The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
redwavereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
fedak's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed the first third or so, reasonable MilSciFi with some heavy borrowing/homage to Starship Troopers
The time travel narrative kinds collapsed under its own weight and the deus ex machina ending seemed like it was rushed. (In the notes, the author admitted to needing a flow chart to keep track of the time travel plotlines, and as a readers we probably needed the same)
The college freshman anti-corporation political manifesto that permeates the whole book was a bit overdone. And the gender reveal gimmick left me somewhat confused prompting me to google what was going on rather than what I presume was an intended "aha" moment of me revisiting my expectations.
The time travel narrative kinds collapsed under its own weight and the deus ex machina ending seemed like it was rushed. (In the notes, the author admitted to needing a flow chart to keep track of the time travel plotlines, and as a readers we probably needed the same)
The college freshman anti-corporation political manifesto that permeates the whole book was a bit overdone. And the gender reveal gimmick left me somewhat confused prompting me to google what was going on rather than what I presume was an intended "aha" moment of me revisiting my expectations.
picotly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Fantastic anti-war novel with on-the-edge-of-your-seat time travel plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, War, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Moderate: Genocide, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death
Tough read but doesn't feel gratuitous.ana_mv's review against another edition
2.0
Estoy entre el 2.5 y el 3.
La curiosidad que sentía hacia La brigada de luz era inmensa y aumentó debido a cierta reseña que había leído por aquí.
Libro de ciencia ficción donde nuestra protagonista se alista al Ejército Corporativo para buscar venganza contra los marcianos. Después de una dura formación, comienzan a usar los saltos para llegar a Marte y luchar contra sus enemigos. El problema es que Dietz, en sus saltos, no termina donde debería estar y sus saltos no coinciden con el resto de su brigada.
El inicio de la novela me gustó bastante. El entrenamiento de los soldados, bastante duro, su convivencia, el misterio de lo que ocurrió en San Paulo y la intriga que me daban los saltos de la brigada. Sin embargo, cuando empiezan los saltos, empezó a ser más y más pesada la historia (tampoco es que me haya enterado yo muy bien de la línea temporal) y empecé a perder el interés.
A parte de la confusión por los saltos y las líneas temporales, tampoco estoy en un momento en el que me haya gustado tanta moralina. La crítica está ahí, pero se me ha hecho un poco machacona. Quizá este libro lo tendría que haber leído en otro momento porque me ha debido pillar con mal pie. A parte de que me es bastante difícil meterme de lleno en la historia si no conecto con los personajes.
Aún así es un libro que se lee rápido, con una prosa sencilla y directa y, oye, ya iba siendo hora de leer un libro corto. La verdad que dudo bastante en leer el otro libro de la autora por el momento.
La curiosidad que sentía hacia La brigada de luz era inmensa y aumentó debido a cierta reseña que había leído por aquí.
Libro de ciencia ficción donde nuestra protagonista se alista al Ejército Corporativo para buscar venganza contra los marcianos. Después de una dura formación, comienzan a usar los saltos para llegar a Marte y luchar contra sus enemigos. El problema es que Dietz, en sus saltos, no termina donde debería estar y sus saltos no coinciden con el resto de su brigada.
El inicio de la novela me gustó bastante. El entrenamiento de los soldados, bastante duro, su convivencia, el misterio de lo que ocurrió en San Paulo y la intriga que me daban los saltos de la brigada. Sin embargo, cuando empiezan los saltos, empezó a ser más y más pesada la historia (tampoco es que me haya enterado yo muy bien de la línea temporal) y empecé a perder el interés.
A parte de la confusión por los saltos y las líneas temporales, tampoco estoy en un momento en el que me haya gustado tanta moralina. La crítica está ahí, pero se me ha hecho un poco machacona. Quizá este libro lo tendría que haber leído en otro momento porque me ha debido pillar con mal pie. A parte de que me es bastante difícil meterme de lleno en la historia si no conecto con los personajes.
Aún así es un libro que se lee rápido, con una prosa sencilla y directa y, oye, ya iba siendo hora de leer un libro corto. La verdad que dudo bastante en leer el otro libro de la autora por el momento.
chirson's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Hurley's non-fiction book, I felt convinced that her fiction was the furthest thing from my reading preferences. Everything she wrote about her own novels made me think: not. for. me. As a result, I ended up not getting round to The Light Brigade before the Hugo Awards (and my personal ranking), and then reading some reviews that made it sound right up my alley, and reading it right after the announcement. And I have to eat my hat, because I think this might be my #1 Hugo nominee this year. Admittedly, I may have had more fun reading Gideon and Memory Called Empire, and Middlegame was more unputdownable, and my previous #1, Ten Thousand Doors, seemed the most complete and well-crafted to me, but I found myself thinking and feeling so much (more) while reading Hurley, and I loved the structure, and the worldbuilding, and the political message, and the dialogue with the genre that Hurley takes on here. It wasn't the kind of science fiction I gravitate towards, sub-genre-wise, and style-wise, but it was done so well and so cleverly, that I didn't care. Well, well done.
This is a novel about soldiers, and time travel. And capitalism. And jingoism. It's a puzzle that does not really hide its solution, but that still brings joy when the pieces fall into their places (sometimes a clever puzzle can be more satisfying than a difficult one). And at the same time, it's a novel that really pays attention to its protagonist, whose journey as she learns, improves and makes a difference is a pleasure to witness.
(I really enjoyed this year's Hugo slate.)
This is a novel about soldiers, and time travel. And capitalism. And jingoism. It's a puzzle that does not really hide its solution, but that still brings joy when the pieces fall into their places (sometimes a clever puzzle can be more satisfying than a difficult one). And at the same time, it's a novel that really pays attention to its protagonist, whose journey as she learns, improves and makes a difference is a pleasure to witness.
(I really enjoyed this year's Hugo slate.)
mrojas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
grid's review against another edition
3.0
“I finished it.”
“That’s... good?”
“Well, it was war and time travel. Two things I don’t really love reading about. It was compelling. A page turner. But good? I don’t know.”
“That’s... good?”
“Well, it was war and time travel. Two things I don’t really love reading about. It was compelling. A page turner. But good? I don’t know.”
tahnok's review against another edition
3.0
Standard military scifi start, didn't care about the main character for a long time. Ending felt a bit too "power of love"
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Gore, and Torture
sillypunk's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, lots of interesting things but doesn't entirely pull it off at the end: https://blogendorff.com/2020/03/09/book-review-the-light-brigade/