clarabooksit's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Confinement and War
starlitpage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Medical content, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Self harm, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Terminal illness, Sexual content, and Abandonment
alisonvh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
If you like your sci-fi with a whole bunch of political intrigue, and sassy dialogue, this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Terminal illness, Suicide, Gore, War, Medical content, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Police brutality, Murder, Violence, and Classism
sauvageloup's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
a fascinating space opera, not usually my genre but really enjoyed it.
pros:
- cool and innovative world building, very original. loved the details of the technology, the poetry culture, the complicated politics, the empire and its colonialism, the naming structure, the way they have clones more than kids it seem , etc.
- Mahit's love and hate relationship with the empire's culture and people, and how she desperately wants to be part of it, but sees its flaws and loves her own people.
- the writing was lovely, super evocative and descriptive, very visual.
- the romance was not focused on but a sweet moment too.
- loved the relationships and the details of the side characters. and the gently mentioned queerness that wasnt a big point but quietly there and no bigotry or question was raised about it.
- also loved the turns in plot, always surprising
- it also left more to be explored, with the imminent threat of aliens, Mahit heading back home and facing the woman who sabotaged her mind thing, and I want to hear more about the emperor's 90% clone and if he'll really turn out like his "father". </spoilers>
cons:
- I was losing track of the characters a fair bit. partly bc of their unusual names I think, and bc of the sheer no. tho I did take a break in the middle too. But I didnt realise there was a character and word glossary at the back which I should've checked.
- I did find it slightly sad that we didnt get to see more of Mahits mental guy, since she missed him so much but we barely knew him so I didnt relate much.
- I did just generally find it a bit of a slow read, but I think that's just the genre and it isnt rly a criticism. it definitely really got going in the 2nd half too, it didnt drag at all.
so overall, a really good read and I plan to read the 2nd book when the library gets it for me :) thanks to @deadlypapercut for getting it for me.
pros:
- cool and innovative world building, very original. loved the details of the technology, the poetry culture, the complicated politics, the empire and its colonialism, the naming structure, the way they have clones more than kids it seem , etc.
- Mahit's love and hate relationship with the empire's culture and people, and how she desperately wants to be part of it, but sees its flaws and loves her own people.
Spoiler
I loved the ending where she decides to go back home while she still wants to. really shows her growth in character and the complicated nature of her relationship with the empire- the writing was lovely, super evocative and descriptive, very visual.
- the romance
Spoiler
between mahit and three seagrass at the end- loved the relationships and the details of the side characters. and the gently mentioned queerness that wasnt a big point but quietly there and no bigotry or question was raised about it.
- also loved the turns in plot, always surprising
Spoiler
especially the big reveal at the end about the new emperor, which fixed a lot of problems and worked so well. and Mahit managing to get her mental guy back again.- it also left more to be explored, with the imminent threat of aliens, Mahit heading back home and facing the woman who sabotaged her mind thing, and I want to hear more about the emperor's 90% clone and if he'll really turn out like his "father". </spoilers>
cons:
- I was losing track of the characters a fair bit. partly bc of their unusual names I think, and bc of the sheer no. tho I did take a break in the middle too. But I didnt realise there was a character and word glossary at the back which I should've checked.
- I did find it slightly sad that we didnt get to see more of Mahits mental guy, since she missed him so much but we barely knew him so I didnt relate much.
Spoiler
and when he did come back, I didnt love him that much, bc he'd sold out this info and wasnt as likeable as Mahit, or we didnt see as much of him- I did just generally find it a bit of a slow read, but I think that's just the genre and it isnt rly a criticism. it definitely really got going in the 2nd half too, it didnt drag at all.
so overall, a really good read and I plan to read the 2nd book when the library gets it for me :) thanks to @deadlypapercut for getting it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Medical content, Death, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Colonisation, Suicide, and Blood
kate_arts's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed the exploration of colonialism throughout this book and how it affects everything it touches. Not sure that I loved the ending. I wish we got to see more of Yskandr and Mahit and saw the effects of the imago machine rather then just being told about it. Super queer and loved how it wasn’t a big deal who you loved. I liked the exploration of an outsider in a new foreign culture and the isolation that entails.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Colonisation
Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicide, War, Violence, and Murder
bloodbrooxv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Grief, Suicide, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
Minor: Medical trauma, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Vomit
sofipitch's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I have conflicting opinions on this book. I thought it was painfully slow in the beginning. Mahit has what seems like a narratively convenient anxiety disorder, she goes over information and situations often. She is also an intellectual character, both of these are ways the author is able to directly tell the readers the themes or what is going on. Sometimes I found it fine other times I wondered if the author thought I had the intelligence of a hamster. There were other parts I really enjoyed, the imego machine and everything it stood for was interesting. I also thought that it presented an interesting and complex view of empires and colonialism. I think a lot of portrayals of the invaded countries as morally pure and perfect, so I thought it presented Lsel with some genuine complexity, even with the little you actually learn of it. And the flip side Mahit finding actual attractive qualities to the empirical culture. She wants to be a part of them not in a subservient way but as equals, which Texcilaan will never see her as. The same is found in Three Seagrass, I loved her so much she was so charming as a romantic interest while also incapable of not committing microagressions on the reg. So this book is willing to accept complexity, but again, painful slow for the first 50%. I will likely read the sequel
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
lybarron's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Blood, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: War
jiji_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
A HIDDEN GEM! I was completely taken with this unique and fast-paced adventure, part political murder mystery, part sci-fi drama, set against the backdrop of themes such as culture clash, xenophobia, colonialism, and tech ethics.
Funny, charming, and totally unique with fascinating and effortless world building. It help me captive and delivered twists, joys, and sorrows.
It's a bit of a challenge, because it won't hold your hand. If you can let go of the need to know everything and have things spelled out for you and just immerse yourself, then you're in for a huge treat. Can't wait for the sequel. What a journey.
For fans of The Locked Tomb series, Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe), Light From Uncommon Stars, and the Wayfarer series.
Funny, charming, and totally unique with fascinating and effortless world building. It help me captive and delivered twists, joys, and sorrows.
It's a bit of a challenge, because it won't hold your hand. If you can let go of the need to know everything and have things spelled out for you and just immerse yourself, then you're in for a huge treat. Can't wait for the sequel. What a journey.
For fans of The Locked Tomb series, Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe), Light From Uncommon Stars, and the Wayfarer series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Violence, War, Stalking, and Xenophobia
Minor: Blood, Confinement, Murder, Grief, Medical content, Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
belovedsnail's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It probably is really not a fast paced book, but I could not stop reading it. Just wonderful— fascinating world buikding and compelling drama.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder