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smasson13's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book is so hard to rate. It took me a very long time to get through, yet I never wanted to give up on it and always found myself coming back.
I think the writing is easy but the novel is trying to do too much. As a result, nothing was as fleshed out as I wanted it to be. The main plot was interesting, but predictable. The inclusion of the boarding games felt wildly unnecessary in this one, much more than the first novel.
And while the glimpses of character development, relationships, and romance were enticing, nothing was ever emotional and it felt difficult to connect to any of the characters.
I just wanted less of the random plot additions and lengthy and unnecessary events, and instead a more clear and meaningful story.
I think the writing is easy but the novel is trying to do too much. As a result, nothing was as fleshed out as I wanted it to be. The main plot was interesting, but predictable. The inclusion of the boarding games felt wildly unnecessary in this one, much more than the first novel.
And while the glimpses of character development, relationships, and romance were enticing, nothing was ever emotional and it felt difficult to connect to any of the characters.
I just wanted less of the random plot additions and lengthy and unnecessary events, and instead a more clear and meaningful story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and War
mtaylor270's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcohol
caseythereader's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Gore, Gun violence, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Grief, Ableism, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
zober's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? Yes
2.75
I really liked A Pale Light in the Black but was less impressed with this NeoG installment. The pacing and editing problems I took issue with in the last book were better! But unfortunately the plot wasn't nearly as good, and Wagers did the same weird thing where they identified all trans characters as trans without needing to. This book was also way less light-hearted than the first book, which I wasn't expecting.
I'll start with plot:
The plot points seemed less believable - I like to think that the intelligence agency of the NeoG can come up with a plan less likely to blow up in their face than they did, but I guess that wouldn't have made for a very good plot. But that means that I found some of the plot points unrealistic. And it's always frustrating to me when the plot revolves around poor communication or miscommunication, which was the case for the first half of the book. That's a plot crutch imo, and not the sort of drama I enjoy reading about. And lastly, the plot wrapped up so quickly. I noticed that there wasn't much of a conclusion in the first book, but it was worse here. It would be so easy to just include another chapter of wrap-up, where you show the effects on the main characters, how their relationships have evolved, whatever. But there is no falling action here - the climax of the book is the end of the book.
And now for the treatment of trans characters:
In the last book, I thought it was weird when the narration introduced a side character by referring to them as "a trans woman". Wagers does that again in Hold Fast through the Fire - not just once, but FOUR TIMES. I love that there are trans characters! Having characters (especially main characters) outside of cis & binary gender norms is a big part of why I like these books. I love a queer-normative world. Which is why it feels so backwards to be othering the trans characters like Wagers is doing. Just introduce the character as a woman! They don't identify other binary-gendered side characters as "cis women", or "cis men", just as men or women (or they don't specify gender but just give pronouns).
Examples:
I'll start with plot:
The plot points seemed less believable - I like to think that the intelligence agency of the NeoG can come up with a plan less likely to blow up in their face than they did, but I guess that wouldn't have made for a very good plot. But that means that I found some of the plot points unrealistic. And it's always frustrating to me when the plot revolves around poor communication or miscommunication, which was the case for the first half of the book. That's a plot crutch imo, and not the sort of drama I enjoy reading about. And lastly, the plot wrapped up so quickly. I noticed that there wasn't much of a conclusion in the first book, but it was worse here. It would be so easy to just include another chapter of wrap-up, where you show the effects on the main characters, how their relationships have evolved, whatever. But there is no falling action here - the climax of the book is the end of the book.
And now for the treatment of trans characters:
In the last book, I thought it was weird when the narration introduced a side character by referring to them as "a trans woman". Wagers does that again in Hold Fast through the Fire - not just once, but FOUR TIMES. I love that there are trans characters! Having characters (especially main characters) outside of cis & binary gender norms is a big part of why I like these books. I love a queer-normative world. Which is why it feels so backwards to be othering the trans characters like Wagers is doing. Just introduce the character as a woman! They don't identify other binary-gendered side characters as "cis women", or "cis men", just as men or women (or they don't specify gender but just give pronouns).
Examples:
She blinked again at the gorgeous trans woman in front of her, not quite sure she was seeing who she was seeing.
--> character is on page for 1.5 pages, then shows up again later in the book for another 1.5 pages.
The trans man behind Jenks shook his head with a roll of his eyes. "Hi Chae, Atlas Nash. Welcome to the NeoG."
--> character is on page for 1.5 pages
Commander Alice Trine of Avenging Heroes was facing off with Commander Janelle Pham of Sol Rising. The tiny trans woman was barely taller than Jenks, but Max already knew she hit like an asteroid and right now she stared up at Alice with her hands open but fury in her eyes.
--> character is on page for 2 pages. Also that's some poor editing - it's not clear which commander is "the tiny trans woman" because of the ambiguous use of pronouns. And who's staring up at Alice? is it Max, or the "trans woman Janelle Pham"? -_-
One of the TLF soldiers, a slender trans man by the name of Ro, choked back a laugh at Jenks's grin. "I like you already," he said, pointing a finger across the table.
--> that passage is the only one the character appears in.
I love that there are nonbinary MCs, but given that these trans side characters had no important plot relevance, it felt like they were just included so that the author can say "look my book has (non-enby) trans characters!"
I love that there are nonbinary MCs, but given that these trans side characters had no important plot relevance, it felt like they were just included so that the author can say "look my book has (non-enby) trans characters!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Emotional abuse
lettuce_read's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
bcbirrer's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
This one is all about the characters for me. By the end of the first novel you love them. Through this book you root for and adore them. It’s a solid sci-fi that won’t surprise you with the plot, but the characters are worth every word.
I think the most amazing part of this book was the way the author captured the grief of characters. Each character experienced grief in their own way that was true to their personality. What was especially heartrending was the author showed the true nature of grief that just keeps coming back to haunt you. Many books gloss over grief or there is one moment of purging grief. This one is just wave after wave pulling you under. While reading, it very much felt like grief does in life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
jennikreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Gaslighting
e_flah's review
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Hold Fast Through the Fire was a really satisfying addition to the NeoG series. Many of the characters I loved from A Pale Light in the Black were back along with the addition of a new spacer, Chae. Chae was a lovable addition to the crew and watching them find their place on Zuma's Ghost was a touching parallel to Max's journey in book 1. I had initially been a little nervous about the fact that the crew of Zuma's Ghost changed between book 1 and book 2 but ended up thinking it was for the best. This change gives characters I already knew and liked reasons to keep growing as characters while also laying the groundwork for compelling interpersonal conflict.
Hold Fast Through the Fire is a character-driven story that had a bit more of a significant external conflict than its predecessor. I found the smuggling plot line interesting though was frustrated with the fact thatthe conclusion felt really rushed at the end. A Pale Light in the Black did a similar thing but since that story focused a bit more on the Boarding Games -- this one doesn't to the same degree -- I was willing to let it go. Here it just felt unsatisfying, particularly as the smuggling conflict was the root of some serious interpersonal conflict. Despite having a more prominent external conflict, I was also sad to see that Hold Fast Through the Fire largely omitted the fight scenes that had been such a treat to read in book 1. Even the combat elements of the Boarding Games received a lot less attention.
That said, I love the crew of Zuma's Ghost, especially Max and Jenks, so I would happily read about them doing anything for 400 pages. Hold Fast Through the Fire was a satisfying sequel and I hope we get more NeoG novels.
Hold Fast Through the Fire is a character-driven story that had a bit more of a significant external conflict than its predecessor. I found the smuggling plot line interesting though was frustrated with the fact that
That said, I love the crew of Zuma's Ghost, especially Max and Jenks, so I would happily read about them doing anything for 400 pages. Hold Fast Through the Fire was a satisfying sequel and I hope we get more NeoG novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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