jelmervdl's reviews
175 reviews

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Grass by Sheri S. Tepper

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

All in all this was a pretty disappointing read. I was hoping for some Kim Stanley Robinson like exploration of climate and society, but I got a fantasy story that read more like a fairy tale than anything else.

It was not doors and the flying trains being people bit that kept pulling me out. It was the almost offensive simplicity of the problems, the flatness of most characters (or the antagonist for that matter) and the minuscule arc of any tension happening between these charactrers. Although there is some explicit sex and violence, the book reads like a children's book.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee

dark emotional 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

4.25