Reviews

It raises the stakes. If the first book in the trilogy was just an introduction, this takes the action in a totally different direction, both thematically and plotwise. It's a 300-page book, but it sure feels like a 700 one, not because it's tedious, but because it teaches you to be a detective for clues and read every phrase carefully. There is more world-building in one sentence here than in a full chapter in other books.

skylar2's review against another edition

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3.0

I definitely liked Fractal Prince more than Quantum Thief, which I found too gimmicky for my tastes. That said, Fractal Prince really could benefit from a glossary - all the bizarre terms can make it hard to keep track, especially if you don't have the time to read the book in one sitting. Often, I found it distracting from the actual plot. Unfortunately, I found the characters just as difficult to relate to as the first book, which also made it difficult to enjoy.

asphyxiac's review against another edition

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2.0

Though I enjoyed the Lupin references and the fast pace of the first book, there was a rapidly growing level of disconnect between myself and the characters as I progressed through the second book. This was mostly due to the completely unimaginable (or perhaps poorly described) technology that was used to explain much of the motivation behind the main character's actions. Like, I still don't understand anything about Matjek Chen or what the deal with Gubernaiya minds is. By the end of the second book, Perhonen and Mieli were more or less the only characters whose story I cared about.

shalot's review against another edition

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4.0

Rajanjemi's writing really shines in this book. He masterfully introduces you to new worlds through the characters he writes. I spent the first book learning about Mars, and this book we learn about Earth and Venus in this fictional future. A lot of questions from the first book were answered but now I have a field of new questions I hope book 3 answers. This series definitely does not suffer from the Second Book Syndrome.

alskn's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

shaekin's review against another edition

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4.0

Still really interesting concepts, good twists that have foreshadowing without making it too obvious. Looking forward to the next one.

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