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A review by kp_hobbitreads
Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey
5.0
#1 Leviathan Wakes: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#1.5 The Butcher of Anderson Station: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 Caliban's War: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2.5 Gods of Risk: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#2.7 Drive: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#3 Abaddon's Gate: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 The Churn: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
#4 Cibola Burn: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#5 Nemesis Games: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
I read this entire book in one day because I couldn't put it down. It was both compelling and heartbreaking, and I had to see what happened next.
This book picks up about a year after the previous book. After the damage done to the Roci, the crew is grounded on Tycho Station so repairs can be completed. Given the amount of down time they're going to have, Amos, Alex, and Naomi head off on their own to take care of some business. Alex is heading back to Mars to check in on his ex-wife and hopefully get some closure. Amos is headed to Earth to make sure that Lydia really died peacefully and exact revenge if she didn't. Naomi's past has come back to haunt her as she is forced to confront the one man she hoped to never see again. And, Holden is left alone and soon realizes that the Roci isn't the Roci without her crew. Alongside these personal adventures ships start disappearing as they go through the ring, the last remaining protomolecule is stolen, and a terrorist attack devastated Earth, and each member of the crew must find a way to make it home.
This is the first book that we get POV chapters for each of the Roci's crew: Holden, Naomi, Amos, and Alex. And, while I didn't love that they had to all be separated for that to happen, the the way these storylines converged kept me invested. I loved getting to spend more time with each of these characters and learn new things about them and gain a deeper understanding of who they are as people. The plot structure kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for them all to find their way home. Both Alex and Amos's storylines were compelling, but it was Naomi's that broke my heart. I cannot even imagine the pain having to make the choice she did to save herself. And, then to be back in clutches of her abuser? Awful, just awful. I always knew she was an incredible strong character, but this book really drove that point home. "'Didn't break me when I was a girl,' she said to the tiny black kit. 'Don't know why he thinks he can break me now.'"
Each book in this series seems to have a moment - a game changing, world changing moment. And, this book is no different. But, it feels worse in this one - the level of devastation is almost incalculable, and we are experiencing it in real time with our characters. And, because we have spent the four books prior to this getting to know and love these characters, their pain and confusion and loss feels even bigger. The world will quite literally never be the same.
Three Things:
1. I loved that we got Bobbie and Avasarala back as main players in this even if they don't get their own chapters. They are two of my favorite characters.
2. I wasn't expecting to see Clarissa Mao again. That storyline is going to be interesting.
3. Avasarala breaking down just about broke me. "I'm trying to save humanity here. It would be just fantastic if someone would help."
This isn't a particularly fast-paced story, but it is a gut wrenching one. And, the actions taken in this book are going to have huge implications for the rest of the series. I'm nervous, but determined to find out where things go from here.
content warnings: child abuse, child sex trafficking, parental abandonment, suicide attempt (in the past), emotional abuse/manipulation, violence, death, mass murder, injury/injury recovery, kidnapping, captivity, drugging, suicidal ideation, ableist slur, misogyny
#1.5 The Butcher of Anderson Station: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 Caliban's War: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2.5 Gods of Risk: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#2.7 Drive: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#3 Abaddon's Gate: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 The Churn: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
#4 Cibola Burn: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#5 Nemesis Games: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
I read this entire book in one day because I couldn't put it down. It was both compelling and heartbreaking, and I had to see what happened next.
This book picks up about a year after the previous book. After the damage done to the Roci, the crew is grounded on Tycho Station so repairs can be completed. Given the amount of down time they're going to have, Amos, Alex, and Naomi head off on their own to take care of some business. Alex is heading back to Mars to check in on his ex-wife and hopefully get some closure. Amos is headed to Earth to make sure that Lydia really died peacefully and exact revenge if she didn't. Naomi's past has come back to haunt her as she is forced to confront the one man she hoped to never see again. And, Holden is left alone and soon realizes that the Roci isn't the Roci without her crew. Alongside these personal adventures ships start disappearing as they go through the ring, the last remaining protomolecule is stolen, and a terrorist attack devastated Earth, and each member of the crew must find a way to make it home.
This is the first book that we get POV chapters for each of the Roci's crew: Holden, Naomi, Amos, and Alex. And, while I didn't love that they had to all be separated for that to happen, the the way these storylines converged kept me invested. I loved getting to spend more time with each of these characters and learn new things about them and gain a deeper understanding of who they are as people. The plot structure kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for them all to find their way home. Both Alex and Amos's storylines were compelling, but it was Naomi's that broke my heart. I cannot even imagine the pain having to make the choice she did to save herself. And, then to be back in clutches of her abuser? Awful, just awful. I always knew she was an incredible strong character, but this book really drove that point home. "'Didn't break me when I was a girl,' she said to the tiny black kit. 'Don't know why he thinks he can break me now.'"
Each book in this series seems to have a moment - a game changing, world changing moment. And, this book is no different. But, it feels worse in this one - the level of devastation is almost incalculable, and we are experiencing it in real time with our characters. And, because we have spent the four books prior to this getting to know and love these characters, their pain and confusion and loss feels even bigger. The world will quite literally never be the same.
Three Things:
1. I loved that we got Bobbie and Avasarala back as main players in this even if they don't get their own chapters. They are two of my favorite characters.
2. I wasn't expecting to see Clarissa Mao again. That storyline is going to be interesting.
3. Avasarala breaking down just about broke me. "I'm trying to save humanity here. It would be just fantastic if someone would help."
This isn't a particularly fast-paced story, but it is a gut wrenching one. And, the actions taken in this book are going to have huge implications for the rest of the series. I'm nervous, but determined to find out where things go from here.
content warnings: child abuse, child sex trafficking, parental abandonment, suicide attempt (in the past), emotional abuse/manipulation, violence, death, mass murder, injury/injury recovery, kidnapping, captivity, drugging, suicidal ideation, ableist slur, misogyny