meganpbell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really do love the hard, challenging science in this sci-fi, the big ideas about the nature of the universe and human and alien culture and behavior, however bleak, but Liu’s characters are sacrificed to this and are just so flat and shallow. That would be fine if it weren’t for the ridiculously misogynistic way he writes about women. I.E. science professor’s “dream girl” is “slender,” (Liu’s fav word to describe women), “angelicly” beautiful, “naive,” 20-something who immediately falls for him…shocking 🙄 Add to that the popular opinion that it’s a real slog to get to the pay off…I won’t be reading the last one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, War, Violence, Body horror, Sexism, Mental illness, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
zone_a3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Car accident, Genocide, Misogyny, Death, and War
Minor: Suicide
inlibrisveritas's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My complicated relationship with this series continues. So much about this one is brilliant, but it is absolutely buried in things that made me so frustrated.
Too many times did characters suddenly have a nose dive in intellect so that the science can happen, when the science in question is so far beyond what they were capable of any way that it didn't need them to spend 10 mins scratching their heads. The human element was so weirdly clinical and inconsistent, but half of them spoke like they were all vying to get the perfect soundbite. Plus it added pages just to explore the human element but somehow still managed not to add much depth to any character other than Luo Ji. It's bizarre how many pages were devoted to this and I still barely know any of them.
I loved the actual plot and I think so many of the ideas were beyond creative, but it was just brought down by the weird need to 'but wait there's more!' its way to the next section.
Too many times did characters suddenly have a nose dive in intellect so that the science can happen, when the science in question is so far beyond what they were capable of any way that it didn't need them to spend 10 mins scratching their heads. The human element was so weirdly clinical and inconsistent, but half of them spoke like they were all vying to get the perfect soundbite. Plus it added pages just to explore the human element but somehow still managed not to add much depth to any character other than Luo Ji. It's bizarre how many pages were devoted to this and I still barely know any of them.
I loved the actual plot and I think so many of the ideas were beyond creative, but it was just brought down by the weird need to 'but wait there's more!' its way to the next section.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Car accident
nsn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
epic but translated work makes it hard to appreciate and get through. it proceeds from one scene to another clunkily, sometime abruptly plowing through plot points, other times indulging in chunks of dreamy observations, science and philosophies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Grief and Car accident
Minor: Gun violence, Murder, Cancer, and Suicide
actualophelia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
For a book whose story I feel like I understand so little, it really manages to hit something. Not sure what my emotional reaction is, but it's sure something!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Medical content, and Terminal illness
spawnrespawn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Car accident
solanum's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Gore
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
tylawrencium's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The first half of the book is a bit of a slog--you're spending a lot of time with a main character whose main personality traits are laziness and (I would describe it as) misogyny. Luo Ji just isn't as compelling or complex of a central character as Ye Wenjie was in the first novel.
That said, once things really start moving halfway through, the plot picks up and the book dives again into the big-picture, sci-fi/sociological ideas that Cixin Liu is so brilliant for. The payoff is definitely worth it, but this one is more of a slog than the first book to get there.
That said, once things really start moving halfway through, the plot picks up and the book dives again into the big-picture, sci-fi/sociological ideas that Cixin Liu is so brilliant for. The payoff is definitely worth it, but this one is more of a slog than the first book to get there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, War, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Terminal illness and Car accident
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