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A review by ceruleao
Revenge by Dani Hoots
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Knowing very little about Revenge by Dani Hoots before diving in made my time with it all the more surprising, memorable and fresh. The first Sci-Fi Western I'm adding to my bookshelf, but certainly will not be the last as I'm already eager to get my hands on Book 2 in the City of Kaus series. Ellie, Zach, Cor and Gabe were well-written, fully realized characters that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The story changes perspective between these four characters throughout and the author did a fantastic job giving them each a distinct voice and personality. I love reading novels with queer representation and found that the character's identities were well-crafted, feeling both nuanced and authentic. The queer identities were consistently present but not overly prominent in their personalities and plot.
I find that in many stories with multiple viewpoints the characters are often in parallel adventures, converging somewhere near the end. However, I believe Revenge benefits nicely from the characters sharing their thoughts with the reader as they are experiencing the events unfold together. We learn so much about the characters within each chapter and the reader's perception is often challenged when faced with new information. I also never found myself waiting for one character to stop talking so I could get back to the "good part." We've all been there.
The universe that the author has created is incredibly immersive with plenty of tension. There are five (or six) races and each one feels distinct and intriguing, yet not entirely unfamiliar. The world building in this first book does a wonderful job of painting a vivid picture, while leaving plenty of mystery for a sequel.
I've been enjoying reading quite a few Star Wars novels this year and between the bounty hunting, gambling, and Trandoshan-esque Silurians (Am I right?), I could easily imagine this book feeling right at place on Canto Bight or some unknown planet in the Outer Rim. This was such a fun read that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone as intrigued by the Sci-Fi Western genre as I was.
Knowing very little about Revenge by Dani Hoots before diving in made my time with it all the more surprising, memorable and fresh. The first Sci-Fi Western I'm adding to my bookshelf, but certainly will not be the last as I'm already eager to get my hands on Book 2 in the City of Kaus series. Ellie, Zach, Cor and Gabe were well-written, fully realized characters that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The story changes perspective between these four characters throughout and the author did a fantastic job giving them each a distinct voice and personality. I love reading novels with queer representation and found that the character's identities were well-crafted, feeling both nuanced and authentic. The queer identities were consistently present but not overly prominent in their personalities and plot.
I find that in many stories with multiple viewpoints the characters are often in parallel adventures, converging somewhere near the end. However, I believe Revenge benefits nicely from the characters sharing their thoughts with the reader as they are experiencing the events unfold together. We learn so much about the characters within each chapter and the reader's perception is often challenged when faced with new information. I also never found myself waiting for one character to stop talking so I could get back to the "good part." We've all been there.
The universe that the author has created is incredibly immersive with plenty of tension. There are five (or six) races and each one feels distinct and intriguing, yet not entirely unfamiliar. The world building in this first book does a wonderful job of painting a vivid picture, while leaving plenty of mystery for a sequel.
I've been enjoying reading quite a few Star Wars novels this year and between the bounty hunting, gambling, and Trandoshan-esque Silurians (Am I right?), I could easily imagine this book feeling right at place on Canto Bight or some unknown planet in the Outer Rim. This was such a fun read that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone as intrigued by the Sci-Fi Western genre as I was.