Take a photo of a barcode or cover
cayenne503's Reviews (227)
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 4/5 Very good, looking forward to the next one.
Characters: 3/5
The POV character is a 5/5 but everyone else feels a little one dimensional. I kept losing track of which supporting characters were which.
The POV character is a 5/5 but everyone else feels a little one dimensional. I kept losing track of which supporting characters were which.
Setting/worldbuilding: 4/5
As an alternate-history Earth (yes I’m counting the space ship as Earth) I think there’s only so much that could have been done in this department. The fictional differences to real history are well developed.
As an alternate-history Earth (yes I’m counting the space ship as Earth) I think there’s only so much that could have been done in this department. The fictional differences to real history are well developed.
Plot: 5/5
As with book 1, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. The pacing is excellent with a great balance between “character” scenes and “action” scenes. Completely unintentionally I read the second half of the book in a single day. I already have book 3 on my shelf and I’m considering starting it the same day.
As with book 1, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. The pacing is excellent with a great balance between “character” scenes and “action” scenes. Completely unintentionally I read the second half of the book in a single day. I already have book 3 on my shelf and I’m considering starting it the same day.
Writing: 4/5
Easy to read, no wasted words, and constantly moving forward.
Easy to read, no wasted words, and constantly moving forward.
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 3.5/5
I didn’t find the story astounding but it was entertaining nonetheless. I would continue reading the series.
I didn’t find the story astounding but it was entertaining nonetheless. I would continue reading the series.
Characters: 3/5
All the meaningful characters are in the 16/17 year old range but rarely acted believably like teenagers. They did have their moments though. To be my own devils advocate, I was never a teenagerraised in essentially military school by an authoritarian regime so maybe my perception of what’s believable is skewed. They also seemed, in general, way too introspective and thoughtful. Believable as characters in their late twenties but not mid to late teens.
All the meaningful characters are in the 16/17 year old range but rarely acted believably like teenagers. They did have their moments though. To be my own devils advocate, I was never a teenager
Setting/worldbuilding: 4/5
Interesting spin on the“dragon riders as the ruling class but there’s a rebellion” trope. Setting the story in the post rebellion world with the new world order already having something of a foothold is something that I haven’t fully seen before. I liked the idea of the dragons “sparking” and the process being a mystery to humans. I also thought the reveal that the post rebellion world isn’t the egalitarian utopia that leadership portrays it to be was really well done. I think a lot more can be done with the foundations laid in this book.
Interesting spin on the
Plot: 3/5
The plot is exactly what you expect and nothing more. Checked all the boxes but didn’t really innovate. Pacing was frustratingly slow for the first half of the book but really picked up in the second half.
The plot is exactly what you expect and nothing more. Checked all the boxes but didn’t really innovate. Pacing was frustratingly slow for the first half of the book but really picked up in the second half.
Writing: 4/5
The prose is very pretty, for lack of a better word. At times it felt almost dreamlike. While elegant, there are more than a few times where the style doesn’t match the tension of the scene, which made some moments not hit as hard as they could have.
The prose is very pretty, for lack of a better word. At times it felt almost dreamlike. While elegant, there are more than a few times where the style doesn’t match the tension of the scene, which made some moments not hit as hard as they could have.
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the best book in the series so far. I loved everything about it. And I’m totally in love with the Murderbot/ART don’t call it a relationship relationship
DNF. Nearly halfway through the book and i just found myself struggling to care. Nothing interesting is happening, and when you think something interesting might be happening it’s not because of anything the characters do. Disappointed because on paper this seemed like a book I should love.
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After not enjoying book 3 very much I’m relieved that book 4 was much better. The return of Murderbot’s first clients family and the rescue operation was exciting. And then the ending with everyone being so concerned for Murderbot was so cute and heartwarming I just about died.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book 3 is a notable downgrade from books 1 & 2. The plot felt like the same old thing we’ve already seen Murderbot do. Luckily MB’s characterization is still fun to read and the last minute yank-your-heart-out twist was good.
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this might be the best one of the series so far. It’s no longer just the challenge of making it to the next floor. The intertwined plot of Carl working to take down the government and the former crawlers coming back to get revenge is a great addition and keeps the story from getting stale.
Seemed like nothing was happening. Kept getting hints that weird stuff was going on and then the FMC just ignored it. Huh??
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Characters: 4.5
Great variety of characters with differing motivations. The interplay between the different factions will be very satisfying to anyone who loves political intrigue.
Great variety of characters with differing motivations. The interplay between the different factions will be very satisfying to anyone who loves political intrigue.
Setting/Worldbuilding: 5
Super interesting take on how spacefaring humanity fits into the wider universe and the struggles they face. The cosmic horror backdrop adds a perfect layer of complexity stopping the story from being just another space opera.
Super interesting take on how spacefaring humanity fits into the wider universe and the struggles they face. The cosmic horror backdrop adds a perfect layer of complexity stopping the story from being just another space opera.
Plot: 4
The first half was a little slow in my opinion. I kept thinking okay, okay, get back to the interesting part with the Architects. The second half really picks up and gave me everything I wanted.
The first half was a little slow in my opinion. I kept thinking okay, okay, get back to the interesting part with the Architects. The second half really picks up and gave me everything I wanted.
Writing: 4.5
Smart, descriptive, artistic, and occasionally hilarious.
Smart, descriptive, artistic, and occasionally hilarious.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall: Yikes, not for me. I was only able to finish because the chapters are pretty short which made it easier to plow on.
Plot: pretty non-existent. Repetitive cycle of “normal life followed by weird thing followed by back to normal”. Unsatisfying when the “twist” is revealed.
Setting: set up as a big mystery with supernatural trappings but when reality is revealed it’s completely nonsensical.
Characters: MC is a genuinely obnoxious pretentious dbag. Everyone else is cartoonishly awful. The only character I liked was the dog.
Writing: lots of exposition. I mean LOTS. And when it’s not exposition it’s the POV character philosophizing about the way of the world. And if it’s not that it’s an actual soliloquy, no joke.
Plot: pretty non-existent. Repetitive cycle of “normal life followed by weird thing followed by back to normal”. Unsatisfying when the “twist” is revealed.
Setting: set up as a big mystery with supernatural trappings but when reality is revealed it’s completely nonsensical.
Characters: MC is a genuinely obnoxious pretentious dbag. Everyone else is cartoonishly awful. The only character I liked was the dog.
Writing: lots of exposition. I mean LOTS. And when it’s not exposition it’s the POV character philosophizing about the way of the world. And if it’s not that it’s an actual soliloquy, no joke.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide