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A review by sapphic_in_the_stacks
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Kira is a xenobiologist in the year 2257. As human life has expanded through the galaxies, xenobiologists like her are on the forefront of planetary exploration, ensuring that planets are safe to become inhabited by human colonists. Despite expanding far from our original galaxy (now called Sol), humans have encountered little in the way of alien life, and no sentient alien life thus far. That is, until Kira stumbles upon something odd on a final check before concluding their current mission. What might have been the discovery of a lifetime turns into a living nightmare of first-contact. Kira's journey will push past her limits, and questions what it even means to be human, or in control.
As a fan of the Inheritance Cycle, I was excited to read Paolini's first adult novel. While it started substantially darker than his previous novels, Paolini did not disappoint in To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. This 800+ page epic adventure delivered time and time again. Unlike some strictly linear story lines, where you can see the end from the beginning and each task is simply checking a box, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars takes you down a winding narrative full of unexpected encounters, and ever evolving goals. In this way, the story feels much more true to life and relatable, allowing you to connect even more deeply with the characters. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion, even if not all of the story points have been resolved. Here's to hoping Paolini doesn't take too long to write the next one!
As a fan of the Inheritance Cycle, I was excited to read Paolini's first adult novel. While it started substantially darker than his previous novels, Paolini did not disappoint in To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. This 800+ page epic adventure delivered time and time again. Unlike some strictly linear story lines, where you can see the end from the beginning and each task is simply checking a box, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars takes you down a winding narrative full of unexpected encounters, and ever evolving goals. In this way, the story feels much more true to life and relatable, allowing you to connect even more deeply with the characters. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion, even if not all of the story points have been resolved. Here's to hoping Paolini doesn't take too long to write the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Grief