ekcd_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Medical content, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
ripxw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse and Vomit
bop_a_lop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror
lilifane's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
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.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Violence, and War
blakethebookeater's review
- 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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Gore, Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Vomit, Child death, Sexual content, Grief, Cursing, and Body horror
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
featherbrain's review
2.0
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Trafficking, and Vomit
caryndi's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
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.
Moderate: Gore, Body horror, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Trafficking, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Child death