A review by orionmerlin
Calamity by Constance Fay

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Characters: 6/10
While Temperance Reed is a strong and relatable protagonist, I felt that some of the supporting characters were underdeveloped and lacked the depth needed to make them truly memorable. The dynamic between Temperance and Arcadio Escajeda had its moments, especially with their witty banter, but at times their chemistry felt forced. The quirky crew of the Calamity had potential, but most didn’t leave a lasting impression, making them feel like missed opportunities to enrich the story.
Atmosphere/Setting: 7/10
The descriptions of the spaceship Calamity and the desert planet Herschel 2 were vivid and helped ground me in the story’s universe. However, while the setting was immersive at times, there were moments when the details felt repetitive or overly descriptive, pulling me out of the narrative. The cult subplot added intrigue but didn’t feel fully integrated into the world, leaving some parts of the atmosphere less cohesive than I had hoped.
Writing Style: 6.5/10
Constance Fay’s writing had moments of beauty, especially in her dialogue and emotional scenes. However, some of the prose felt unnecessarily dense, which made the story harder to follow at times. The pacing also suffered due to lengthy descriptions and exposition-heavy sections. While there’s potential in Fay’s style, I didn’t feel consistently engaged, and some parts of the book felt like a chore to get through.
Plot: 6/10
The plot started strong, with an intriguing setup and plenty of promise for twists and tension. Unfortunately, I felt the pacing faltered in the middle, with too many repetitive challenges for the characters that slowed the story’s momentum. The romance between Temperance and Arcadio was enjoyable in parts, but it often felt predictable and took away from the urgency of the mission. The climax delivered some excitement but lacked the emotional payoff I was hoping for.
Intrigue: 6/10
While I was initially invested in the story, my interest waned during the slower sections. There were moments when I found myself more distracted than immersed, and it took effort to pick the book back up. The central mystery around Herschel 2 and its cult was intriguing at first, but as the story progressed, it lost some of its tension, leaving me less compelled to keep turning the pages.
Logic/Relationships: 6.5/10
The world-building had a solid foundation, but I felt some of the details were either underexplored or overly complex. The relationships between characters, particularly between Temperance and her crew, lacked the depth needed to make them truly believable. While the dynamic between Temperance and Arcadio had its strengths, I found their connection somewhat rushed. The rules of the world were mostly clear, but certain plot elements stretched believability.
Enjoyment: 6.5/10
Overall, I found Calamity to be an uneven experience. There were moments of enjoyment, especially in the early chapters and the occasional bursts of action or humor. However, the slower pacing, lack of consistent tension, and underdeveloped secondary elements diminished my overall satisfaction with the book.