trike's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes you just need some fun, and this book provides that. It’s a little bit of Farscape with a dash of Guardians of the Galaxy and a soupçon of [b:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet|22733729|The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405532474l/22733729._SY75_.jpg|42270825]. It’s not as over-the-top as the first or as funny as the second or as well-written as the last, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
That said, there are a few continuity errors and one chapter repeats the first few paragraphs, so I guess the copy editor was asleep at the switch for this one. Still, the overall story was great fun, just a non-cynical Space Opera romp. If you like Scalzi’s lightweight stuff, you’ll probably enjoy this.
That said, there are a few continuity errors and one chapter repeats the first few paragraphs, so I guess the copy editor was asleep at the switch for this one. Still, the overall story was great fun, just a non-cynical Space Opera romp. If you like Scalzi’s lightweight stuff, you’ll probably enjoy this.
joshhall13's review against another edition
3.0
This had all the right ingredients for what i love. However I didn't love it. No idea if that's on me or the writing...
leticiatoraci's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the story, the world, the characters and especially the narration of the audiobook.
Very entertaining space opera!
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Very entertaining space opera!
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
rjtheodore's review against another edition
5.0
Overlay the adventure and romance of 1999's The Mummy onto the space shenanigans and color palette of Guardians of the Galaxy or Thor Ragnarok.
I cannot tell you how delightful it is to have a couple in Max and Lahra who show immense respect and love for each other despite their cultural and goal-oriented differences. The plot's drama is external to their marriage, allowing their love to give them strength rather than hold them back, and watching them lift each other up to power through the end of the book was immensely satisfying.
The publisher provided me with an Advance Review Copy of this novel but my review is my own.
I cannot tell you how delightful it is to have a couple in Max and Lahra who show immense respect and love for each other despite their cultural and goal-oriented differences. The plot's drama is external to their marriage, allowing their love to give them strength rather than hold them back, and watching them lift each other up to power through the end of the book was immensely satisfying.
The publisher provided me with an Advance Review Copy of this novel but my review is my own.
shell_s's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Annihilation Aria sings with intense action sequences involving blade combat and energy blasts and, eventually, a legendary weapon capable of wrenching apart planets---but the sweetest and strongest notes are about devotion to the people we cherish, be they 'found family' like spouses and ride-or-die friends, or kin by blood or heritage.
The warp space planet hopping adventure is top notch though, with mysteries and quests and fascinating locales to fuel many more adventures for the crew of the intrepid, if somewhat Frankenstein-stitched together, spaceship Kettle. The close calls of a motley ship's crew delving ruins for artifacts they can sell to keep their vessel flying and dodging interference from imperial forces and local crime bosses soon give way to far grander ambitions and showdowns.
Still I find that character is the most vital component of most tales, including rollicking adventures, and here as always Michael Underwood delivers. The alternating perspectives by chapter work wonderfully to introduce each lead and their unique perspective and personal history and deepest longings and goals.
Two of the leads/narrators, Lahra and Max, are immensely appealing as a tender and flirty, bantering couple who support and complement each other, and on their own impressive merits.
She is a stalwart protector and warrior whose blue-skinned Genae race puts the epic in oral tradition with their songs to augment combat skills and repair damaged objects and more, worthy of a 20th level Dungeons & Dragons RPG bard. Her fight scenes are thrilling.
Her husband is a black native of Baltimore research geek, playful but brilliant as a ruins-delving archaeologist and super linguist, and possesses D&D rogue's knack for avoiding traps and solving puzzles as well as a facility for interpreting texts and symbols. The scenes of trap and puzzle-navigating in temples bring their own thrills.
I found it refreshing that Underwood gave starring roles to a blissfully married couple attuned to each other's strengths and moods and needs, an all too rare glimpse of what comes after "will they/won't they admit their attraction and get together." Granted, these lovers do have goals that threaten to tear them apart--she to serve her people by locating a long-lost heir to the throne, and he to return to the Earth he was accidentally zapped away from--but I'm pleased with the characters' arcs by the final chapter.
The third lead/narrator Wheel, of the cybernetic Atlan race that can interface directly with machines, is far older (a refreshing detail in itself) and more cynical than her 'lovebird' crewmates and has this very cool hacker/drifter/stunt pilot vibe. Unlike Lahra, Wheel doesn't want to risk her neck to overthrow the conquering Vsenk race, even though her homeworld too was destroyed by one of their super weapons.
Also unlike Lahra, Wheel is trying to avoid relationship entanglements, including the siren call of two former girlfriends: her fellow Atlan Cog, leader of the underground resistance, and smooth-talking mob boss Jesvin Ker of the feathered Rellix race.
Like many reviewers I was surprised but pleased that even the series' villainous oppressor race got a relatable representative voice too: low-ranking diplomat Arek, yearning for a post that lets him spend more time with family. His people, the tentacled insect-like Vsenk, have a stranglehold on trade and history both, and insist they are god-like creators living benevolently among their creations in an era of harmony and prosperity (after a bloody conquest of dissidents, which the other major alien races remember all too well).
Scenes of the Vsenk's political intrigue, and discussing the pursuit of our heroic trio of protagonists and dastardly schemes to maintain power, added to the compelling worldbuilding and suspense overall.
Other scenes that are just straight up awesome include everything involving the humongous sentient space turtle race who also happen to be the universe's supreme archivists and librarians. Their concept combines so many of my favorite things, I couldn't ask for more.
It's also pretty fun and refreshing that Max is the lone Earth human in this story, and he was accidentally stranded and isolated in the outer reaches of space, which means none of the major plot arcs center on Earth or its political and economic concerns.
Final note, there are serious moral and personal conundrums and debates in these pages that make it heftier psychological and dramatic fare than its gorgeous 80s space opera film evoking cover might suggest, and that makes it all the more worthwhile to take the ride.
WHEN AN ADVENTURE TAKES YOU TO NEW HEIGHTS AND DEPTHS, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
The warp space planet hopping adventure is top notch though, with mysteries and quests and fascinating locales to fuel many more adventures for the crew of the intrepid, if somewhat Frankenstein-stitched together, spaceship Kettle. The close calls of a motley ship's crew delving ruins for artifacts they can sell to keep their vessel flying and dodging interference from imperial forces and local crime bosses soon give way to far grander ambitions and showdowns.
Still I find that character is the most vital component of most tales, including rollicking adventures, and here as always Michael Underwood delivers. The alternating perspectives by chapter work wonderfully to introduce each lead and their unique perspective and personal history and deepest longings and goals.
Two of the leads/narrators, Lahra and Max, are immensely appealing as a tender and flirty, bantering couple who support and complement each other, and on their own impressive merits.
She is a stalwart protector and warrior whose blue-skinned Genae race puts the epic in oral tradition with their songs to augment combat skills and repair damaged objects and more, worthy of a 20th level Dungeons & Dragons RPG bard. Her fight scenes are thrilling.
Her husband is a black native of Baltimore research geek, playful but brilliant as a ruins-delving archaeologist and super linguist, and possesses D&D rogue's knack for avoiding traps and solving puzzles as well as a facility for interpreting texts and symbols. The scenes of trap and puzzle-navigating in temples bring their own thrills.
I found it refreshing that Underwood gave starring roles to a blissfully married couple attuned to each other's strengths and moods and needs, an all too rare glimpse of what comes after "will they/won't they admit their attraction and get together." Granted, these lovers do have goals that threaten to tear them apart--she to serve her people by locating a long-lost heir to the throne, and he to return to the Earth he was accidentally zapped away from--but I'm pleased with the characters' arcs by the final chapter.
The third lead/narrator Wheel, of the cybernetic Atlan race that can interface directly with machines, is far older (a refreshing detail in itself) and more cynical than her 'lovebird' crewmates and has this very cool hacker/drifter/stunt pilot vibe. Unlike Lahra, Wheel doesn't want to risk her neck to overthrow the conquering Vsenk race, even though her homeworld too was destroyed by one of their super weapons.
Also unlike Lahra, Wheel is trying to avoid relationship entanglements, including the siren call of two former girlfriends: her fellow Atlan Cog, leader of the underground resistance, and smooth-talking mob boss Jesvin Ker of the feathered Rellix race.
Like many reviewers I was surprised but pleased that even the series' villainous oppressor race got a relatable representative voice too: low-ranking diplomat Arek, yearning for a post that lets him spend more time with family. His people, the tentacled insect-like Vsenk, have a stranglehold on trade and history both, and insist they are god-like creators living benevolently among their creations in an era of harmony and prosperity (after a bloody conquest of dissidents, which the other major alien races remember all too well).
Scenes of the Vsenk's political intrigue, and discussing the pursuit of our heroic trio of protagonists and dastardly schemes to maintain power, added to the compelling worldbuilding and suspense overall.
Other scenes that are just straight up awesome include everything involving the humongous sentient space turtle race who also happen to be the universe's supreme archivists and librarians. Their concept combines so many of my favorite things, I couldn't ask for more.
It's also pretty fun and refreshing that Max is the lone Earth human in this story, and he was accidentally stranded and isolated in the outer reaches of space, which means none of the major plot arcs center on Earth or its political and economic concerns.
Final note, there are serious moral and personal conundrums and debates in these pages that make it heftier psychological and dramatic fare than its gorgeous 80s space opera film evoking cover might suggest, and that makes it all the more worthwhile to take the ride.
WHEN AN ADVENTURE TAKES YOU TO NEW HEIGHTS AND DEPTHS, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
ladyj95's review against another edition
2.0
My first thoughts where that this reminded me of Indiana Jone's set in space. There seems to be significantly influenced by Star Trek; however, it also feels a lot like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy mixed with The Expanse. I love the aspects of music that is incorporated into the main plot and cultural setting. I found it hard to gauge where we were, and the story seemed to keep jumping around. However, toward the middle of the book, some consistency made the story far more interesting. The world-building was quite vague and would have like a more descriptive setting of both locations and species mentioned.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
4.0
This is a little rambly, but I have scattered thoughts.
I enjoyed this a lot. I did think the pacing a little inconsistent—it dragged in the middle—and it felt a little like a second book sometimes, because of how much history was referenced between the characters. But overall, I loved spending time with the characters, enjoyed that the two main characters were married and seriously in love (no need to be a romance if the relationship is already established), appreciated the diversity in the alien species, thought there was a ton of witty humor, and several moral quandaries that invited deeper thought.
I also got a personal little amusement after I spent the whole book thinking, "Wow, this has a real Stargate feel to it" (along with anything and everything like Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider,—we had a lara/Lahra after all—Farscape, Star Wars, Firefly, etc, but mostly Stargate)—with the archeologist stepping through a gate and getting lost in space—and then realizing Max was referred to as 'son of Danielle.' Close enough to Daniel for me to call it a tribute, right? I'm running with it. It made me happy.
Lastly, as an aside, I recently read several books that I found recommended in a Fantasy Readers' Forum in which the OP asked for books in which martial women protect nerdier guys. (Totally my jam too, BTW.) Well, this may be Sci-Fi, but it fits the OP's request better than just about any of the books I saw recommended. (Except maybe His Secret Illuminations). So, if that's your thing too, pick this book up.
All in all, I don't know if a second book is planned, but I'd be happy to read it (or more of Underwood's work) if one is.
I enjoyed this a lot. I did think the pacing a little inconsistent—it dragged in the middle—and it felt a little like a second book sometimes, because of how much history was referenced between the characters. But overall, I loved spending time with the characters, enjoyed that the two main characters were married and seriously in love (no need to be a romance if the relationship is already established), appreciated the diversity in the alien species, thought there was a ton of witty humor, and several moral quandaries that invited deeper thought.
I also got a personal little amusement after I spent the whole book thinking, "Wow, this has a real Stargate feel to it" (along with anything and everything like Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider,—we had a lara/Lahra after all—Farscape, Star Wars, Firefly, etc, but mostly Stargate)—with the archeologist stepping through a gate and getting lost in space—and then realizing Max was referred to as 'son of Danielle.' Close enough to Daniel for me to call it a tribute, right? I'm running with it. It made me happy.
Lastly, as an aside, I recently read several books that I found recommended in a Fantasy Readers' Forum in which the OP asked for books in which martial women protect nerdier guys. (Totally my jam too, BTW.) Well, this may be Sci-Fi, but it fits the OP's request better than just about any of the books I saw recommended. (Except maybe His Secret Illuminations). So, if that's your thing too, pick this book up.
All in all, I don't know if a second book is planned, but I'd be happy to read it (or more of Underwood's work) if one is.
lindzey's review against another edition
1.0
I heard of this book thanks to a Big Idea piece on Whatever. I read the kindle sample, and opted not to buy the book.
The Big Idea piece described this book as a space opera that explores what comes in a partnership after the happily ever after. That premise is definitely appealing to me, as I love character-driven SF. The main characters are a married couple: Max, an archaeologist and a black man from Earth; and Lahra, a member of her species's soldier caste, from Genae. They make their living raiding archaeological sites and selling the findings to descendants of the conquered races.
From the Kindle sample, this seems like a pretty standard action-heavy space opera. I found the narration a bit clunky -- very strong on tell-not-show. The opening description of Lahra was also a bit off-putting, as it was an info dump meant to make you think she's a total badass. It was male-gazey without being physically explicit.
The Big Idea piece described this book as a space opera that explores what comes in a partnership after the happily ever after. That premise is definitely appealing to me, as I love character-driven SF. The main characters are a married couple: Max, an archaeologist and a black man from Earth; and Lahra, a member of her species's soldier caste, from Genae. They make their living raiding archaeological sites and selling the findings to descendants of the conquered races.
From the Kindle sample, this seems like a pretty standard action-heavy space opera. I found the narration a bit clunky -- very strong on tell-not-show. The opening description of Lahra was also a bit off-putting, as it was an info dump meant to make you think she's a total badass. It was male-gazey without being physically explicit.
ladyjane95's review against another edition
2.0
My first thoughts where that this reminded me of Indiana Jone's set in space. There seems to be significantly influenced by Star Trek; however, it also feels a lot like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy mixed with The Expanse. I love the aspects of music that is incorporated into the main plot and cultural setting. I found it hard to gauge where we were, and the story seemed to keep jumping around. However, toward the middle of the book, some consistency made the story far more interesting. The world-building was quite vague and would have like a more descriptive setting of both locations and species mentioned.
heyfirefly's review against another edition
2.0
tbh i skimmed this book because it was given to me by netgalley to review and i feel bad dnf-ing books for review.
i think there's the bones of a good story here, but i didn't connect with the writing or the characters from the jump. there's a lot of world-building thrown at you from the start and it doesn't let up much later and i was simply overloaded. maybe space operas are not for me? i've always loved sci fi specifically for the world building, so i don't know if it was that i didn't connect with it here or if it was the writing/the way it was presented or what. idk i wanted to love it but i didn't.
there were a few typos in the arc i read but those may have been corrected in the final. i can't in good faith give this more than 2 stars because that's what i thought of it but i feel like this will be a good book for a certain type of person and i really want that type of person to find it!
i think there's the bones of a good story here, but i didn't connect with the writing or the characters from the jump. there's a lot of world-building thrown at you from the start and it doesn't let up much later and i was simply overloaded. maybe space operas are not for me? i've always loved sci fi specifically for the world building, so i don't know if it was that i didn't connect with it here or if it was the writing/the way it was presented or what. idk i wanted to love it but i didn't.
there were a few typos in the arc i read but those may have been corrected in the final. i can't in good faith give this more than 2 stars because that's what i thought of it but i feel like this will be a good book for a certain type of person and i really want that type of person to find it!