Murty: "Hold my beer."
It's been about two years since the end of Abaddon's Gate. The gates are opened and now there are thousands of new habitable planets up for grabs and a land rush has begun. Refugees from Ganymede have settled on one of the new planets they've named Ilus. But, when scientists and security forces attempt to land on the planet and claim dominion, things go from bad to worse fast. Holden is tasked by Avasarala and Fred Johnson to keep the peace and they find themselves caught between settlers who are trying to eek out a life in a new place and the company which owns the official claim. When a catastrophic event is compounded by the spread of a deadly disease and Detective Miller is back and need's Holden's help, it's a race against the clock to find a cure and safe everyone.
In addition to Holden, we have 3 new POV characters: Dimitri Havelock who was Detective Miller's partner back on Ceres and is now working for Royal Charter Energy aboard the Edwards Israel. Basia Merton, a welder from Ganymede who lost his son Katoa (who shared a rare genetic disorder with Pax's daughter Mei) who has come to Ilus in hopes of keeping his family safe. And lastly, Elvi Okoye who is a biologist from Earth who hopes to study New Terra, but who finds herself in the middle of a disaster she never expected.
This book is definitely telling a much smaller story; and a very human one. It's full of complicated and imperfect people, most of whom are doing the best they can with the hand they've been dealt. But, it's also about how easy it is to dehumanize your "enemy" in the pursuit of your own goals. And, those who are far more concerned with being right than doing what is right. "There was no point to the attack except spite and the kind of violence that passed for meaning in the face of despair."
Three Things:
1. Basia's story broke my heart. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child and then trying so hard to get your family to safety only to end up in another big mess. He made some bad choices - no doubt. But, given his anger and grief I also understand why he made them.
2. I really loved all the Holden/Amos interactions we got in this book. "'I also,' Holden continued, 'may have shoved him down and stolen his hand terminal.' 'Stop making me fall in love with you, Cap, we both know it can't go anywhere.'''
3. I loved Elvi and Fayez together. In my head, they are living happily ever after and nothing bad is ever going to happen to them again.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to see what happens next.
content warnings: loss of a child (previous book), grief, bombings, violence, death, bigotry, murder, flooding, misogyny, body horror, gore, confinement, suicidal ideation, medical content