A review by ktrain3900
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

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

3.75

An engaging and thought-provoking look at spirituality, mission work, colonization, and social structure. Sure some characters can grate at times. Sure some of the technical parts require some heavy-lifting suspension of disbelief even for sci-fi. Sure there's occasionally exposition and passive storytelling in places where I felt action would have better suited. But it's a first book, and it's incredibly well-written for a first book. 
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