Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Network Effect by Martha Wells

15 reviews

astrangewind's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.75

It feels downright indulgent to read a 350-page Murderbot book.

There was a lot about this book I liked. Because it was longer, we get to see more of Murderbot's interactions with various humans and bots / constructs as well as its overall character development. I liked the creepy atmosphere toward the end, and seeing Murderbot get upset thinking
ART was dead
. I liked the serious tone; the book really reframes a lot of the previous material.
For example, that Murderbot's relationship with the company, which it often jokes about, is based deeply in trauma. And when Murderbot sees another SecUnit that was ordered to stand down and then killed by its governor module. It's like a joke or an annoyance at first, and this book really shows the reader that this isn't to be taken lightly.
 

That said, the plot felt like it moved really, really slowly, and then went way too quickly at the climax. In the other Murderbot books, because they're novellas, that doesn't seem so weird, as the overall effect is that the entire plot moves quickly. But it doesn't work in the full-length novel. Additionally, it seemed like Wells wanted to expand on a bunch of themes - the self-awareness of other SecUnits, Murderbot's ability to have meaningful relationships, corporate greed - but wasn't able to fully explore all of them. There were so many different pieces, many of which worked well together, but some of which didn't.

Also, and this is a problem with all the Murderbot books, there are just so many damn characters.

I did really love this book, though. As a novella with much the same content, I probably would have given it 5 stars.
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katebella's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Possibly my favourite after the first book! Found a little slow at random points, but overall loved the book
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wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This is a re-read since it has been a long time since I caught up with the series and I forgot how good this installment in the series is.  It’s a huge culmination of what happened previously seamlessly leading into uncharted territory.  There is a lot to say about what makes you you.  I especially appreciated the self awareness of trying to figure out your purpose in life.
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pacifickat's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

"Please calm yourselves and stop talking. Plan A01: Rain Destruction has been superseded by Plan B01: Distract and Extract." -Parihelion

Fun, if not a little confusing. I adore the Murderbot series, and Network effect is a worthy, novel-length addition. Definitely did a lot to push the emotional growth of Murderbot forward, adding in a whole cast of new characters, as well as bringing back some old favorites. 

I love how Wells writes Murderbot's unique interactions with various sentient beings beyond its human clients. I also have enjoyed Murderbot's
slowly dawning realization over each new story installment that it is valued, admired, and perhaps even loved by a whole host of individuals it has met over its many adventures since going rogue. It may have been designed to be a disposable tool, but to its friends and found family it is worth fighting for, and never to be abandoned. It's original purpose may have been to sacrificially defend others, but it has developed something more than factory-set objectives and parameters, grounded in an unflinching resolve to maintain personal agency even among those who see it as an object without personhood.


These books are so very fun, deeply empathetic, and manage to pack so much character development between fast-paced storytelling and wonderful action sequences. 4 stars for this one.
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mothiver's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Oh this was LOVELY. The little bits of horror that have always been in this series REALLY came to the forefront with this one, and I enjoyed it very much. I do so love Weird Alternative Relationships, and I’ve always been a fan of “what are they? (discussion)” over “will they won’t they”. ART my favourite bitchy spaceship I’m so glad you’re back <3
Man, ART really showed its crew pictures…. they love eachother for real (no romo)…. I’m SUCH a sucker for the “freaking out when the other is in danger/might be dead” trope too, ESPECIALLY when it goes both ways.

My only nitpick would be occasional weirdness with past/present tense in the writing, but it wasn’t all that distracting for me. 
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michaelcattigan's review against another edition

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

4.25

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maeverose's review against another edition

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4.0

The beginning was good, it dragged a bit in the middle for me but  picked up in the last third and I ended up liking it a lot
I loved the almost horror-esque moment at the end.


I love Murderbot

I love it’s reactions to people’s concern for it, and I love that we got to see so much emotional character development in this book. I would give Murderbot the whole world if I could.

I love ART

I love their ‘relationship’ and I’m curious if it really will remain purely platonic or not. Murderbot seems very ace-coded so I assume it will but the way they kept using parallels to romantic relationships is making me wonder.


I already like 3

There are an unnecessary amount of characters and that leaves us with a lot of them being underdeveloped. I do wish I had a better sense of each of their personalities.

I’m gonna have to re read the first book because I don’t remember if they ever fully explained alien remnants. I know they were brought up in the first book but it’s been over a year since I read that one and I’m a little lost on what the alien remnants are exactly. I wanna know more. They seem to be both organic and code? They can infect AI like a computer virus but also humans like a viral infection.. how does that even work? Do the characters even know?
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stories's review against another edition

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

4.0

I’m not sure I understood everything, but oh boy: these characters!

The characters sing. 

Murderbot is growing and maturing and navigating more than just its complex relationships with *humans* now. 

We got to revisit old friends, meet new friends, enemies and acquaintances, and experience the full spectrum of emotions in an action packed mystery investigation. 

Perhaps by consequence of being longer, I found Network Effect more challenging to read than the other Murderbot books, but I’d say it was still worth the effort. 
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wilybooklover's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

5.0

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anntharai's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

When I say I can’t get enough Murderbot I really really mean it. 

Incredible story wonderfully written and phenomenal characters. 
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