A review by stormwise
Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

Extraterrestrial life is such a fascinating concept and I love media that explores the possibilities of alien cultures and how we would interact with them. With this in mind, it's no surprise that I enjoyed Ellis' debut novel, an alternate history first-contact tale that examines if it is possible for two alien cultures to truly coexist. 

I really enjoyed how the aliens were presented - I liked the main character's awareness of the human tendency to anthropomorphise. I also loved the discussion of linguistics within the text and found the way alien communication was portrayed very interesting.
Oh, and there's a scene where a human and an alien play cards together.<\spoiler>

I'll admit that the book took a little while to set itself up and the tone felt a bit "young adult" at the beginning, but once the action started it really picked up steam and I found myself completely absorbed. Overall I thought the writing was excellent and incredibly effective at conveying horror, tension and anxiety in certain scenes. 

I'm very excited for the sequel! I'd recommend this to any sci-fi fans who like aliens, government conspiracies, and mid-2000 pop culture references. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings