Chris C

Even more so than with Divergent, the underlying conceit is just too artificial for me. Enjoyable read, but not deep.

Torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one. Settled on three because, while I respect the craft and imagination involved in the way he twists fantasy tropes (and words) it just didn't really grab me. Maybe I'm in a phase or something, maybe I'll try another in the series in a while.

Massive space opera. Pacing was not... ideal... but it's a genuinely original and interesting world.

Kind of disappointing. i enjoyed reading it, but it seemed a little ... like it was trying to be epic. And, as others have said, the incessant “innocence and purity” fetishism detracts from the story.

I found this one much more readable than Consider Phlebas. I didn't like some of the more extreme violence, but I suppose that's kind of the point. The way the game ultimately played out was rather interesting -- even if the tiniest bit Ender's Game-ish. Ultimately it posed some interesting questions in interesting ways.