ausdj2's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
vickerstaylor's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid outing in the Commonwealth Universe. My only gripe with this book, and the reason for the 4 star (shocking from me, I know) is the Dream chapters REALLY DRAG this go around. They just covered stuff I really didn't care about and found myself not really paying much attention to what was going on. However, the main story was great with lots of action, revelations, and great character moments and callbacks. Excited to close this trilogy out.
jessekramer's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
3.75
peter_xxx's review against another edition
4.0
this is the second book in Hamilton's void trilogy and it just starts. It took me quite some time to remember who all these characters and their allegiances were. But once I was imersed in the story that was no longer a problem. Like in the previous book 'the dreaming void' there are alternating chapters inside and outside the void. The outside chapters are scifi, the inside chapters lean towards fantasy. The emphasis in this volume is more on Edeard's rise to power inside the void then on the political space opera story outside. And in the middle of the book these edeard chapters seem to drag a bit.
But by the end there are some cool revelations and everybody is in position for the third book. There is not really an end in this book. My guess is that this story will pick up in the next book, right were it stopped here.
I really liked this book, the characters (several of them are characters from the commonwealth saga)and the technology/magic in it. So if you like space opera/fantasy and have the time to read several thick books you might consider this series.
But by the end there are some cool revelations and everybody is in position for the third book. There is not really an end in this book. My guess is that this story will pick up in the next book, right were it stopped here.
I really liked this book, the characters (several of them are characters from the commonwealth saga)and the technology/magic in it. So if you like space opera/fantasy and have the time to read several thick books you might consider this series.
brents's review against another edition
4.0
I continue to be a big fan of Hamilton's Commonwealth Universe as I work my way through the Void trilogy. I have to say I think I enjoyed this one more than The Dreaming Void just because it was easier to slide back into the story already having familiarity with the new characters, political factions, and new world building that had evolved from the Commonwealth Saga. I could focus more on the story, characters, and action without trying to figure everything out. And there are parts of this book that felt every bit as good as the stuff in the original series. There were even a couple of reveals of things that I was not expecting at all that make this even better. Unfortunately, what keeps this from being a 5 star book is the time the book spends in the Void in the "dream" chapters. There is interesting stuff that happens in those chapters and it's important to the overall story, but nothing in there is as compelling for me as the stuff taking place in the Commonwealth with all the tech and starships etc. The dream chapters are mostly just fantasy story, and with one of the chapters being a whopping 118 hardcover pages it just felt too long. That being said I am still really enjoying the series and very much enjoyed the book.
david_harold_nicholson's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
charitybuck's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
spinnerroweok's review
4.0
Hamilton ramps up the tension in this second installment. Read The Dreaming Void first. I am looking forward to The Evolutionary Void. I hope he can pull off an ending worthy of all that has come before.
ericb237's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Quite enjoyed this novel. The main issue is that there are a lot of plotlines but because of the sheer number of plotlines, any individual plotline doesn't venture too far.
mdiffer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.0