Reviews with content warning for Death - Caliban's War

Yeah, I loved this one, too.
This is a book review, so I don't want to talk about the TV Show too much, but I have to acknowledge how closely the show follows the book again. I think this might be the best adaptation of a book (series) ever? At least for the first two books/seasons. You know when you watch an adaptation of a book and think, "So sad that one scene was missing." several times? This never happened to me here? Quite the opposite. Every time I read a scene I was thinking "Oh wow, that was in the TV Show as well!". There is even one scene that was in the TV Show but wasn't in the book, and I was kind of disappointed because it had such an impact on me in the show.
Anyway, loved the plot, loved the characters and their dynamics (especially now that two of my favs were finally introduced), loved the politics (well, hated them, but you know), the humor, the emotions. Although I knew how it would end, I was still at the edge of my seat most of the time because the atmosphere created was so well done. The ending gave me goosebumps. I mean, the last sentence alone. Uff. Can't wait to continue with the series.
There were a few scenes that dragged on a little (mostly fighting/battles towards the end of the book) and I skimmed some of them. So it's a 4,5 rounded up to 5 start for me.

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elizathenash's review

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adventurous challenging mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

Spoiler

HONESTLY THIS WAS STUNNING. STUNNING!!

I adored the first book and I came to the second thinking it would be the same and as epic but it was far superior. The addition of Bobbie & Avasaralla was amazing, both characters were beautifully written and personally made me feel powerful and amazing in two different ways. I just cant wait for the next book and it kills me that I need to order it an wait UGHG . Some of the best scifi I've ever read!

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emilm124's review

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

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blakethebookeater's review

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adventurous mysterious 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

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featherbrain's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced

2.0

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caryndi's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

We're back for book 2 of The Expanse, this time with a new woman whose main characteristic seems to be the fact that she is Tall and men are Into It! We also have a woman who is not hit on my nearly every man in the book, but never fear: She is a grandmother, so who would do that. It amazes me that despite realizing it was good to have women in roles that do not depend on their relationship with the leading men, we somehow didn't get to the 'not sexualizing every woman' bit. Ah well.

Story-wise, Caliban's War was decent. To be honest, Praxidike was not one of my favorite characters though his storyline was pretty integral to the plot. Bobbie and Avasarala were both great. I felt like we got a tiny bit of insight into Amos' character but pulled the camera back a bit too early.

I was also disappointed by Holden's arc, which was that he apparently had become more like Miller and less like himself, and he didn't want to do this. I feel like we spent a lot of time getting told this and relatively little time actually seeing it play out. There were a couple of good moments based on his fear of the protomolecule and if the book had gone into that more perhaps I would have found it more convincing and fulfilling. Come to think of it, I wasn't super satisfied with Bobbie's emotional arc either, because for someone in denial about having PTSD she sure healed from it awful quick when the story needed her to. So, character development: perhaps not our strong suit here.

On the plus side, this book definitely came through on the promise of weird sci-fi and had some enjoyable political maneuvering. I don't think I could have foreseen the ending (because who could have) but of course it paved the way for the next book in the series nicely.

Recommend? You won't find me raving over this book, but it is a fun read.

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