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doahdancer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's not groundbreaking. But in a sci-fi landscape where including romance seems to automatically mean being abducted by sexy aliens, it's nice to see a writer trying for something a little closer to what the Star Trek/Mass Effect fans are looking for from romance heavy sci-fi.
The main plot is interesting enough, but the author does take their time setting everything up for the big twists that hit in the last 25%. Readers who like their plot at a clip will struggle, but the payout is decent and looks like it will continue to trend upward in the sequel. This also means that while the majority of the book is a cozy, found family narrative, you'll need to be prepared for that to take a backseat to the action once things get going.
Vibe-wise, the promise of Breakfast Club meets Firefly is spot on. Those who have read this already will agree there's also a dash of Mass Effect in there.
The characters themselves are what give those breakfast club notes, with a preppy princess, a punky prisoner, a tech nerd, a naive priestess, a rebellious mercenary, and a tough guy bodyguard, among other side personalities. The cast is predictable, but that's kind of the point. The nostalgia for those quirky moments of banter between well-trod archetypes will thrive in the audience that focuses on fun over literary prowess.
It's unclear if this book truly knew what it wanted to be when it grew up, but I am certain the genre could use the push in this direction.
The main plot is interesting enough, but the author does take their time setting everything up for the big twists that hit in the last 25%. Readers who like their plot at a clip will struggle, but the payout is decent and looks like it will continue to trend upward in the sequel. This also means that while the majority of the book is a cozy, found family narrative, you'll need to be prepared for that to take a backseat to the action once things get going.
Vibe-wise, the promise of Breakfast Club meets Firefly is spot on. Those who have read this already will agree there's also a dash of Mass Effect in there.
The characters themselves are what give those breakfast club notes, with a preppy princess, a punky prisoner, a tech nerd, a naive priestess, a rebellious mercenary, and a tough guy bodyguard, among other side personalities. The cast is predictable, but that's kind of the point. The nostalgia for those quirky moments of banter between well-trod archetypes will thrive in the audience that focuses on fun over literary prowess.
It's unclear if this book truly knew what it wanted to be when it grew up, but I am certain the genre could use the push in this direction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
imds's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism