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A review by mary_soon_lee
Warchild by Karin Lowachee
5.0
Spoilers ahead.
I want to avoid very plot-specific spoilers, but I note in general terms that the book is science fiction with faster-than-light spaceships, aliens, pirates, war. It's a book that I could criticize if I stepped back a little from it. I could say that the plot feels engineered to put the protagonist in particular situations. I could say that there's a certain simplicity to some of the supporting characters. I could say that the aliens are perhaps a little too human. But that would be disingenuous, because while I was reading I was captivated. And when I wasn't reading, the main character kept calling me back. And human-similar or not, I thought the aliens and their culture were beautifully evoked.
Very highly recommended, though be aware that there is dark content, including abuse and threat to children.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoiler
This book waited on my shelves for over five years. I started it a couple of times over those years, but the beginning is very dark and written in second person (second person generally being somewhat distracting). Worse, the protagonist, to whom bad things are happening, is a young child, and so I set the book aside. This time, I read far enough to be pulled in, hook, line, and sinker. I found it riveting throughout, and at times close to heartbreaking.I want to avoid very plot-specific spoilers, but I note in general terms that the book is science fiction with faster-than-light spaceships, aliens, pirates, war. It's a book that I could criticize if I stepped back a little from it. I could say that the plot feels engineered to put the protagonist in particular situations. I could say that there's a certain simplicity to some of the supporting characters. I could say that the aliens are perhaps a little too human. But that would be disingenuous, because while I was reading I was captivated. And when I wasn't reading, the main character kept calling me back. And human-similar or not, I thought the aliens and their culture were beautifully evoked.
Very highly recommended, though be aware that there is dark content, including abuse and threat to children.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).