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sue_ferris's review against another edition
4.0
Fast- paced with great world-building , this story has truly-drawn complete individuals who you enjoy spending time with - I hope there is a sequel.
beautyinruins_ca's review against another edition
4.0
While it had some deep thoughts on issues of colonialism, not to mention significant themes of race, class, and religion, Bluebird never felt weighed down by its ideas. What Ciel Pierlot has crafted is a sci-fi novel that's equal parts pulp adventure, high-stakes heist, and long-distance romance. It's a fun read with some interesting characters and well-choreographed fight scenes, and even if it dragged in places, it held my interest through to the end.
Rig is a likable rogue, a young woman caught between her ideas, her love for her librarian girlfriend, her duty to her sister, and her passion for the lost history of her race. She's got a lot going on, but somehow she manages to juggle it all with flair and panache. Ginka is something of an enigma, a cold, superpowered woman with secrets she keeps close to her chest. I had my struggles with her early on, but as we learn more of her story I actually found her the more interesting of the two.
The world-building here is fantastic, with the warring factions of the universe pursuing a brutal war of conquest and extermination, all in the name of their take on a shared mythology. The technology behind it all is interesting, and I appreciated that Pierlot never info-dumped a bunch of scientific jargon, trusting the reader to understand and accept it all. Plot-wise, I felt it struggled at times, trying to do too much with the individual stories of Rig and Ginka, but it all comes together - with some genuinely shocking twists along the way - making for an entirely satisfactory climax.
I've struggled with science fiction over the past few years, finding it straying too far from the genre tropes and themes I enjoy, but Bluebird managed to be something familiar and new at the same time. Very enjoyable.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/2021/12/sci-fi-ook-review-bluebird-by-ciel.html
Rig is a likable rogue, a young woman caught between her ideas, her love for her librarian girlfriend, her duty to her sister, and her passion for the lost history of her race. She's got a lot going on, but somehow she manages to juggle it all with flair and panache. Ginka is something of an enigma, a cold, superpowered woman with secrets she keeps close to her chest. I had my struggles with her early on, but as we learn more of her story I actually found her the more interesting of the two.
The world-building here is fantastic, with the warring factions of the universe pursuing a brutal war of conquest and extermination, all in the name of their take on a shared mythology. The technology behind it all is interesting, and I appreciated that Pierlot never info-dumped a bunch of scientific jargon, trusting the reader to understand and accept it all. Plot-wise, I felt it struggled at times, trying to do too much with the individual stories of Rig and Ginka, but it all comes together - with some genuinely shocking twists along the way - making for an entirely satisfactory climax.
I've struggled with science fiction over the past few years, finding it straying too far from the genre tropes and themes I enjoy, but Bluebird managed to be something familiar and new at the same time. Very enjoyable.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/2021/12/sci-fi-ook-review-bluebird-by-ciel.html
beccabdavies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
laceinplace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
echosofevelyn's review against another edition
3.0
It was a lovely world built by Ciel Pierlot. The spaceships, giant libraries in the world devoid of real paper and a ton of deadly weapons tearing apart the galaxy. Truly full of heart and determination, however, very much thought the eyes of the young Rig who is an embodiment of young and hungry soul searching for redemption at any cost.
A lovely read however it leans towards YA fiction. To me personally, I connected to the side character and her story of love and sacrifice much stronger than to the main lesbian character and her love and troubles.
Moreover, at times I felt description lacked in some scenes where it left me blind and screaming "how does he look tho?!" or "what did she do to get out?" In these scenes words used were "weird" or "handsome" which I found hard to imagine and digest.
Overall I'm happy to have read this work as it showed me something for my own growth and change.
A lovely read however it leans towards YA fiction. To me personally, I connected to the side character and her story of love and sacrifice much stronger than to the main lesbian character and her love and troubles.
Moreover, at times I felt description lacked in some scenes where it left me blind and screaming "how does he look tho?!" or "what did she do to get out?" In these scenes words used were "weird" or "handsome" which I found hard to imagine and digest.
Overall I'm happy to have read this work as it showed me something for my own growth and change.
enbyunicorn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
such a fun read! i love stories about "criminals" with hearts of gold. an exciting trek across the solar system with a truly likeable cast of characters with very different personalities and frames of reference. i really enjoyed seeing a group of people with completely different views, opinions, and even values able to get along and support each other so deeply. so many life lessons could be gleaned from this queer sci-fi adventure novel.
also appreciated all of the niche cultural references despite the majority of characters being nonhuman.
also appreciated all of the niche cultural references despite the majority of characters being nonhuman.
dreaming_of_limes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Queer, gun fighting Aliens in spaceships. What more could I ask for tbh.
I loved the focus on the growth of a reluctant friendship between Rig and Cactus. I loved the vivid imagery and the fast paced action scenes.
There were some slow areas in the middle but overall, I absolutely loved this to bits.
I loved the focus on the growth of a reluctant friendship between Rig and Cactus. I loved the vivid imagery and the fast paced action scenes.
There were some slow areas in the middle but overall, I absolutely loved this to bits.
alehaha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
bfls's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars rounded up.
I wanted to like this more but I just didn't warm to it. Or more accurately, I didn't warm to the main character Rig. She is described as sassy but to me seemed more like a cocky, over-confident, rather tiresome teenager. I preferred Ginka and her story but that took second place to Rig's.
I wanted to like this more but I just didn't warm to it. Or more accurately, I didn't warm to the main character Rig. She is described as sassy but to me seemed more like a cocky, over-confident, rather tiresome teenager. I preferred Ginka and her story but that took second place to Rig's.