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A review by spaceyspaceyspace
Aetherbound by E.K. Johnston
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Interesting worldbuilding but ultimately half-baked characters and glaring plot holes. The main character starts out a neglected child on a starship that doesn’t value her abilities. I like the deep lore of the society and how the author included a trans character who sometimes struggles with being trans without including transphobia.
However, the characters are flat; there’s too much telling instead of showing in their relationship, and the 3 MCs are jarringly emotionally aware. At one point Pendt says “we all cope with crisis in different ways. I do X, you do Y, and you do Z” like she didn’t spend her entire life being treated like an unperson and is instead that tumblr meme that says we should talk like “are you prepared to receive information that could cause you distress”.
Plot complaints:
For someone who is the only person who can keep the station running due to genetics, Ned is surprisingly naive about needing to get married and procreate.
What was their plan for ops for after Pendt has the baby but before the kid can do things? After Pendt dies & comes back, how does she expect to keep herself a secret?
I’ll probably read the sequel and more by the author, but jeeze lay off the therapy speak.
However, the characters are flat; there’s too much telling instead of showing in their relationship, and the 3 MCs are jarringly emotionally aware. At one point Pendt says “we all cope with crisis in different ways. I do X, you do Y, and you do Z” like she didn’t spend her entire life being treated like an unperson and is instead that tumblr meme that says we should talk like “are you prepared to receive information that could cause you distress”.
Plot complaints:
What was their plan for ops for after Pendt has the baby but before the kid can do things? After Pendt dies & comes back, how does she expect to keep herself a secret?
I’ll probably read the sequel and more by the author, but jeeze lay off the therapy speak.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Abandonment