redwavereads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vis_98's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is the first time I've read one of Aliette de Bodard's works and I have to say I did enjoy her writing style. I thought the world building was inventive and the pacing was perfect for the length of the book. I enjoyed the characters a lot. The book wrapped up everything nicely so it can be read as a standalone but I wouldn't mind reading more about the tea master and the detective.
I will say I do wish that you the reader weren't thrown right in because the world building is actually fairly complex and the book short, so you do need to be quick on the uptake. But at the end of the day, its a fairly quick, enjoyable read.
I would recommend this book to others, and it did make me want to give the author's other works a try.
I will say I do wish that you the reader weren't thrown right in because the world building is actually fairly complex and the book short, so you do need to be quick on the uptake. But at the end of the day, its a fairly quick, enjoyable read.
I would recommend this book to others, and it did make me want to give the author's other works a try.
armadazo's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
laumauflau's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
samwise's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bennysbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Could have been slightly easier to follow, but the worldbuilding was fascinating and the story propulsive.
sylviehelen's review against another edition
3.0
I find the setting and in-world technology so cool, but the short-format mystery is just never going to be my preference so my rating is extra-subjective.
brogan7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
The story is almost beyond following. While the premise is interesting enough--a mindship returning to "deep spaces," a site of trauma in their past, a murdered girl, and a detective with strange social graces, whose history and motivations are obscure...
But then, the world De Bodard creates is so strange and so without earth references, that it's quite difficult to follow, where are they going? Why are they going there?
De Bodard has a clear vision of this alternate world, and its rules and choices, it's only unfortunate she wasn't able to communicate it more clearly.
The mindship is already a thing to get your mind around, but then the mindship keeps casting itself as an avatar (but also only sometimes)--that's when it gets really trippy in terms of trying to imagine where the characters are in the story. Is the ship a ship? Is the ship a ship projecting itself as a smaller machine to meet with its clients? Where is the ship while the avatar is meeting? When the ship travels, what is the dock it is leaving from? What does it actually look like? Now she tells us the ship is in deep space. What is that, beyond this Alice-in-Wonderland feeling of swelling and shrinking? The ship gets nauseous. I have to wonder: do ships get nauseous? Is that a thing?
By this time, I'm not in the story anymore.
But then, the world De Bodard creates is so strange and so without earth references, that it's quite difficult to follow, where are they going? Why are they going there?
De Bodard has a clear vision of this alternate world, and its rules and choices, it's only unfortunate she wasn't able to communicate it more clearly.
The mindship is already a thing to get your mind around, but then the mindship keeps casting itself as an avatar (but also only sometimes)--that's when it gets really trippy in terms of trying to imagine where the characters are in the story. Is the ship a ship? Is the ship a ship projecting itself as a smaller machine to meet with its clients? Where is the ship while the avatar is meeting? When the ship travels, what is the dock it is leaving from? What does it actually look like? Now she tells us the ship is in deep space. What is that, beyond this Alice-in-Wonderland feeling of swelling and shrinking? The ship gets nauseous. I have to wonder: do ships get nauseous? Is that a thing?
By this time, I'm not in the story anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Death and Mental illness
TW: traumatina_hatch's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
My only complaint is I need more
gaggaly's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0