livid_olive's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mweisenfeld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
billie_visible's review against another edition
3.0
At this point, these books for me are the equivalent of what romance novels are to some folks. Perhaps I am a victim of TV show bias, or perhaps I just don't connect as well with the writers as I want to.
Picking up following the destruction of Eros, the authors do a good job of building Holden (henceforth deemed Space Jon Snow) as a steadily hardened character wrestling with PTSD from what he's seen. As the Roci and its crew serve as errand boys (more or less) for Tycho, they're swept once more into another space-faring adventure involving the protomolecule. New characters are introduced (the foul-mouthed U.N. Deputy Undersecretary Chrisjen Avasarala whose demeanor is supposed to undercut a "matronly" stereotype, disgraced Martian Marine Bobbie Draper, and Praxidike Meng, the partial trigger for the Roci's new journey), new alliances formed, new relationships explored.
My biggest qualm with the books how much the authors seemingly struggle to flesh out certain characters. Naomi, for instance, thus far in two books remains nothing more than an exotic love interest with little backing and character development. While Amos is granted some measure of character development, the overwhelming submissiveness of the crew in their happy-go-lucky willingness to do whatever Space Jon Snow demands was jarring at first-especially given they were never all military to begin with.
Some of the book just becomes empty, trashy, eye-rolling fun. Some parts are intriguing and thought-consuming, while others are unputdownable. One thing that will always lose me is when you start talking about the damn lizard brain, that is when you immediately lose a star.
Picking up following the destruction of Eros, the authors do a good job of building Holden (henceforth deemed Space Jon Snow) as a steadily hardened character wrestling with PTSD from what he's seen. As the Roci and its crew serve as errand boys (more or less) for Tycho, they're swept once more into another space-faring adventure involving the protomolecule. New characters are introduced (the foul-mouthed U.N. Deputy Undersecretary Chrisjen Avasarala whose demeanor is supposed to undercut a "matronly" stereotype, disgraced Martian Marine Bobbie Draper, and Praxidike Meng, the partial trigger for the Roci's new journey), new alliances formed, new relationships explored.
My biggest qualm with the books how much the authors seemingly struggle to flesh out certain characters. Naomi, for instance, thus far in two books remains nothing more than an exotic love interest with little backing and character development. While Amos is granted some measure of character development, the overwhelming submissiveness of the crew in their happy-go-lucky willingness to do whatever Space Jon Snow demands was jarring at first-especially given they were never all military to begin with.
Some of the book just becomes empty, trashy, eye-rolling fun. Some parts are intriguing and thought-consuming, while others are unputdownable. One thing that will always lose me is when you start talking about the damn lizard brain, that is when you immediately lose a star.
g_a_denholm's review
5.0
Continuing the series was a great choice. Book 2 comes with much better POVs. It address hard realities of war like food rationing for the rich and the commercialization of military.
phettberg's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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
4.5
reverendsean's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
allanvdh's review
5.0
I couldn’t stop with this book. It’s even more thrilling than Leviathan and keeps you on the edge for the whole time.
Amazing series now I can’t stop.
Amazing series now I can’t stop.
lookingforvheissu's review
adventurous
medium-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
shoutman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.75