apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Death, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cancer
inlibrisveritas's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My complicated relationship with this series continues. So much about this one is brilliant, but it is absolutely buried in things that made me so frustrated.
Too many times did characters suddenly have a nose dive in intellect so that the science can happen, when the science in question is so far beyond what they were capable of any way that it didn't need them to spend 10 mins scratching their heads. The human element was so weirdly clinical and inconsistent, but half of them spoke like they were all vying to get the perfect soundbite. Plus it added pages just to explore the human element but somehow still managed not to add much depth to any character other than Luo Ji. It's bizarre how many pages were devoted to this and I still barely know any of them.
I loved the actual plot and I think so many of the ideas were beyond creative, but it was just brought down by the weird need to 'but wait there's more!' its way to the next section.
Too many times did characters suddenly have a nose dive in intellect so that the science can happen, when the science in question is so far beyond what they were capable of any way that it didn't need them to spend 10 mins scratching their heads. The human element was so weirdly clinical and inconsistent, but half of them spoke like they were all vying to get the perfect soundbite. Plus it added pages just to explore the human element but somehow still managed not to add much depth to any character other than Luo Ji. It's bizarre how many pages were devoted to this and I still barely know any of them.
I loved the actual plot and I think so many of the ideas were beyond creative, but it was just brought down by the weird need to 'but wait there's more!' its way to the next section.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Car accident
azalya01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
This book was such an excellent continuation from the first installment! I felt like the was a plot twist on every other page. This book really stands apart from other sci-fi stories, because it allows us to capture a complex and ever-changing view of humanity. At times throughout this story, I had a strong disdain for humanity's weaknesses, and other times I was reminded that our unique strengths make us so powerful when we are united. Overall, I loved the book, and I can't wait to read the final installment in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Racism
shermansays's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War, Death, and Murder
Minor: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Genocide, Suicide, Gun violence, Sexism, and Medical content
mlewis's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Gore, Murder, War, Violence, Body horror, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
solanum's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Gore
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
kburn15's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Started off very slow but picked up towards the end of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
sequelmage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-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 a follow up to the book “The Three Body Problem”, but it is very different. I’d say this has more philosophy baked in than hard sci-fi. It’s also a bit slower paced.
That said it is still a very good read and I highly recommend it.
That said it is still a very good read and I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicide
Minor: Suicide attempt
areaderheart's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-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
5.0
Edit: I pushed through and I’m so glad I did! Because the second half of this book really redeemed itself for me. So good! And that ending 👌
Got through about 35% of the way through and it’s been a struggle. I have absolutely no motivation to read it. The story has been moving super slow and I really don’t like any of the characters in this one. I’ll keep it on my list and maybe give it a chance some other time.
Got through about 35% of the way through and it’s been a struggle. I have absolutely no motivation to read it. The story has been moving super slow and I really don’t like any of the characters in this one. I’ll keep it on my list and maybe give it a chance some other time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
tylawrencium's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? Yes
3.75
The first half of the book is a bit of a slog--you're spending a lot of time with a main character whose main personality traits are laziness and (I would describe it as) misogyny. Luo Ji just isn't as compelling or complex of a central character as Ye Wenjie was in the first novel.
That said, once things really start moving halfway through, the plot picks up and the book dives again into the big-picture, sci-fi/sociological ideas that Cixin Liu is so brilliant for. The payoff is definitely worth it, but this one is more of a slog than the first book to get there.
That said, once things really start moving halfway through, the plot picks up and the book dives again into the big-picture, sci-fi/sociological ideas that Cixin Liu is so brilliant for. The payoff is definitely worth it, but this one is more of a slog than the first book to get there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, War, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Terminal illness and Car accident
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