gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I though that this was a great fun sci-fi read. It was funny, poignant and endearing. I think that it showcased how imaginative the author is at creating complex worlds and peoples, and having huge amounts of respect for all of them.
If this had a bit more plot, and less lesson-of-the-week 90s sitcom feeling, I would have rated it higher. Felt a bit disconnected plot wise, but overall it was charming.
If this had a bit more plot, and less lesson-of-the-week 90s sitcom feeling, I would have rated it higher. Felt a bit disconnected plot wise, but overall it was charming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness and Genocide
beesanddaisies's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I don’t read much si-fi but I think this was such a nice introduction. The characters are so lovable and what I want is three books of them messing around together and being found family.
So many different things happen in this book and whilst there *technically** is an overall plot/story line, it is very much in the background for most of the book. We really focus instead on the relationships between the characters as well as some great world building.
Becky Chambers had quite a difficult job with the world building in terms of how many different aliens and planets and species and laws and societies she had to create but in all, she managed to create a really well fleshed out universe where all the characters and settings feel well thought out and described in detail. She created languages and cultures all with different social etiquette and everything very real and easy to follow.
My favourite character is Kizzy but everyone is so likeable, I really think anybody could have great fun reading this book.
So many different things happen in this book and whilst there *technically** is an overall plot/story line, it is very much in the background for most of the book. We really focus instead on the relationships between the characters as well as some great world building.
Becky Chambers had quite a difficult job with the world building in terms of how many different aliens and planets and species and laws and societies she had to create but in all, she managed to create a really well fleshed out universe where all the characters and settings feel well thought out and described in detail. She created languages and cultures all with different social etiquette and everything very real and easy to follow.
My favourite character is Kizzy but everyone is so likeable, I really think anybody could have great fun reading this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Violence
abookwormspov's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical content, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, and Chronic illness
toastedoats42's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, and War
oldladysadie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
This story was like a warm hug. It was like playing through the Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC for hours on end. It was a joy to spend time with all of these characters, and the found family dynamics are unmatched.
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
anjasshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Torture, Colonisation, Death, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Drug use
chelseareads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
So much gender, orientation, and relationship structure representation withOUT actual sex scenes (not my thing, personal preference not a judgement)!!! A wonderful ship and crew. Loved that.
The book read like a season of an episodic (with a season-long arc incorporated) sci-fi television. I don't know if that's a good thing as a book or not, but I'd LOVE to watch that show. And now I'm excited to read the tenuously-related Season 2.
The book read like a season of an episodic (with a season-long arc incorporated) sci-fi television. I don't know if that's a good thing as a book or not, but I'd LOVE to watch that show. And now I'm excited to read the tenuously-related Season 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Death, Animal death, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence
ekcd_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The characters are lovable but only because they designed to be lovable. As a result they come off as unrealistic and one dimensional. Even the cantankerous foil to the other sickly sweet personas on board is given a tragic backstory designed to inspire the reader to love him.
It’s an incredibly slow book, plot wise, and the few plot events we do see dont make sense. The characters have odd reactions - socially and culturally. And god knows Becky Chambers lives to talk about how different all her aliens are. There is a weird fixation on sex and sexual differences in the book which could have been a fun exploration in sexuality if it was done well but instead it felt like she was patting herself on the back for coming up with such sexually diverse races/species. Several times in the book she says outright “yeah XYZ is so different from humans” and like that’s it.
I feel like I read a different book than all the critics (formal and informal) who have such high praise. This read like a YA novel or children’s cartoon that feeds the reader emotions with a spoon. I’m fact, most of the world building in general is fed to the reader with a spoon- it’s explicit and heavy handed OR it’s nonsense words that are never explained or expanded on. It’s clear the author uses letters and characters who are librarians to shoehorn in world building she wasn’t creative enough to build into the narrative. No nuance, no complexity. Just a feel good mill, which I personally do not like. I want moral ambiguity and conflict in my space opera.
It’s an incredibly slow book, plot wise, and the few plot events we do see dont make sense. The characters have odd reactions - socially and culturally. And god knows Becky Chambers lives to talk about how different all her aliens are. There is a weird fixation on sex and sexual differences in the book which could have been a fun exploration in sexuality if it was done well but instead it felt like she was patting herself on the back for coming up with such sexually diverse races/species. Several times in the book she says outright “yeah XYZ is so different from humans” and like that’s it.
I feel like I read a different book than all the critics (formal and informal) who have such high praise. This read like a YA novel or children’s cartoon that feeds the reader emotions with a spoon. I’m fact, most of the world building in general is fed to the reader with a spoon- it’s explicit and heavy handed OR it’s nonsense words that are never explained or expanded on. It’s clear the author uses letters and characters who are librarians to shoehorn in world building she wasn’t creative enough to build into the narrative. No nuance, no complexity. Just a feel good mill, which I personally do not like. I want moral ambiguity and conflict in my space opera.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Police brutality, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, War, Death, Genocide, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Blood
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, War, Grief, and Terminal illness
Minor: Violence, Sexual content, and Drug use
oceanescence's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Drug use and Sexual content