graff_fuller's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I put this book in the Horror genre. Not everyone would, but it was horrific in scope. The characters were put in horrible situations, which...without an outside help, they would all have died horribly.
This series, Firefly isn't known for its episodes to be in the horror genre, but more accurately put as action packed (which this was, too), comedic (which this was, too), western (which this skirted, at times), but mostly...this show always skirted many genres...and did them all very well.
I'm here to say, that this novel...was a horror novel. Fight me on it (please don't, I would RATHER have a good discussion on it).
I really enjoyed this story. I don't want to say too much...for I believe the less you know, the more that you'll enjoy it. Suffice it to say, the good guys prevail, which we KNEW was going to happen in book 3 of 7.
I hope that you (dear reader) pick this book up and go on an adventure with the Serenity crew...that was everything BUT serene.
This series, Firefly isn't known for its episodes to be in the horror genre, but more accurately put as action packed (which this was, too), comedic (which this was, too), western (which this skirted, at times), but mostly...this show always skirted many genres...and did them all very well.
I'm here to say, that this novel...was a horror novel. Fight me on it (please don't, I would RATHER have a good discussion on it).
I really enjoyed this story. I don't want to say too much...for I believe the less you know, the more that you'll enjoy it. Suffice it to say, the good guys prevail, which we KNEW was going to happen in book 3 of 7.
I hope that you (dear reader) pick this book up and go on an adventure with the Serenity crew...that was everything BUT serene.
sambora's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine a 'What If...?' for the crew of Serenity.
The Ghost Machine IS that story and my gosh is it fantastic.
It isn't without faults, but I had such a good time with it, and I feel as though if I wish it were an episode of the show then it's a job well done.
*Spoiler-Free*
The basic synopsis is that Mal and his crew are hired by Badger to transport an unknown cargo, the cargo in question has a severe, peculiar and nefarious, mental impact on each member - creating dreams, hallucinations and delusions. Each of the crews experiences create a thread, plot lines that we follow and jump between throughout the story.
The various climax's of these different stories keep the pace of the book somewhere between 'very fast' to 'GORRAM IT - THIS IS WILD! WHAT THE HELL!' - it's very well structured and brilliantly interwoven.
I know what some of you may be thinking - 'If we are in everyone's dreams for the whole book, then where are the real-world stakes stakes?' and yes that's a valid question, but Serenity is flying headlong toward a moon - and without a captain, a pilot or even a mechanic to set things straight, it's up to the one character that isn't effected mentally by this strange dream-inducing cargo to wake the others up and save their lives; of course, it's River Tam.
The individual stories, taking place inside the minds of the characters that we know and love so much are a perfect blend of being bittersweet, heartrendingly wholesome and then absolutely devastating.
The emotional journeys that this book took me on were profound.
The few gripes that I had with The Ghost Machine were only very minor.
Much like the previous books, the reliance on, and repeated mentions of, needless quotes and references to specific happenings from the show was a bit much. I know it's important to link things back to the source material, but it happens frequently enough here to be jarring and seem a bit forced. Both Jayne's gun - Vera, being mentioned regularly and Kaylee's ballgown from Shindig coming up in conversation twice stood out to me as the more unnecessary and somewhat ham-fisted references.
There were examples of callbacks and references done well, and that is when it was character related or continues a story left behind by the show - like Mal finally telling Zoe about what happened with Jayne on Ariel after the hospital heist - anyone even somewhat familiar with the show knows what I'm referring to, and that gives it weight and importance when it's brought up again so much later.
The only other criticism I have is of the rather abrupt ending. It tied things up well and it fit with the pacing, but I just wish there was more of a conclusion, or that it had been made a little longer just to acclimatise us and the characters to the events of the story coming to a close.
It's hard to say more without giving things away but I just wish we could have taken our foot off the pedal and let it drift to a stop rather than slamming on the breaks.
Overall this really is a fantastic story, despite the few elements I would have preferred to be different.
The characters, the dialogue, the aesthetic, the structure and the plots were all superb. Most definitely my favourite Lovegrove Firefly novel yet.
4.5 stars - I cant wait to see what the future of this book series has in store!
Thank you for reading my review! I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying you current reads! Stay shiny.
The Ghost Machine IS that story and my gosh is it fantastic.
It isn't without faults, but I had such a good time with it, and I feel as though if I wish it were an episode of the show then it's a job well done.
*Spoiler-Free*
The basic synopsis is that Mal and his crew are hired by Badger to transport an unknown cargo, the cargo in question has a severe, peculiar and nefarious, mental impact on each member - creating dreams, hallucinations and delusions. Each of the crews experiences create a thread, plot lines that we follow and jump between throughout the story.
The various climax's of these different stories keep the pace of the book somewhere between 'very fast' to 'GORRAM IT - THIS IS WILD! WHAT THE HELL!' - it's very well structured and brilliantly interwoven.
I know what some of you may be thinking - 'If we are in everyone's dreams for the whole book, then where are the real-world stakes stakes?' and yes that's a valid question, but Serenity is flying headlong toward a moon - and without a captain, a pilot or even a mechanic to set things straight, it's up to the one character that isn't effected mentally by this strange dream-inducing cargo to wake the others up and save their lives; of course, it's River Tam.
The individual stories, taking place inside the minds of the characters that we know and love so much are a perfect blend of being bittersweet, heartrendingly wholesome and then absolutely devastating.
The emotional journeys that this book took me on were profound.
The few gripes that I had with The Ghost Machine were only very minor.
Much like the previous books, the reliance on, and repeated mentions of, needless quotes and references to specific happenings from the show was a bit much. I know it's important to link things back to the source material, but it happens frequently enough here to be jarring and seem a bit forced. Both Jayne's gun - Vera, being mentioned regularly and Kaylee's ballgown from Shindig coming up in conversation twice stood out to me as the more unnecessary and somewhat ham-fisted references.
There were examples of callbacks and references done well, and that is when it was character related or continues a story left behind by the show - like Mal finally telling Zoe about what happened with Jayne on Ariel after the hospital heist - anyone even somewhat familiar with the show knows what I'm referring to, and that gives it weight and importance when it's brought up again so much later.
The only other criticism I have is of the rather abrupt ending. It tied things up well and it fit with the pacing, but I just wish there was more of a conclusion, or that it had been made a little longer just to acclimatise us and the characters to the events of the story coming to a close.
It's hard to say more without giving things away but I just wish we could have taken our foot off the pedal and let it drift to a stop rather than slamming on the breaks.
Overall this really is a fantastic story, despite the few elements I would have preferred to be different.
The characters, the dialogue, the aesthetic, the structure and the plots were all superb. Most definitely my favourite Lovegrove Firefly novel yet.
4.5 stars - I cant wait to see what the future of this book series has in store!
Thank you for reading my review! I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying you current reads! Stay shiny.
madisonreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
zoes_human's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely for Firefly fans only. Shallow but deliciously like the show. I could picture every moment of it.
lady_mair's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting premise that turned into mediocre melodrama with a grosser and darker turn than I expected (and definitely didn’t want). While the Firefly crew sounded most like themselves in this spin off novel, nothing particularly new is learned about any of them. There’s no character development as a result of the events of the plot and since this book falls between the end of the TV show and “Serenity,” I never felt any real worry for the characters. They also have the - convenient - benefit of forgetting the nightmares they were ensnared in, whereas I now have these nasty scenarios in my head/imagination. Do not recommend. I wish I’d rewatched the show for the umpteenth time instead.
titusfortner's review against another edition
3.0
This is the weakest of the 3 Firefly books that have been released (yes, it is the third released but listed as #4 in the series, just roll with it). It's an interesting story idea and gives the author the chance to play with some alternate time lines / events, but I just want to see these well-fitted misfits having an exciting and harrowing adventure together, and this was not that. 2.5 stars rounded up.
jamietherebelliousreader's review
3.0
3 stars. The plot of this was very interesting. The Ghost Machine gives the crew dreams and nightmares of their deepest desires. While I thought that was cool, a lot of this wasn’t all of that interesting even though it absolutely should’ve been. I did like how dark this book was because man, the characters go through some things in this one. Also, River is the hero and I was so here for that because I adore her character so much. I complained about the author not getting her character in book two but I was pretty happy with her here. This was still a fun read though I think the plot could’ve been executed a bit better. I’m enjoying this series for what they are.
macfiar's review against another edition
1.0
This is the third one I've read in the series. The first one I loved. The second one I DNF'd. This one I hated. It was gory and horrible. Firefly was a lot of things but it wasn't gory.