jesster642's review against another edition
4.0
The conclusion to the deceptions edge trilogy, a good ending to Jak and Torrins story, leaving room for the story to continue and explore the consequences of the events of the book.
As a ending to a series could maybe have done with just one more epilogue chapter to bring everything together and give a definitive answer to some of the plot points, but still a solid end to the story.
As a ending to a series could maybe have done with just one more epilogue chapter to bring everything together and give a definitive answer to some of the plot points, but still a solid end to the story.
dreamerfreak's review against another edition
2.0
When I started this series, I loved it. But Book 2, Heights of Green, disappointed me with certain themes, and unfortunately, Vortex of Crimson failed to redeem itself. I struggled through reading this because I love Jak as a character and I held slight hopes of some kind of change of worldview, but I was sadly disappointed.
I have a few different complaints, but ultimately they all come down to one sad truth: transphobia. Which I... hate to just accuse an author outright, especially since I'm not trans myself, but when Jak and Torrin visited Torrin's home world of Nadierzda in Heights of Green, so many things made me uncomfortable. Women's spaces are valid and important things to have. But making those spaces cis-exclusive and making them entire planets (aka, kicking off any male children at age 8)? Not so good, actually. I had a vague (perhaps, foolish) hope that Jak, with her outside, though also skewed perspective, would be able to point out the flaws in Torrin's worldview... but instead she seems to accept on face value that a world built exclusively of cis-women is inherently better, despite the proof to the contrary staring her in the face.
While Vortex of Crimson doesn't deal as directly with these issues, since Jak and Torrin are back on Haefon once again, it's still impossible to ignore the signs now that I've seen how blatant it could be. The way of handling Jak's masculine side and her past of hiding her gender grated on me. Torrin's attitude grated on me often, in fact, and not always related to any gender discourse that popped up. Compared to Jak over the course of the series, Torrin hasn't seemed to experience much in the way of character development, and the longer we follow along on their journey, the more obvious Torrin's lack of change is. Her stubbornness has turned from a quirk to an annoyance, because she refuses to acknowledge the problems that it sometimes causes.
While some readers might not agree with me about Torrin's disappointing lack of character development, there is no excusing the overwhelming themes of gender essentialism and transphobia. Even though the writing and the story is compelling, nothing can redeem this book or series for me.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
I have a few different complaints, but ultimately they all come down to one sad truth: transphobia. Which I... hate to just accuse an author outright, especially since I'm not trans myself, but when Jak and Torrin visited Torrin's home world of Nadierzda in Heights of Green, so many things made me uncomfortable. Women's spaces are valid and important things to have. But making those spaces cis-exclusive and making them entire planets (aka, kicking off any male children at age 8)? Not so good, actually. I had a vague (perhaps, foolish) hope that Jak, with her outside, though also skewed perspective, would be able to point out the flaws in Torrin's worldview... but instead she seems to accept on face value that a world built exclusively of cis-women is inherently better, despite the proof to the contrary staring her in the face.
While Vortex of Crimson doesn't deal as directly with these issues, since Jak and Torrin are back on Haefon once again, it's still impossible to ignore the signs now that I've seen how blatant it could be. The way of handling Jak's masculine side and her past of hiding her gender grated on me. Torrin's attitude grated on me often, in fact, and not always related to any gender discourse that popped up. Compared to Jak over the course of the series, Torrin hasn't seemed to experience much in the way of character development, and the longer we follow along on their journey, the more obvious Torrin's lack of change is. Her stubbornness has turned from a quirk to an annoyance, because she refuses to acknowledge the problems that it sometimes causes.
While some readers might not agree with me about Torrin's disappointing lack of character development, there is no excusing the overwhelming themes of gender essentialism and transphobia. Even though the writing and the story is compelling, nothing can redeem this book or series for me.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Liked some things, didn't like some other things. Mostly I'm not into the military stuff and I wanted more romance and/or sci fi stuff. Full review here!
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