justiceofkalr's review against another edition
4.0
This is one seriously cool concept with some amazing worlds and ideas. The problem is that the characters, and Jamisia in particular, kind of fell flat for me. Also some of the gender stuff was... not great (blanket statements about men being easily manipulated by women, the one male personality being strong and violent and almost a caricature of masculinity, Jamisia’s resorting to seducing her way out of every situation). So yeah. Awesome world with weak characters. Although I did like Masada quite a bit.
jkusters's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time finishing this book. It took a long time for all of the actors in the story to appear, and I found very few of them to be particularly sympathetic. What kept me going was the need to understand the two central mysteries of the story. The conclusion was satisfying in that it answered all of the posed questions, brought justice to the guilty, and ended logically. I’m not sure I’d recommend the book, however. I thought it was excellently written; I just didn’t care for it much.
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
2.0
DNF pg. 400
Set in far future, where almost everyone who has left Earth is disabled in some way, this book is profoundly anti-eugenics. The bad guys are portrayed as those who are not comfortable around disabled people, and who want to celebrate abled bodies, rather than variation. For this alone, I applaud this novel. However, I have many, many issues with the way in which Friedman writes: this book is far too long for the limited plot, there are too many POVs interspersed throughout so the reader never gets to hold onto one character, and while I am impressed that she portrays various different neurotypes, she doesn't do so in any depth, so her autistic character feels cliched, and her character with Dissociative Identity Disorder is completely inauthentic. However, for the sentiment and ideas, I applaud this book.
Set in far future, where almost everyone who has left Earth is disabled in some way, this book is profoundly anti-eugenics. The bad guys are portrayed as those who are not comfortable around disabled people, and who want to celebrate abled bodies, rather than variation. For this alone, I applaud this novel. However, I have many, many issues with the way in which Friedman writes: this book is far too long for the limited plot, there are too many POVs interspersed throughout so the reader never gets to hold onto one character, and while I am impressed that she portrays various different neurotypes, she doesn't do so in any depth, so her autistic character feels cliched, and her character with Dissociative Identity Disorder is completely inauthentic. However, for the sentiment and ideas, I applaud this book.
simplyleanna's review against another edition
4.0
Great story but a hard read for non native English readers such as myself.
ladyofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the main character, hated the ending. I felt that the ending was wrapped up too nicely, and could have been a bit more fleshed out. I can understand why the ending was done that particular way, but still didn't care for it. It was too simple, it seemed. Still, loved the characters, world-building, and elegant writing. 4/5 stars!
wodime's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
okay okay so the jamisia plotline is kinda mid AND there sure are gender politics AND the ending is way too rushed, but man! space opera!!!! the guera stuff is all so insanely cool ;_;
avid_d's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
danielle_olivia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
Mystery, intrigue, secuction, amazing. Had a hard time adjusting to the genre but the story is great once you get used to it.
myckroft's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5