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chrisb913's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
This was an incredible read. I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed the ride for quite a while, until the twists started coming one after another and it really transformed the experience. Linden created such a rich world that showcased all the uniqueness life has to offer. But at the same time, did not shy away from the atrocities and hatred committed by man. There were some characters I loved the entire time and others that took me on a rollar coaster of emotions. This is definitely a recommend and I am eager to read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape, Transphobia, and Vomit
jaenee's review
emotional
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
5.0
This is an amazing example of soft sci fi. It is definitely sci fi in its feel but doesn’t over explain technology. The reader is expected to accept that certain things just work. I think the characters are compelling and the story itself is really paced well between multiple, converging POV’s. It also had some great twists and jaw dropping reveals.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
I think all the themes are handled well and while they are impactful, nothing was particularly graphic.vivelarevolution's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
This book felt like a romp through a fun but incredibly dark space opera fantasy. The worldbuilding was probably my favorite part of the book--it's so intricate!--but I loved the characters as well. I definitely had an easier time getting through the First Sister's POV than Lito's, possibly because Lito's scenes were much more oriented around combat? In general, I felt like I really got to know First Sister and get invested in her, but with Lito I felt like I was chasing scraps of intrigue scattered amidst a whole lot of swordfighting. I did not like the first-person audio recordings thing from Hiro much at all other than as a means to glean new information; I wasn't able to connect with Hiro as a character through them.
Despite the limited amount of narration that I specifically enjoyed, everyone and everything felt very well-developed and it was a fun world to get to know. I'll be checking out the second book for sure, but I'm nervous I won't like it unless it has a lot more time and focus on First Sister, Ofiera, maybe Hiro, andEden .
Despite the limited amount of narration that I specifically enjoyed, everyone and everything felt very well-developed and it was a fun world to get to know. I'll be checking out the second book for sure, but I'm nervous I won't like it unless it has a lot more time and focus on First Sister, Ofiera, maybe Hiro, and
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Slavery, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
One of the main characters is essentially a sex slave of a religious order, but in the course of this book she is never raped/forced to participate in a sex act. There is an attempt made to force her, but she is able to prevent it. There are mentions of her having been raped & abused previously. There are also descriptions of medical experimentation and torture and the effects of that experimentation and torture. The people who experienced it were selected due to discrimination against their species.rattification's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
pandapuffs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Trafficking
livelaughlesbian99's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to love this book! Unfortunately the structural problems are just glaring. I spent the first third of the book trying to keep up with largely unexplained worldbuilding. Without that grounding the flow of the plot was kind of confusing. I didn’t fully understand the significance of characters’ choices when I don’t fully understand their position in the world. It’s too bad— good world and premise but the execution killed a lot of it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence and Suicidal thoughts
sombies's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
the other two characters are Fine but don't bother if you're actually interested in the title character. Her side of the story is the weakest and least developed out of the three POV characters.
Honestly she seems stapled in so the author could compare this book to A Handmaid's Tale in the pitch.
I was excited to read a book that was willing to confront the realities of sexual abuse but there's weirdly hardly any mention of it at all. It's almost as if the book itself is too afraid to talk about it and grapple with it.
It makes the Saito Ren twist at the end feel even more out of place tonally. Like I get that they're trying to say something about militarism and bodily autonomy but it's kind of jarring to have the book shy around ANY kind of physical intimacy before having a character pretty graphically detransition against their will. Honestly I think the twist could've been Better if First Sister was better developed to be a parallel to Hiro/Ren
I expected a lot from this book and it barely delivered any at all. There are some interesting themes and ideas but they aren't properly developed
Honestly she seems stapled in so the author could compare this book to A Handmaid's Tale in the pitch.
I was excited to read a book that was willing to confront the realities of sexual abuse but there's weirdly hardly any mention of it at all. It's almost as if the book itself is too afraid to talk about it and grapple with it.
I expected a lot from this book and it barely delivered any at all. There are some interesting themes and ideas but they aren't properly developed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, and War
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
brukneem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.0
Excellent world building, a realistic society that doesn't focus too heavily on the subjugation of women. It's certainly a plot point, but it's not creepily and suffocatingly detailed. And there is hope and revenge and EXCELLENT plot twists.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ericadawson's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
3.75
Actual review is 3.9 stars. The day I'll be able to use any increment I want is the day I'll rejoice.
This review contains spoilers--and my opinion is overall impacted by the fact that I wasn't able to finish this in a timely fashion.
I enjoyed The First Sister, although the triple POV felt off-balance to me as I much preferred First Sister's perspective over Lito's and Hiro's, but we inevitably got more of Lito and Hiro's development than First Sister's.
The plot is enjoyable, and there are many moving parts without those parts colliding and making the reading experience confusing or unclear. I enjoyed the worldbuilding because it didn't feel too large like in some other scifis, but it wasn't contained to just Earth and the Moon like some others. The history was rich without being overwhelming, and the author did a good job of staying focused on the parts of the lore that were actually relevant (although I did forget sometimes that this was a war over resources, first and foremost). I felt Lito's transition to treason was a bit speedy, but both Hiro's and First Sister's plot twists were excellent.
The voice was strong, the pacing good, and the internal and external conflicts felt real. A very enjoyable book.
This review contains spoilers--and my opinion is overall impacted by the fact that I wasn't able to finish this in a timely fashion.
I enjoyed The First Sister, although the triple POV felt off-balance to me as I much preferred First Sister's perspective over Lito's and Hiro's, but we inevitably got more of Lito and Hiro's development than First Sister's.
The plot is enjoyable, and there are many moving parts without those parts colliding and making the reading experience confusing or unclear. I enjoyed the worldbuilding because it didn't feel too large like in some other scifis, but it wasn't contained to just Earth and the Moon like some others. The history was rich without being overwhelming, and the author did a good job of staying focused on the parts of the lore that were actually relevant (although I did forget sometimes that this was a war over resources, first and foremost). I felt Lito's transition to treason was a bit speedy, but both Hiro's and First Sister's plot twists were excellent.
The voice was strong, the pacing good, and the internal and external conflicts felt real. A very enjoyable book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Sexual content
rtaire's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, War, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Transphobia