A review by aardwyrm
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

As good as the first one! (Would be totally incomprehensible without it. It's that sort of sequel.) The intertwining plots and painstakingly detailed worldbuilding add up to a marvelous and successful balancing act, and the mysterious aliens are menacing and creepy and yet ultimately harmonize with the complicated world. There are a few characters it's fun to hate, but the book does an unusually good job painting portraits of many multilayered antagonists all acting in the best interests of their understanding of the right thing. 
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