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astrangewind's review against another edition
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 thinkingART 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.
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
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Torture, and Grief
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
b1llz1lla's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Pandemic/Epidemic
dreadspawn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror and Grief
Minor: Slavery
plantdonut's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
doahdancer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
spookily's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, and Pregnancy
spinesinaline's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've loved the way each of the books in this series has been building off each other, from offhand comments about the governor module to full-blown detail here. The alien remnants coming back at long last was a great premise for the first full-length book! And loved that we got to revisit so many of the original crew.
Of course, the heart of this one is friendship and we are reunited with ART! I love the relationships in these books and we get to spend so much more time on them here. This one also felt more intense than most of the others so far, it starts hot and it feels like there's no time to rest. I wasn't sure how the new length would work when the other books so far felt the perfect length but this was an action-packed ride that never felt overly drawn out.
There's room for a lot more detail of course, and I am finding it harder to keep track of the many names and locations and events that have been part of this series now but that's mostly a me problem. I think with the length of this one it would definitely help to reread the others as a refresher. I chose to read the 6th book (written after the 5th but occurring before it) before this one and it's very interesting in retrospect as there was no hint at the chaos that would come very soon after.
Overall, very good and I'm very expecting about the new characters we're introduced to in this book.
Fave quote from the book: "Angry, then afraid, then dead. Is that the right order?"
Of course, the heart of this one is friendship and we are reunited with ART! I love the relationships in these books and we get to spend so much more time on them here. This one also felt more intense than most of the others so far, it starts hot and it feels like there's no time to rest. I wasn't sure how the new length would work when the other books so far felt the perfect length but this was an action-packed ride that never felt overly drawn out.
There's room for a lot more detail of course, and I am finding it harder to keep track of the many names and locations and events that have been part of this series now but that's mostly a me problem. I think with the length of this one it would definitely help to reread the others as a refresher. I chose to read the 6th book (written after the 5th but occurring before it) before this one and it's very interesting in retrospect as there was no hint at the chaos that would come very soon after.
Overall, very good and I'm very expecting about the new characters we're introduced to in this book.
Fave quote from the book: "Angry, then afraid, then dead. Is that the right order?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Medical content and Kidnapping
witcheep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
The beginning is a little confusing, but that's the experience Murderbot also has: it gets into yet another unfamiliar hostile situation and has to figure out a way to get out of it while keeping it's humans safe. Having so much agency available to itself, Murderbot ends up in an enotional spiral that reveals it might be close to being able to start processing the traumatic events it has been through. At least Murderbot is a little more open to discussing it's thoughts and feelings with the selected few in it's inner circle of... clients/teammates/*gasp*friends.
I didn't like the idea of saying "I don't know" to Amena because humans panic and I almost don't blame them because right now I feel like panicking and I was not in control of this situation and I could see at least ten instances now where I'd made wrong decisions and being in control of the situation was really important because otherwise it was in control of me and that felt like a short step to being back in the company's control.
All the revelations, plot twists, and feelings made me unable to put the book down – I just had to know what happens next and keep reading! The book gets better and better while the plot advances, and I can't describe how elated I am with all the connections Murderbot is finding.
Of course Murderbot is being the familiar sassy, assholeish, introverted SecUnit who keeps going to impossible lengths for the not-friends it won't admit caring for but actually does. Murderbot is slowly starting to admit it has friends, though, and that might help it decide what it wants to do in life. I love Murderbot's personality!
Alongside Murderbot's familiar narrative voice, the narration is splashed with additions of it's memory files and towards the end also pov's of different SecUnit/Murderbots . Ahhhh, I almost feel spoiled rotten to get so many new perspectives on Murderbot, but still get to see the original one evolve and yet stay recognizably itself.
I'm intriqued by the first glances we get to the new SecUnit 03. I wish it could become friends with Murderbot, or at the very least that we'd get updates on it in the future as well .
There is a lot about what is going on here that I don't understand. But I am participating anyway.
– SecUnit 03
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War
chezler24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Murderbot and Martha Wells never miss!! I will simply be hanging onto every single story with this little self-aware droid who is constantly battling the balance between its logic and its newfound emotions. They are just so relatable! I mean: "If I got angry at myself for being angry I would be angry constantly and I wouldn't have time to think about anything else. Wait, I think I am angry constantly. That might explain a lot." (p. 205). Come on!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail