Scan barcode
armedaphrodite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
That said, the prose can fall down as well (I still can't believe "grimly glum" got past an editor). The book is also rather dated (1986 pub date) in its handling of mental illness - you can tell that there's a progressive (for the time) mindset around it being a medical issue and not reason itself for recrimination, but some rather heinous actions seem to be written off pretty quickly and the character returned to good graces. It removes agency from the character, and plays to stereotypes at the same time. Frankly, in general, characters move beyond traumatic or harrowing events pretty fast.
The epilogue - honestly, I wanted to bump the entire review up a whole star for the epilogue. It managed to craft a compelling story in such a short amount of time, to develop themes so quickly, and throw in relief the themes of the larger book as a whole. I settled on a half star because, well, why didn't the rest of the book capture me quite so soundly? Anyway, Lois, I realize this book is forty years old and you never saw fit to write about her again, but please give me some more Tersa Boni.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Physical abuse and Rape
Minor: Forced institutionalization
heydebigale's review against another edition
4.25
A bit more violent than I was expecting but I found this story extremely compelling.
Notes: Aral is a bisexual Barrayan (extreme military patriarchal society) soldier. Cordelia is the captain of an exploratory scientific ship and is part of a more cerebral society.
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
agadbois's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Rape and Torture
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- 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
After two books with the main characters of Cordelia Naismith and Aral Vorkosigan, this and Barrayar, the story moves eighteen years in the future where their son Miles is the main character and his parents have become bit players. I love both Cordelia and Aral, and I wish there had been more books written about them. Miles is a lot of fun, but he’s an agent of chaos - he moves from one disaster to another - and it’s exciting but tiring. There’s lots of chaos here, too, but … um …. maybe more controlled? I’m not sure how to describe it.
In any case, this is probably my favorite sci-fi series of all.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
xvicesx's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Terminal illness, Torture, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
antropomorficzny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
davidsonrachel6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
eternity21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Rape and Violence
valjeanval's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
That said, there are definitely parts of this book that do not age well, in particular the treatment of SA. I feel like the subject is treated much too casually and while I see how she is trying to make Bothari into a complicated survivor of abuse himself, I think it puts the emphasis in the wrong place and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. For 1986, it's extremely progressive, but it doesn't pass modern standards in this one area and as such, carries a sizable SA content warning.
Still, if you portion that out, it's a classic of the genre, features one of the best female heroes of the time period, and a is great start to an epic saga.
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and War
Minor: Death, Abortion, and Alcohol