livreads2much's review against another edition
5.0
A sad but beautiful ending. I absolutely adore this series.
jajajane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
3.25
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Minor: Medical content and Death of parent
_m03_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
bertina's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
disneydamsel1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Just Shy of 4 stars. I think Marcellus as a character could have been written better. I think in an effort to make some of the females seem strong, the men came across weaker. Overall I liked the book and think it was a solid trilogy.
bmcwilliams76's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
wretchedtheo's review against another edition
This is sad. I really didn't want to DNF this book as I have been an avid fan of the System Divine trilogy ever since the release of the very first book. I followed the releases faithfully, and preordered the 2nd and 3rd books. I have been a diehard fan of Les Misérables since high school and so I was very captivated by this sci fi retelling.
However, the third book disappointed me. I wasn't expecting to be disappointed - I went into Suns Will Rise fully prepared not only to love it, but even to overlook any details I might dislike. That's how eager I was to appreciate this book. However, the two authors took the retelling in a direction that I strongly dislike. I feel like it disregards and disrespects the spirit of the original source material in a way I just can't reconcile myself with. Spoilers below, I'm going to tell you what narrative choices Brody and Rendelle made that convinced me to drop this series 2 books and 240 pages in.
<Spoiler>
1. They turned the Friends of the ABC into a terrorist group. Their main crime? Wanting to use violence in an uprising. The protagonists of Suns Will Rise strongly believe that the only way to overturn an abusive status quo is peaceful protest and heart to hearts with the enemy. I just...no. it's giving Hayes Code Les Mis to me. It felt like the authors, although well intentioned, confused the June Rebellion described in Les Misérables with the actual French Revolution. They even replace Enjolras with an invented character, "Maximilienne", as the leader of this group which - guess what they named it instead of Les Amis de l'ABC? Wait for it... tHe ReD sCaR. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ And if you were hoping to see your favorite barricade boys transposed into a sci fi setting? Tough luck. Combeferre? I don't know her. Jehan Prouvaire? He's a random old fisherman with no connections to the Amis. I'm in pain.
2. They turned Alouette/Marcellus/Chatine (space!Cosette, Marius and Éponine) into a basic YA love triangle. I just... I can't. I can't anymore. Terrorist!Amis made me groan but Marcellus kissing Chatine was my last straw. That's when I looked at this book and decided to stop lying to myself that I liked it. I kept reading after the terrorist!Amis because I hoped that the situation would get turned around, it would come out that they weren't actually in the wrong, it was propaganda by General Bonnefaçon (space!Marius' space!grandpa) to keep the two rebel groups apart from each other...but no. Brody and Rendelle really did decide to get rid of any nuance in their retelling. I'm so sad typing this. Major disappointment.
Also, idk if it's just me, but the writing quality seems to have gone down too. The characters aren't as interesting anymore and none of the jokes HIT.
However, the third book disappointed me. I wasn't expecting to be disappointed - I went into Suns Will Rise fully prepared not only to love it, but even to overlook any details I might dislike. That's how eager I was to appreciate this book. However, the two authors took the retelling in a direction that I strongly dislike. I feel like it disregards and disrespects the spirit of the original source material in a way I just can't reconcile myself with. Spoilers below, I'm going to tell you what narrative choices Brody and Rendelle made that convinced me to drop this series 2 books and 240 pages in.
<Spoiler>
1. They turned the Friends of the ABC into a terrorist group. Their main crime? Wanting to use violence in an uprising. The protagonists of Suns Will Rise strongly believe that the only way to overturn an abusive status quo is peaceful protest and heart to hearts with the enemy. I just...no. it's giving Hayes Code Les Mis to me. It felt like the authors, although well intentioned, confused the June Rebellion described in Les Misérables with the actual French Revolution. They even replace Enjolras with an invented character, "Maximilienne", as the leader of this group which - guess what they named it instead of Les Amis de l'ABC? Wait for it... tHe ReD sCaR. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ And if you were hoping to see your favorite barricade boys transposed into a sci fi setting? Tough luck. Combeferre? I don't know her. Jehan Prouvaire? He's a random old fisherman with no connections to the Amis. I'm in pain.
2. They turned Alouette/Marcellus/Chatine (space!Cosette, Marius and Éponine) into a basic YA love triangle. I just... I can't. I can't anymore. Terrorist!Amis made me groan but Marcellus kissing Chatine was my last straw. That's when I looked at this book and decided to stop lying to myself that I liked it. I kept reading after the terrorist!Amis because I hoped that the situation would get turned around, it would come out that they weren't actually in the wrong, it was propaganda by General Bonnefaçon (space!Marius' space!grandpa) to keep the two rebel groups apart from each other...but no. Brody and Rendelle really did decide to get rid of any nuance in their retelling. I'm so sad typing this. Major disappointment.
Also, idk if it's just me, but the writing quality seems to have gone down too. The characters aren't as interesting anymore and none of the jokes HIT.