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ippoteq's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, and I put a large part of that down to the blurb. The blurb implied, at least to me, that MORE of the story would take place in space. In actuality, the blurb gives away the whole book, and the final line of it makes up about 10 pages of actual space adventure so I wasn't very excited to learn that I was done with the book when I felt like the story I had been waiting for was just getting started.
Some of the conflict feels a little forced, but overall I liked Elma as a lead. I agree with other reviews that say Nathaniel is too "perfect" as a partner, it feels like a bit more conflict between them would have made for more tension.
It's a very easy read, even the maths and science doesn't feel too heavy. If you're looking for something that you can get through without much difficulty, this fits that bill. But it's definitely more of an emotional "character battles the system" story than a "women goes into space" story, so if you're looking for something more adventurous there are probably better fits out there.
Some of the conflict feels a little forced, but overall I liked Elma as a lead. I agree with other reviews that say Nathaniel is too "perfect" as a partner, it feels like a bit more conflict between them would have made for more tension.
It's a very easy read, even the maths and science doesn't feel too heavy. If you're looking for something that you can get through without much difficulty, this fits that bill. But it's definitely more of an emotional "character battles the system" story than a "women goes into space" story, so if you're looking for something more adventurous there are probably better fits out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault
angelbabe_cj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
aardwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Difficult to read at times because it deals very directly with the double-binds facing women (and making an effort to include all women) in the culture, this is more a work of sociological science fiction than anything else. There's lots of good stuff about rockets and physics! But the alternate history aspects hinge as much on the shock to a culture on the brink of the cold war and the aggressive, history-blind conformity of the fifties suddenly being thrown off that trajectory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, and Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt