moose85's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
taraminter's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
3.0
brokenrecord's review against another edition
4.0
I was interested in reading this because I had read Karen Lord's debut, Redemption in Indigo, last year and really fell in love with it. Unfortunately this book didn't enchant me quite the way that Redemption in Indigo did, but I did still end up enjoying it quite a lot. The setting was really interesting, and I enjoyed all the characters. I particularly loved Grace and Dllenakh, and the slow and gradual development of their relationship was absolutely the highlight of the story for me. I think my only real issue with the book was the voice; it sounded much younger to me at first than I think it was intended to. I started off thinking Grace was in her late teens, then revised that up to early 20s as it became clear she couldn't be a teenager, and by the end of the book, I realized she couldn't be in her early 20s either, but her voice just felt too young to me. Otherwise, I can't say I really had any complaints with the story, but for whatever reason, I just didn't connect to it as well as her debut novel. Regardless, it was still a really interesting story, and Karen Lord does very different things, so I'm definitely looking forward to whatever she comes out with next.
msrichardsreads89's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is one of my favorite reads this year! The Best of All Possible Worlds is a thought provoking, quiet, reflective science fiction novel that is character driven and anthropological. I loved following our protagonists and exploring different cultures with them. I loved the relationships and their dynamics. This has one of the best love stories I've read. The world building was phenomenal, and I loved the exploration of mental abilities, empathy, and emotions. I cannot wait to reread it.
kblincoln's review against another edition
5.0
Take an Ursula LeGuin-esque socioanthropological narrative on a future human-colonized world and add a dash of romance between a Spock-like hero burdened with the sorrow of his entire planet destroyed and an impulsive, open-hearted "human" who is sent with him on a planet-wide mission and you'll have an interesting tale of culture clash, politics, and philosophy of assimilation vs. preservation.
But okay it's also a bit weird. I was almost put off by the very opening where the hero, Dllenahkh, learns of the destruction of his planet, but if you hold on to the next bit where the heroine, Delarua, begins her narration, you'll be rewarded migthily. The story of the planet-wide mission to find posssible remains of the Sadiri culture from settlers who arrived hundreds of years ago before the destruction of Dllenahkh's planet is told in a vignette-style. At each new settlement they encounter new problems and new philosophical questions.
The Sadiri are a race that have telepathic/psionic abilities that are only controlled by meditation and strict mind disciplines. Delarua's planet is a mishmash of human/Sadiri ( a bit more complicated than that but too long a description to fit here) peoples. In one village, they find outwardly Sadiri people who are intent on using violence against other tribes encroaching on their territory; another settlement is the home of originally Sadiri settlers who took Old Terran Celtic elven myth to shape their culture; at another settlement Delarua is instrumental in stopping an opera tenor from actually killing his costar, etc.
Each vignette deepens the bonds between all the mission folk as well as Delarua and Dllenahkh. The Sadiri reservation and emotional control means we get delicious, almost Darcy/Lizzie type scenes where the understated emotions and feelings are channelled into formal speech and actions.
At the end of the book, I just wanted more :)
This Book's Snack Rating: Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for the luscious, creamy taste of Pride &Prejudice romance on the sturdy crunch of imaginative science fiction philosophy and world
But okay it's also a bit weird. I was almost put off by the very opening where the hero, Dllenahkh, learns of the destruction of his planet, but if you hold on to the next bit where the heroine, Delarua, begins her narration, you'll be rewarded migthily. The story of the planet-wide mission to find posssible remains of the Sadiri culture from settlers who arrived hundreds of years ago before the destruction of Dllenahkh's planet is told in a vignette-style. At each new settlement they encounter new problems and new philosophical questions.
The Sadiri are a race that have telepathic/psionic abilities that are only controlled by meditation and strict mind disciplines. Delarua's planet is a mishmash of human/Sadiri ( a bit more complicated than that but too long a description to fit here) peoples. In one village, they find outwardly Sadiri people who are intent on using violence against other tribes encroaching on their territory; another settlement is the home of originally Sadiri settlers who took Old Terran Celtic elven myth to shape their culture; at another settlement Delarua is instrumental in stopping an opera tenor from actually killing his costar, etc.
Each vignette deepens the bonds between all the mission folk as well as Delarua and Dllenahkh. The Sadiri reservation and emotional control means we get delicious, almost Darcy/Lizzie type scenes where the understated emotions and feelings are channelled into formal speech and actions.
At the end of the book, I just wanted more :)
This Book's Snack Rating: Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for the luscious, creamy taste of Pride &Prejudice romance on the sturdy crunch of imaginative science fiction philosophy and world
chenoadallen's review against another edition
2.0
Engaging enough that I didn't dnf it (or at least, engaging for the first 2/3 and then, well, I might as well finish). But by the end, I really just hated the main characters, especially Grace. It was cheesy and forced when Grace tries to be coy and talk directly to the reader (and at one point, Lord takes the super lazy way out by telling the reader that if they want to understand a plot point, they can refer to a fictional academic paper).
Also, all the episodic drama was unnecessary, disconnected, and distracting.
Tl;dr ok while reading it, but now that I'm done I actively hate the characters.
Also, all the episodic drama was unnecessary, disconnected, and distracting.
Tl;dr ok while reading it, but now that I'm done I actively hate the characters.
retiring2read's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
Confused and I don't feel motivated to read it.
jlwilson's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
paintedgiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man, I already loved this book, but the mention of my faith (Baha'i) doubled it, if that's possible. It's so rare to see acknowledgement, and I think this is the first time I've seen it in a fiction novel ^^
I really liked Karen Lord's world-building and the fact that the plot was deeply character-driven. Very satisfying romantic read!
My only regret, which is minor, is that I didn't get to read a copy with the colorful cover, but instead the whitewashed one (when it clearly states that the characters have a pleasant tone of brown skin).
I really liked Karen Lord's world-building and the fact that the plot was deeply character-driven. Very satisfying romantic read!
My only regret, which is minor, is that I didn't get to read a copy with the colorful cover, but instead the whitewashed one (when it clearly states that the characters have a pleasant tone of brown skin).