novelinsights's review
4.0
This was a fun sci-fi adventure about a planet called Fortune, where a larger governing body called the Coalition has enslaved the native people (aka the colonists) to raise terrifying slug-like creatures and harvest their eggs, the yolk of which being incredibly valuable due to its intelligence-boosting properties. Being the first book in a series, this story followed several interconnected characters, depicting their experiences on the planet as the population moved toward rebellion.
In the beginning of the book, the author listed some of her literary influences, one of the first being Joss Whedon, and the book definitely felt like it took place on one of the Rim worlds in the Firefly 'verse, which I liked. I could also see his influence in the witty dialogue, although I will admit that occasionally it felt like someone said something out of character just to surprise the reader or make a witty comment.
This book also featured an enemies-to-lovers subplot, which is a trope I typically don't like, though I was fine with it here due to the fact that there were some indications from very early on that the enemy was actually a good guy. The main problem that I had with it was that the romantic inclinations started a little too early on for my taste. The POV character was kidnapped and almost immediately starting thinking about how attractive her captors were. Regardless of who kidnapped me, I don't think I would be capable of seeing them as attractive, at least without taking some time either for them to earn my trust or for me to develop Stockholm Syndrome.
My other problems with the book were mostly small matters of wording--tiny pieces of out-of-character dialogue, word choice that I didn't agree with (like the repeated describing of one character's eyes as 'piss-brown,' which sounds like a very unhealthy color for piss to be), etc. There were also several editing errors (a word missing, the same word used twice in a sentence, someone being called the fourth something when he was only the third, etc.) but they weren't overwhelming and it was obvious that they were accidents and not the result of the author failing to understand some important element of grammar. Because this was a self-published book that thus lacked a professional editor, I think the occasional oversights were forgivable.
I would recommend this book to any fans of character-led science fiction, and I am excited to get my hands on the second book in the series.
In the beginning of the book, the author listed some of her literary influences, one of the first being Joss Whedon, and the book definitely felt like it took place on one of the Rim worlds in the Firefly 'verse, which I liked. I could also see his influence in the witty dialogue, although I will admit that occasionally it felt like someone said something out of character just to surprise the reader or make a witty comment.
This book also featured an enemies-to-lovers subplot, which is a trope I typically don't like, though I was fine with it here due to the fact that there were some indications from very early on that the enemy was actually a good guy. The main problem that I had with it was that the romantic inclinations started a little too early on for my taste. The POV character was kidnapped and almost immediately starting thinking about how attractive her captors were. Regardless of who kidnapped me, I don't think I would be capable of seeing them as attractive, at least without taking some time either for them to earn my trust or for me to develop Stockholm Syndrome.
My other problems with the book were mostly small matters of wording--tiny pieces of out-of-character dialogue, word choice that I didn't agree with (like the repeated describing of one character's eyes as 'piss-brown,' which sounds like a very unhealthy color for piss to be), etc. There were also several editing errors (a word missing, the same word used twice in a sentence, someone being called the fourth something when he was only the third, etc.) but they weren't overwhelming and it was obvious that they were accidents and not the result of the author failing to understand some important element of grammar. Because this was a self-published book that thus lacked a professional editor, I think the occasional oversights were forgivable.
I would recommend this book to any fans of character-led science fiction, and I am excited to get my hands on the second book in the series.
krakentamer's review
5.0
I was really caught off-guard by this book - was not really expecting much from it, but I really enjoyed it. Some of the other reviewers had a problem with the amount of brutality in it, calling it Torture Porn, but I appreciated the reminders that this was a brutal planet, controlled by brutal people. Definitely not a YA book.
I see that the author is having some legal disputes with the publisher and that the sequel is stalled. That's a pity because I'm very interested in diving back into this story again.
Audiobook notes: Reading the author's account of the history of this book, I got the impression that the book was nearly self-published. However, the audio production was outstanding - I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this one was very good, from the actual sound quality to the quality of the reader (Allyson Johnson) - she did a great job with the different voices.
I see that the author is having some legal disputes with the publisher and that the sequel is stalled. That's a pity because I'm very interested in diving back into this story again.
Audiobook notes: Reading the author's account of the history of this book, I got the impression that the book was nearly self-published. However, the audio production was outstanding - I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this one was very good, from the actual sound quality to the quality of the reader (Allyson Johnson) - she did a great job with the different voices.
valhecka's review against another edition
5.0
BONKERS high-speed sci-fi thriller, gorgeous tech, amazing characters, hilarious dialog, OH MAN I HAD SO MUCH FUN.
kathrynramsay's review
2.0
Good story, great idea, way too much brutality and torture. If there had been a better balance in the dark and light in the story, I would have easily given it 4 or 5 stars. Instead, I could only skim the last 10%. It was just too dark for my psyche.
zyphax's review against another edition
2.0
The world was interesting. The characters were fun. The writing was good. However, there was a rape. I like my fiction a bit more fictional than that.
boredpanda's review against another edition
5.0
Scalpel-wielding sociopathic children? Sure, why not!
Took me 16 days to read roughly 60% of Pandora's Star (massive space opera) before I have up. 60% equals about 210k words. Sara's book is about 158k words and I finished that in 4 days. Tells me a little bit about what kind of books I like and how awesome this one was.
Lots of action, a fair bit of grit and an allround exciting story. Need more Sara King books now.
arnicas's review
3.0
Reasonably fun space opera; although not mostly in space--bad guys are really bad, colonists are abused, rebels are a strange lot. The 7-year old sociopathic girl put me off at first till I realized she's really that evil. Romance plots didn't work for me, though.
blackash13's review
2.0
The author has described this book as a character novel, a sci-fi novel "about the people within their pages, not the tech." The book certainly is not focused on technology, but it doesn't do such a great job with the characters, and the story lacks anything of real interest.
A colony of people are oppressed and forced into servitude by the cyborg soldiers of the ruling Coalition. A group of rebels come together to challenge the Coalition. This plot line gets little attention while the reader is subjected to a constantly cruel, sociopathic 9 year old, relentless insult-laced sexual tension between characters and mindless cruelty, both real and threatened, from the Coalition against the colonists.
I never got into the storyline because it's buried behind the cruelty and sexual innuendo. On a positive note, the final 5 chapters contained a real semblance of a story, and there was the beginning of some true depth from two of the characters. However, after 48 chapters and 500+ pages, it felt like a hook to get the reader to dive into book 2, which I won't be doing.
A colony of people are oppressed and forced into servitude by the cyborg soldiers of the ruling Coalition. A group of rebels come together to challenge the Coalition. This plot line gets little attention while the reader is subjected to a constantly cruel, sociopathic 9 year old, relentless insult-laced sexual tension between characters and mindless cruelty, both real and threatened, from the Coalition against the colonists.
I never got into the storyline because it's buried behind the cruelty and sexual innuendo. On a positive note, the final 5 chapters contained a real semblance of a story, and there was the beginning of some true depth from two of the characters. However, after 48 chapters and 500+ pages, it felt like a hook to get the reader to dive into book 2, which I won't be doing.
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