A review by nettleviolet
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

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

5.0

Some Desperate Glory is what I think sci-fi is supposed to be -- an exploration of complex human issues like war, genocide, choice, family and radicalization through the lens of a world that doesn't have our rules. 

This book is fast paced and intense with lots of action and lots to think about. It doesn't pull punches. It looks at the horrors and effects of genocide and war and the ways that individuals, as much as systems, as responsible. There were times when I had to put the book down just to integrate the immensity of what just happened and that, to me, is a sign of a good book -- how it gets into your bones. 

The characters are unlikeable but very sympathetic and the main character's growth and development was very well done. 

The sci fi aspects of shadow space, the aliens, the Wisdom and multiple realities were all very well done and, though the shadow space was not based on actual science, it was well enough explained that this imaginary spacial force was believable. 

Overall, this is the best scifi I've read in a LONG time and is what attracted me to scifi in the first place, and what keeps bringing me back over and over again. 
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