A review by beebeewin
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

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

3.75

An interesting read but I don't think I will seek out the sequel. The concept and world of this story were interesting. It was a future that was easy to picture from our current reality and the depiction of inequity felt so realistic it was painful. Richard K Morgan unflinchingly wrote characters who were fleshed out human beings with both good and bad within them. It was well writte and I did stay engaged until the end. I think my only problem was that this story felt strongly framed from the male prospective. Maybe it was the repeated sexual and physical violence against women or the repeated mentions of hard cocks and hormones, but it made it hard as a female reader to feel fully enthralled. I felt as though these otherwise scary realities were just plot points instead of the deeper social commentary it could be of how the stacks continued to perpetuate inequal power dynamics. Plus for a world where bodies are interchangeable it was pretty cishet lol!! Either was I did like the characters and the world but I don't think I would go back as it just didn't feel like a story for me. 
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