hteph's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Major Bhaajan, former military and now a private investigator, is hired by a mysterious client. Forced to return somewhere she'd rather not go, she's also forced to confront things she'd rather stayed in the past if there's to be any hope in the future.
This is the first I'd read by [a:Catherine Asaro|34854|Catherine Asaro|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1246654947p2/34854.jpg], so it's worth noting that I have just added the first of her Skolian Empire series - in the same universe as [b:Undercity|21412186|Undercity|Catherine Asaro|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394422279s/21412186.jpg|40713197] - to my to-read list. People who have already explored that series will probably find the Characters & Family History section at the end interesting; I just paged through to avoid potential spoilers, as none of it was relevant to me.
The intricate cultures Asaro created here, the history of the characters, the issues they have to deal with, and the cultural conflicts all echo recognizable pieces from our culture. Moral debates about validity of lifestyle choices, "saving" people from themselves and the narrow-mindedness of the privileged class (who devalue and dismiss marginal societies while not thinking past trite beliefs about poverty) all resonated strongly with me.
The tech was visible but not intrusive, just enough to make it interesting and to add a small flavor of cyberpunk without diverging from the main plot. The three parts could almost stand on their own as novellas, but seemed to me more like acts in a play, underscoring the events of each part.
Very enjoyable and educational, and I look forward to reading the rest of this series!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Major Bhaajan, former military and now a private investigator, is hired by a mysterious client. Forced to return somewhere she'd rather not go, she's also forced to confront things she'd rather stayed in the past if there's to be any hope in the future.
This is the first I'd read by [a:Catherine Asaro|34854|Catherine Asaro|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1246654947p2/34854.jpg], so it's worth noting that I have just added the first of her Skolian Empire series - in the same universe as [b:Undercity|21412186|Undercity|Catherine Asaro|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394422279s/21412186.jpg|40713197] - to my to-read list. People who have already explored that series will probably find the Characters & Family History section at the end interesting; I just paged through to avoid potential spoilers, as none of it was relevant to me.
The intricate cultures Asaro created here, the history of the characters, the issues they have to deal with, and the cultural conflicts all echo recognizable pieces from our culture. Moral debates about validity of lifestyle choices, "saving" people from themselves and the narrow-mindedness of the privileged class (who devalue and dismiss marginal societies while not thinking past trite beliefs about poverty) all resonated strongly with me.
The tech was visible but not intrusive, just enough to make it interesting and to add a small flavor of cyberpunk without diverging from the main plot. The three parts could almost stand on their own as novellas, but seemed to me more like acts in a play, underscoring the events of each part.
Very enjoyable and educational, and I look forward to reading the rest of this series!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
jmaddren's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
hoatzin's review against another edition
Pretty fun. I liked the idea behind the setting, though the human society could use some worldbuilding. The scifi tech was cool too. (Though why did Bhaaj have so much better tech than everyone else, even the supposed cyber-runners/hackers?) Some obv logical flaws in the plot but still, a fun read.
leelah's review
3.0
3,5 stars
Ok, first some info: [b:Undercity|21412186|Undercity (Major Baahjan, #1)|Catherine Asaro|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394422279s/21412186.jpg|40713197] is extended version of [b:The City of Cries|12847303|The City of Cries (Major Baahjan, #0)|Catherine Asaro|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417108699s/12847303.jpg|17998452] novella, but added content is rather linear, since this book is basically continuation of novella. Hence, we have Part I (TCoC) and Part II (added content).
First part is a straight forward detective novel- Bhaajan is a former major with the Imperial Space Command turned PI and she's contacted by a mysterious client. It turns out, secrecy is well deserved since Bhaajan is hired to find one of the most important men in Skolian empire: youngest Majda Prince. Majdas are second most influential family in the Empire. Majdas are financial moguls; their matriarchs are by tradition Generals of Pharaoh's army, but Majda women also dominate imperial fleet and space command branches. They are also following old rules religiously: their men are kept in seclusion- which means they are in complete lock-down, hidden behind walls under heavy protection. Touching a Majda prince is considered to be an offense punishable by death. So, to say that Bhaajan is under high pressure to solve this is an understatement. But,she is uniquely qualified to do it, since prince's trail leads to Undercity, pipe system where Bhaajan grew up as an orphan and one place she didn't want ever to come back to. And she needs help from people she left behind.
Mysterywise - this wasn't too complicated. Bhaajan pretty much found the prince soon as she went to Undercity, but events of this case triggered a bigger problem Bhaajan is handling in Part II. First part is also important for getting to know Majdas and rigidity of rules they followed for centuries. They are also pried of their sense of fairness and honor.
It's a picture of Raylicon on microlevel that gains real importance in second part where perspective is switched and we get a bigger social structure picture. In second part, Bhaajan and Jax are trying to break gun smuggling operation and war between gangs of Undercity where the ones who need most help are in biggest danger: little orphans, called dust rats Baahjan and Jax once were.
*This disparity between Majda and poor people living in pipe system is so huge I found it a bit of a stretch: it is written to show the most simple social system model: only two social classes are shown where one has everything and other nothing and as such it's completely unrealistic. Society is more complicated and there is more layers to it, but we don't get to see it at all. Baahjan's investigation is happening only in Majda's households and in Undercity and I personally missed seeing what's in between. Hence, I think Asaro smoothed this over little too easy and simple.
I am also not sure how this reads if reader is not familiar with other novels set in Skolian Empire. Timeline follows the events of [b:Skyfall|672950|Skyfall (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #9)|Catherine Asaro|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316130019s/672950.jpg|1441653] since missing prince was engaged to Roca Skolia before she goes and meet Eldrinson. But it's not just that: seclusion would be more clear if reader knows that Empire is matriarchal society and that Majdas are applying old rules strictly for more reasons: their men are not just beautiful and intelligent, they also seem to carry and are able to pass further gene that gives their children psychic powers. It's a great gift and a valuable weapon against Traders. Psyons are mentioned and I guess it's not difficult to understand but the importance of it gets a whole another meaning when you are familiar with setting.
Romance plot is a given when it comes to Asaro, so it happens here as well. ;)
I think resolution happened to early in the novel and the whole story lacks suspense by the end. It left us on a weird note since there is nothing to dislike about it, but there is also not much to like and remember once you finish.
It has potential and I will pick up next in series. ;)
*ETA 12/23/2104 - Rephrased after thoughtful comment from fellow reader. :)
tylepard's review against another edition
3.0
Super fun sci-fi book set in a world that's run by a matriarchy. Lots of typos, but otherwise a good, quick read full of action.
royalmilktea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
veronica87's review against another edition
2.0
I was hoping for more from this book. I was in the mood for some cool science fiction but this turned out to be just okay, hence the two star rating. It wasn't bad but none of it blew me away either. The heroine, Major Baahj, could basically do anything with her tech-enhanced body and whatever she couldn't accomplish physically her Artificial Evolving Intelligence computer system handled effortlessly. The changes that Baahj brings about in such a short amount of time, in a system that has been in place for millenia, seemed a bit unbelievable and bordered on the Mary Sue trope. The whole thing with the Undercity children and the Dust Knights should have been touching but instead it came off as cheesy. There is also a romance element of the reconnecting-old-lovers variety and it was okay but, again, nothing that blew me away. Overall it was all just...meh.
alesia_charles's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent space opera, and a nice change of pace from Asaro's previous work, which focused on Imperial scions as the main characters. I read a number of those earlier novels years ago, and frankly got bored with the princes and politics and so forth. Major Bhaajan, however, is just a retired military police officer with an interesting past.
Asaro is still a bit heavy-handed with her themes, but I feel the whole Skolian Empire idea benefits from a lower-level perspective on things. Here's hoping that this new series continues to stay fresh and avoid most of those rarified levels of politics and war that I got tired of before!
Asaro is still a bit heavy-handed with her themes, but I feel the whole Skolian Empire idea benefits from a lower-level perspective on things. Here's hoping that this new series continues to stay fresh and avoid most of those rarified levels of politics and war that I got tired of before!