Reviews

The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons

zekelikeybooks's review

4.0

Took just under a month to read this one :)…

So incredible. The characters really shine in this one, the finality of the story is so strange since so much of the future was referenced in earlier books (and earlier in this book…) due to time travel that is already explained. There is still a lot of hard sci fi and adventure story elements but I love the love in this story…such good characters. I love these characters like I love TV characters

yvarg's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

A much more philosophical take than the prior installments in the Cantos, but retaining at least as flowery of descriptive prose (if not more). Personally, I felt like the level of detail in some of the lore and world-building was extraneous for a novel in this stage of the story. MOST of the conflicts the protagonists find themselves in up until about 3/4's of the way through were resolved via deus ex machina. I personally found the messiah character to be fairly insufferable for most of this book. The ending was somewhat fulfilling though and that's what earns it an extra quarter star from me.

camsullivan's review against another edition

4.0

This was a satisfying finish to the Hyperion Cantos and is my second favorite of the four. Simmons has a tendency to get lost in the weeds describing things which has always made these books much longer than the plot would indicate which is my main critique. I’m a little sad to be leaving the Shrike and The Void Which Binds Behind but this was the right moment to end it on. I’m still deeply conflicted about how gross the central romance felt at times though.

omppunen's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful tense slow-paced

2.0

A terrible ending to the first three books, as it retcons the previous books in very annoying ways, even more so than Endymion. If you enjoyed Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion, do not read this. I wouldn't recommend it even if you liked Endymion. The more open end of Endymion is a better place to stop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Gore

kelseyroach's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

4.5

meghadutam's review against another edition

5.0

What an extraordinary series. All 4 of these oops go on my “must read again” pile.

jakegreen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

willbybee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.25

funeralthirst666's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

peopleschamp305's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5