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A review by ximesbooks
The Light Years by R.W.W. Greene
2.0
This book wasn't "bad" by any means. Rather it described a world too similar to our own— despite it being set up in the distance future. With most characters being queer, of color, and women, this books has done wonderful in portraying the melting pot of humanity and how much more mixed it would be in the future. From there, however, Greene's novel does little to keep the reader interested.
It starts with the negotiation of an arranged marriage between our male lead, Adem, and his unborn bride, Hisako. Hisako's family lives on the borders of La Merde— a living section that houses the poor and federally-unapproved children— and Le Mur— the land of the privileged and wealthy in which teenage rebellion is looking like you're from La Merde. The reader witnesses Hisako develop a jaded outlook on love and does everything she can to take some control over her life during her teenage years.
In the near 24 years of aging and learning, Hisako meets and marries Adem— a Trader, who's time in space travel means that time works different for him— who only made his marriage deal 10 months prior. After their marriage, Hisako and Adem rarely talk as the reader is exposed to family drama that is spectated by the entire ship crew. Hisako is roped into a familial rivalry between family elders with herself being the most crucial piece in the final sway of power.
Although the struggle for power aboard Adem's ship is introduced alongside Hisako's coming-of-age storyline, the novel drags to reach a climax. For more than half of the novel, the reader is merely observing Hisako be a spectator for a class revolution that got her father in jail while her mother criticizes her for her rebellion. Greene takes decidedly too long to reach a point to their 178-out-of 291-page-long world building. When the climax of the struggle for power in Adem's family reaches its peak, the reveal is too slow to be eye-brow-raising and too bland in comparison to the revolution occurring planet-side in which we are introduced to much better storylines.
Greene has an incredible concept, but they take too long to to conclude their story and then rush to close character arcs at the end. I think there is much to be desired with this novel in terms of storyline, reveal, and climax; however, I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
It starts with the negotiation of an arranged marriage between our male lead, Adem, and his unborn bride, Hisako. Hisako's family lives on the borders of La Merde— a living section that houses the poor and federally-unapproved children— and Le Mur— the land of the privileged and wealthy in which teenage rebellion is looking like you're from La Merde. The reader witnesses Hisako develop a jaded outlook on love and does everything she can to take some control over her life during her teenage years.
In the near 24 years of aging and learning, Hisako meets and marries Adem— a Trader, who's time in space travel means that time works different for him— who only made his marriage deal 10 months prior. After their marriage, Hisako and Adem rarely talk as the reader is exposed to family drama that is spectated by the entire ship crew. Hisako is roped into a familial rivalry between family elders with herself being the most crucial piece in the final sway of power.
Although the struggle for power aboard Adem's ship is introduced alongside Hisako's coming-of-age storyline, the novel drags to reach a climax. For more than half of the novel, the reader is merely observing Hisako be a spectator for a class revolution that got her father in jail while her mother criticizes her for her rebellion. Greene takes decidedly too long to reach a point to their 178-out-of 291-page-long world building. When the climax of the struggle for power in Adem's family reaches its peak, the reveal is too slow to be eye-brow-raising and too bland in comparison to the revolution occurring planet-side in which we are introduced to much better storylines.
Greene has an incredible concept, but they take too long to to conclude their story and then rush to close character arcs at the end. I think there is much to be desired with this novel in terms of storyline, reveal, and climax; however, I enjoyed getting to know the characters.