Reviews

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal

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brendaleigh92's review against another edition

5.0

I never would have picked this book for myself just because the cover looked cheesy but I got it for Christmas and I completely understand the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” in a whole new way now. This book was amazing. It was written like a historical fiction but with a twist. The writing was so well done. No complaints at all.

carolined314's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.75

Alternate history can do many things, and this is a light, hopeful story with a complex but positive hetero relationship that you rarely get to see with strong women, along with some discussion of anxiety, prescriptions, and racism. It was clearly written by and for white women in a way that I found somewhat boring, but the sarcastic tone and fierceness of some of the ladies kept me reading.

Content Warnings

jonesannleslie's review against another edition

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5.0

This is a disaster story that so outweighs the 2020 pandemic that it takes you out of yourself without making you feel hopeless about the future.

internationalreads's review

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adventurous informative inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Immensely readable but some issues with characters. Can’t wait to discuss at book club.

Content Warnings

catsandrabbits's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? No

5.0

beardybot's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging inspiring medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

In this alternate history, a Washington meteor has brought forward the space race and magnified the climate emergency. Elma is a former WASP, current talented computer, and unwitting figurehead as Lady Astronaut, with a mission to get women and people of colour into space.

Elma is wonderfully human, and so are so many of the other characters. The author has done such a good job there that it really feels like they've pulled back the curtain on a history that happened and they were there for.