bombielonia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nellie5eva's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-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
wrath1776's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series but this one was terrible. Well written but, content-wise, it could have probably been cut to be about 3 chapters max. Nothing happens and everything that does happen is obvious. No wonder this guy can write a book a year. The universe is great and has depth but JSAC seems a bit lost in it with no direction and his editor clearly values quantity over quality.
lloneill's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.0
neko_cam's review against another edition
4.0
The Expanse series continues to move from strength to strength.
Clarissa Mao is tactfully humanised despite her homicidal psychosis. Though her intentions are extreme, her motivations are thoroughly relatable. The internal struggle between her single-minded determination and what comes to be overwhelming guilt builds tension wonderfully.
Bull is a little hard to pin down. It's clear that he's a very intelligent and capable man, but it's hard to tell just how much of his uncaring pragmatism is an act. The one unarguable truth of his character seems to be his loyalty to Fred.
Anna Volovodov seemed at first to be underdeveloped compared to the others, but over the course of the story she comes into her own, desperately trying to pull people together despite their political allegiances and self-interests.
I’m incredibly pleased to say that Clarissa Mao is almost certainly the most well fleshed-out antagonist of any book I've ever read. It's simply astounding that the author has so thoroughly addressed what I felt was the primary failing of Caliban's War.
Spoiler
The Protomolecule has left Venus and has constructed a massive gate out by Uranus. A flotilla of scientific and military ships from the various governments pass through it and into an eerily starless corner of the universe where the laws of physics are malleable. Holden is contacted by the alien Protomolecule intelligence through a ghostly apparition of Miller. Clarissa Mao seeks grandiose revenge against Holden for destroying her father and his legacy.Clarissa Mao is tactfully humanised despite her homicidal psychosis. Though her intentions are extreme, her motivations are thoroughly relatable. The internal struggle between her single-minded determination and what comes to be overwhelming guilt builds tension wonderfully.
Bull is a little hard to pin down. It's clear that he's a very intelligent and capable man, but it's hard to tell just how much of his uncaring pragmatism is an act. The one unarguable truth of his character seems to be his loyalty to Fred.
Spoiler
It's particularly refreshing to see his crippling explored with the care and thoroughness it is given.Anna Volovodov seemed at first to be underdeveloped compared to the others, but over the course of the story she comes into her own, desperately trying to pull people together despite their political allegiances and self-interests.
Spoiler
Miller’s confused and confusing messages to Holden are given more and more relevance as the story progresses, and it’s interesting to see Miller’s personality distilled to its essential components being used by the Protomolecule intelligence.I’m incredibly pleased to say that Clarissa Mao is almost certainly the most well fleshed-out antagonist of any book I've ever read. It's simply astounding that the author has so thoroughly addressed what I felt was the primary failing of Caliban's War.
chapterbara's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars!!! i like to round up tho hehe
you know how when holden and the gang says being on the roci is like being home? that's how i feel when i read these books. sort of a warm comfy cozy kinda feeling. i just really love the main characters so much and their chemistry. this one was different from the first two, and i think i actually like this one better than the second one (the first is still my favorite, for now). i really enjoyed the overall plot and the introduction of the new characters. anna and bull are my favorites, clarissa was okay until the end, which i came to like her lmao. the only reason why i took off .5 stars is because i felt like holden and the gang were more secondary characters in this one rather than the main characters, but that's just personal preference. i still really enjoyed the book and where this series will be going from here!! slowly becoming my favorite series to read. :) it replaces that hole i felt after finishing something like mass effect.
you know how when holden and the gang says being on the roci is like being home? that's how i feel when i read these books. sort of a warm comfy cozy kinda feeling. i just really love the main characters so much and their chemistry. this one was different from the first two, and i think i actually like this one better than the second one (the first is still my favorite, for now). i really enjoyed the overall plot and the introduction of the new characters. anna and bull are my favorites, clarissa was okay until the end, which i came to like her lmao. the only reason why i took off .5 stars is because i felt like holden and the gang were more secondary characters in this one rather than the main characters, but that's just personal preference. i still really enjoyed the book and where this series will be going from here!! slowly becoming my favorite series to read. :) it replaces that hole i felt after finishing something like mass effect.
tildi's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, actually not as bad as I expected, glad to see the authors are getting better at writing women with each new book. Still, I didn’t much care about the revenge plot and space priests. I want to get to the aliens already!
jess_eats_books's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book in the series I felt was written for the sake of publishing a book. It didn't advance the story as much as the two previous, and focused a lot on people other than the crew of the Roci. It's filler with a dash of progression.
It was still an enjoyable read, I just wasn't very interested in Anna and her story.
It was still an enjoyable read, I just wasn't very interested in Anna and her story.