A review by shanaqui
Network Effect by Martha Wells

adventurous emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

 I didn't read this that long ago, but I still needed the reread, oof! There's a lot going on -- especially in the last 70 pages or so, and a good number of things I somehow hadn't properly logged to long-term memory. It's one of those books where even explaining the setup is kind of a spoiler for people who are only partway through the series, because so much has happened to bring us here... but suffice it to say that I love the meeting of old friends, the meeting of new ones about whom we didn't know very much yet, and especially all the dialogue between Murderbot and the bot transport.

I still found that things are a bit slower and easier to follow going in -- though I wouldn't call it slow, there is a certain amount of waiting for things to happen, and quite a bit of trying to go off, find a quiet corner, and Have An Emotion -- and then move at blurry, dizzying speed after a certain point. I think I'm up to speed on everything this time, but I wouldn't want to be quizzed on it.

Honestly, poor Murderbot doesn't nearly get enough time to just watch media, in this one. It does get in a couple of episodes of Sanctuary Moon and Worldhoppers, but c'mon. A Murderbot needs some more time to unwind.