shonatiger's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Uneven, but got more interesting and tighter as the story progressed. A little odd, but maybe in a good way.
lailaspacekate's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/injury detail, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual harassment
All content warnings handled very well with the utmost respect and sensitivity.mostraum's review against another edition
1.0
I got a quarter of the way through, and I couldn't go on. I didn't believe in the characters or their terribly badly run space program. For me as a lover of science fiction, suspension of disbelief is a fundamental part of reading. This book just didn't make me believe in the world the author had created.
stuckinzclouds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cancer, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content and Eating disorder
snpatt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
hazeyjane_2's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t quite know how to review this book, except to say that it is a delight when it comes to introspection (esp. memory), character development and relationships between characters. As always, points for racially diverse main characters.
It is, in other words, a very fine slice of life novel for two-thirds of the book, but set in space. It isn’t so much a space travel adventure as a sort of recount of memories and dreams of the future. The sense of life aboard the Damocles is described beautifully. But when the action ramps up, it ramps up.
At the end all you’re left with is “a vague sense of hope”, which would seem to be accurate. The losses suffered by the crew are keenly felt and well realised.
The audio narrator makes each character sound distinct, which is quite a feat.
My main criticisms are that the premise itself seems thin, the ending in particular. There’s no clinical psychologist onboard, just a medical doctor - while physical medical issues are dealt with competently, the space program’s attitude to people who develop mental health issues seems to be to let them tough it out and be counselled by medical professionals (doctors) rather than someone specifically trained for the job. Poppy clearly has existing trauma, for instance, as does Eliot from an event that occurs shortly before the launch. And it seems rather impractical to recruit someone from the backup crew with only one night to spare.
Some of the characters - Eliot and Ara specifically - didn’t seem necessary to the plot and weren’t as developed as they could have been. We don’t see as much of them (partly for reasons that are clear later) as we do of Jesse, Harry and the twins.
I won’t spoil the climax here, but I will say the trigger for the incident seemed hard to swallow - something minor which escalated rapidly.
It is, in other words, a very fine slice of life novel for two-thirds of the book, but set in space. It isn’t so much a space travel adventure as a sort of recount of memories and dreams of the future. The sense of life aboard the Damocles is described beautifully. But when the action ramps up, it ramps up.
At the end all you’re left with is “a vague sense of hope”, which would seem to be accurate. The losses suffered by the crew are keenly felt and well realised.
The audio narrator makes each character sound distinct, which is quite a feat.
My main criticisms are that the premise itself seems thin, the ending in particular. There’s no clinical psychologist onboard, just a medical doctor - while physical medical issues are dealt with competently, the space program’s attitude to people who develop mental health issues seems to be to let them tough it out and be counselled by medical professionals (doctors) rather than someone specifically trained for the job. Poppy clearly has existing trauma, for instance, as does Eliot from an event that occurs shortly before the launch. And it seems rather impractical to recruit someone from the backup crew with only one night to spare.
Some of the characters - Eliot and Ara specifically - didn’t seem necessary to the plot and weren’t as developed as they could have been. We don’t see as much of them (partly for reasons that are clear later) as we do of Jesse, Harry and the twins.
I won’t spoil the climax here, but I will say the trigger for the incident seemed hard to swallow - something minor which escalated rapidly.
chyse's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Bullying
Moderate: Eating disorder
evelina96's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
This book was phenomenal! I didn't know anything about this book before I started reading it after a friend recommended it to me. I strongly recommend listening to the book, the narrator is fantastic and makes the story even better. I love the setting, it's something really captivating with books that take place in space. The characters were all interesting and I liked following their different POVs. The pacing is a bit slow in the beginning but it creeps up on you and it takes turns that you might not expect. This book really surprised me in the best way.
xeniafoe's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, I really connected with the writing and the setting (LOVE space travel stories!) though there were points where the characters or the direction the story took felt like a letdown. Definitely one I'd recommend though!
katiecatbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Scifi. Space travel. Teen protagonists.
Story: A potential inhabitable planet has been found. It takes 23 years from Earth to get there. For this reason a team on teenagers have been chosen to fly, so by the time they arrive they will be prime to colonize and lead.
Characters: Jesse has been chosen for the backup team and has to deal with the fact that he almost but didn't make it. Poppy may not have the STEM expertise, but she is ideal to provide all of the media back to Earth. The others are leaders in terms of piloting, engineering, botany and medicine.
Language: Set in an alternate 2012, where England is competing to win the space race and has a large training program. Each chapter is told by a different character and is only a few pages long, creating a great deal of action and tension and suspense.
This book was so thrilling I almost missed my metro stop while reading it. Great for adults as well as teens.
Story: A potential inhabitable planet has been found. It takes 23 years from Earth to get there. For this reason a team on teenagers have been chosen to fly, so by the time they arrive they will be prime to colonize and lead.
Characters: Jesse has been chosen for the backup team and has to deal with the fact that he almost but didn't make it. Poppy may not have the STEM expertise, but she is ideal to provide all of the media back to Earth. The others are leaders in terms of piloting, engineering, botany and medicine.
Language: Set in an alternate 2012, where England is competing to win the space race and has a large training program. Each chapter is told by a different character and is only a few pages long, creating a great deal of action and tension and suspense.
This book was so thrilling I almost missed my metro stop while reading it. Great for adults as well as teens.