Reviews

Waste Tide by Chen Qiufan

rosekk's review

3.0

The premise was interesting, but I didn't enjoy the execution quite as much - the book didn't seem to spend enough time illuminating the world, so I found it hard to picture a lot of the sci-fi elements. The political side of it was much more engrossing.

lordofdisorder's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

wifi_bifi's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-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

4.0

jimmybrewster's review against another edition

3.0

I wanted to like this book. I like parts of it like the themes of class and capitalism. I like the writing, there were moments where I thought the story was going to get interesting. But overall, the story never managed capture my interest and I had to force myself to finish the book.

noetherian's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

jeansnow's review against another edition

2.0

I'm a bit torn on how to rate this book -- I've given 2 stars, but normally I would have gone to 2.5. There are things that I found quite interesting here, especially the setting, and there were flashes throughout that really had invested. But for the most part, I had trouble getting through it (I had started reading it back in September, and only finished it now in January). I just didn't find myself particularly enjoying most of the through line, and so never lost myself in things, which you usually want when you're reading fiction. I can't point to anything in particular that I think makes me rate so low, just the fact that it unfortunately didn't grab me.

knick83's review against another edition

adventurous dark

2.75

nogud's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad tense 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

4.25

I believe that it is a good take on the cheap labor situation and the awful conditions the workers' experience. Also, it puts in a new light the 'recycling' industry. It is a little depressing to see how society's mechanisms are corrupted, but I think that it also leaves the possibility of hope for a better solution.
I was not super engaged by the story until I was familiarized with the characters, but afterward, I felt I need to find out where their storylines ended.
The 'science' aspect of the science-fiction is not very evolved, but it suits the story very well.

breadsips's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

bookswithbets's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.75