A review by bluejayreads
Network Effect by Martha Wells

4.5

This book is exactly what I wanted from a full-length Murderbot novel - the classic Murderbot combination of entertainment, snark, action, and emotion in a cool scifi setting, but longer. Dr. Mensah and several of the crew from book one are back, along with ART and a selection of new characters, and there's a new threat in a new section of the universe. But the extra length provided extra opportunity for growth. There was still plenty of action, but Murderbot got to develop some relationships and feel some emotions. The book even dove more into the trauma responses that can happen from all the stuff Murderbot and company have been through. There was a lot of Murderbot wrestling with feelings and interactions with people. I love seeing it grow and deal with feelings - and I know it's technically because of the robot parts, but Murderbot is full of relatable autism feels. The climax of this book got a little confusing, as it (very briefly) went to three point-of-view characters and it was difficult to keep track of who was talking, but overall it was very good. There's snark, scifi action, emotional growth, and relationship development all in one book! I know there's more Murderbot novellas in the series, but I definitely think the series could handle some more full-length novels. At the very least, I want some.