An exciting first installment!
Eragon was a huge part of my childhood. I loved the fictional world with dragons and elves and magic. So, when I heard Christopher Paolini was writing another book, an adult space opera with a female MC, I jumped at the chance to read it!
Firstly, this book is thick. Absolutely massive. Over 800 pages. And while events happen that make those 800 pages worthwhile, I do feel like it could have been trimmed down a bit.
Overall, the pacing was a bit slow, though I suppose that is what happens with space travel taking months and a MC who can't go into cryo-sleep. As for the plot...it is there. There is so much that isn't revealed until the end of the book, and so much that isn't there at all. For the first 500 or so pages, things are just mentioned and you as a reader have to acknowledge that you have no idea what it means and tuck it into the back of your mind for later.
The story follows Kira, a xenobiologist working for an interstellar organization focusing on the colonization of new planets. She accidentally stumbles onto an alien substance that binds to her body, covering her from the neck down (Venom-style). Then, she maybe starts an intergalactic war between three species and runs around the galaxy trying to stop it. Oops.
One thing I was cautious about is men writing women MC, however Paolini did an adequate job, even bringing menstrual cycles into the story (which some female authors don't even do).
Overall, it was a good read, though I feel that it lacks something..
4.25 stars
Firstly, this book is thick. Absolutely massive. Over 800 pages. And while events happen that make those 800 pages worthwhile, I do feel like it could have been trimmed down a bit.
Overall, the pacing was a bit slow, though I suppose that is what happens with space travel taking months and a MC who can't go into cryo-sleep. As for the plot...it is there. There is so much that isn't revealed until the end of the book, and so much that isn't there at all. For the first 500 or so pages, things are just mentioned and you as a reader have to acknowledge that you have no idea what it means and tuck it into the back of your mind for later.
The story follows Kira, a xenobiologist working for an interstellar organization focusing on the colonization of new planets. She accidentally stumbles onto an alien substance that binds to her body, covering her from the neck down (Venom-style). Then, she maybe starts an intergalactic war between three species and runs around the galaxy trying to stop it. Oops.
One thing I was cautious about is men writing women MC, however Paolini did an adequate job, even bringing menstrual cycles into the story (which some female authors don't even do).
Overall, it was a good read, though I feel that it lacks something..
4.25 stars