meganh123's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
5.0
alphonzs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-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
System Collapse is the direct sequel to Network Effect (Book 5), therefore, it is highly recommended to review it prior to diving into this one. There is no introductory summary, and initially there are characters aplenty that would make you feel confused if you've totally forgotten the previous story.
Murderbot is having more feels, even if it doesn't like it. It continues bonding with more humans, and consuming digital media on the side to help it cope with everything going on. We still see it analyzing and overcoming the many situations it gets into (or rather dragged into by its humans), but it is struggling as it bears the weight of the recent events.
This new story has a more introspect and trauma-overcoming tone compared to Fugitive Telemetry's murder mystery and the action-focused Network Effect, but the action scenes are still there and still great.
The series has been really relatable to me so far, and this is no exception. I continuously see glimpses of my own experiences and inner monologues in Murderbot. This one went a bit deeper though. I also have a diary where I've redacted a traumatic event that I tend to not think or talk about, and I had to learn how to process it. I don't blame Murderbot for not knowing how to process things; I'm human and I don't know how to process 90% of my emotions (yeah, I just had my performance reliability drop by 4 points). This read left me feeling emotions so I'm going to the couch to process them in private.
I'm really glad to have given the whole series a read over the last couple of months 🤖💜
Murderbot is having more feels, even if it doesn't like it. It continues bonding with more humans, and consuming digital media on the side to help it cope with everything going on. We still see it analyzing and overcoming the many situations it gets into (or rather dragged into by its humans), but it is struggling as it bears the weight of the recent events.
This new story has a more introspect and trauma-overcoming tone compared to Fugitive Telemetry's murder mystery and the action-focused Network Effect, but the action scenes are still there and still great.
The series has been really relatable to me so far, and this is no exception. I continuously see glimpses of my own experiences and inner monologues in Murderbot. This one went a bit deeper though. I also have a diary where I've redacted a traumatic event that I tend to not think or talk about, and I had to learn how to process it. I don't blame Murderbot for not knowing how to process things; I'm human and I don't know how to process 90% of my emotions (yeah, I just had my performance reliability drop by 4 points). This read left me feeling emotions so I'm going to the couch to process them in private.
I'm really glad to have given the whole series a read over the last couple of months 🤖💜
allie_rose's review against another edition
3.75
I should have reread network effect before starting this since it was a DIRECT follow on and I was very confused. Still loved my dose of murderbot
lavi23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
mateyy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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
4.5
emaks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
stacieh's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
inameitlater's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
julesadventurezone's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-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
This was shipped to me early by mistake and I couldn't not read it immediately.
The book makes the choice to chop down the now rather massive ensemble cast to four plus MB for the majority of the book, which is smart and I appreciate it, but also I was a little sad that we got so little Three content. Also i don't think in terms of compelling core team nothing will reach Amena & ART & Murderbot. Which is a lot of words to say that the relationships at the core of this book were somewhat less compelling than the ones in Network Effect.
In terms of steps up I found the happenings easier to follow (especially the intersystem communication).
I also liked the story very much, especially the team frantically making a documentary and the very tense escape through the dark at the end.
Spoiler
This book reads a bit like an ongoing panic attack by our resident SecUnit. Murderbot is doing worse than usual, poor dear.The book makes the choice to chop down the now rather massive ensemble cast to four plus MB for the majority of the book, which is smart and I appreciate it, but also I was a little sad that we got so little Three content. Also i don't think in terms of compelling core team nothing will reach Amena & ART & Murderbot. Which is a lot of words to say that the relationships at the core of this book were somewhat less compelling than the ones in Network Effect.
In terms of steps up I found the happenings easier to follow (especially the intersystem communication).
I also liked the story very much, especially the team frantically making a documentary and the very tense escape through the dark at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Murder, Death, Colonisation, Blood, Body horror, Trafficking, Cursing, and Medical content
Minor: Vomit
megbellinger's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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