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ryancull's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
iambto's review
4.0
After watching the first season of the Expanse, I was excited to read this book. I expected a hard sci-fi political thriller along the lines of C. j. Cherryh meets Carol Sagan. Instead I got a rollicking good swashbuckling tale with a hint of Noir. The tv series follows pretty close to the book, but I found the book to be more light hearted and humorous (still some dark moments). I really enjoyed both the tv show and the book, but found them to be different enough that I want to continue with both for their unique feels.
sarahjo142's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Strong start to this series. Excited to continue reading. I found Miller to be a bit frustrating, but he got better toward the end. I just found his mental relationship with Julie to be strange. Otherwise a good time.
acrickettofillthesilence's review
adventurous
mysterious
sad
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
yarrowkat's review
4.0
This first volume stands up pretty well to the TV series that is based on it. I am generally a "read the books first" person, but in this case was unaware of the books until I was 1.5 seasons into the show and loving it. The TV series has definitely altered some things - the structural changes are solid translations between mediums; the turning people-of-color into white actors (very noticably the navigator who is Holden's love interest on the Canturbury...who I am pleased to report doesn't actually sleep with him, also) is the usual TV bullshit.
On that note, I think Fred Johnson is functioning in this book as the "magical Negro" trope whose entire function in the book is to support the character arcs of the two white tropes, Holden (the kind of idiotic idealist) & Miller (the sad detective), and this saddens me; c'mon guys. You can do better than this.
This is otherwise a taut, compelling, reasonably well-written novel. I am told that the writing gets tighter as the duo gets more comfortable working together throughout the series; I look forward to finding out.
On that note, I think Fred Johnson is functioning in this book as the "magical Negro" trope whose entire function in the book is to support the character arcs of the two white tropes, Holden (the kind of idiotic idealist) & Miller (the sad detective), and this saddens me; c'mon guys. You can do better than this.
This is otherwise a taut, compelling, reasonably well-written novel. I am told that the writing gets tighter as the duo gets more comfortable working together throughout the series; I look forward to finding out.
ingi's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
apollofortynine's review
3.0
I was not a fan of this book. The space combat was laughably bad (every fight ended after one salvo), and the story dragged on during the second half of the book.
alibi1482's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lefthandlou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
newtreads12's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5