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A review by kylosten
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
adventurous
tense
medium-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
4.5
This was initially hard for me to get into.
It throws you right into the story with very little explanation of the world or how it works (the worldbuilding does happen after the initial few chapters and I do think it's solidly done once it starts happening) and Kyr is initially very difficult to like or root for. She's been brainwashed from living in a militaristic space station. She starts to question small things fairly early on but continues to cling to the ideas she's learned until probably 60% into the story.
She does grow and eventually I found myself truly hoping she would succeed. The character growth is actually some of the best I've seen recently and I'm glad I stuck through the initial frustration with her as a character.
I found some of the descriptions of shadowspace and how the distortions around the shadow engines worked to be a little confusing but overall it didn't really stop me from enjoying the wibbly wobbly timey wimey butterfly effect story once that aspect of it really started. I think the science is not meant to be really fully understood or grounded in reality but I could see that being an issue for some readers.
It dealt with themes of propaganda and the prejudice and biases we have from where we live and grow up vs what our conscience and gut tells us and I think it did that well. It also dealt with the downfalls of hyperindividualism and the importance of community, us vs them mentality, and more.
This is overall a very solid space opera sci fi that dealt with important themes from our real lives and I already want to read it again with the benefit of hindsight.
It throws you right into the story with very little explanation of the world or how it works (the worldbuilding does happen after the initial few chapters and I do think it's solidly done once it starts happening) and Kyr is initially very difficult to like or root for. She's been brainwashed from living in a militaristic space station. She starts to question small things fairly early on but continues to cling to the ideas she's learned until probably 60% into the story.
She does grow and eventually I found myself truly hoping she would succeed. The character growth is actually some of the best I've seen recently and I'm glad I stuck through the initial frustration with her as a character.
I found some of the descriptions of shadowspace and how the distortions around the shadow engines worked to be a little confusing but overall it didn't really stop me from enjoying the wibbly wobbly timey wimey butterfly effect story once that aspect of it really started. I think the science is not meant to be really fully understood or grounded in reality but I could see that being an issue for some readers.
It dealt with themes of propaganda and the prejudice and biases we have from where we live and grow up vs what our conscience and gut tells us and I think it did that well. It also dealt with the downfalls of hyperindividualism and the importance of community, us vs them mentality, and more.
This is overall a very solid space opera sci fi that dealt with important themes from our real lives and I already want to read it again with the benefit of hindsight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape and Suicide