Persepolis Rising
Ratings461
Average rating4.3
Books 3-6 were unnecessary and tbh I would read a summary of the events in those books if I was reading this anew which tbh I won't but they were just so annoying in hindsight.
This was kinda better.
This is the first book in the series that I didn't finish. Spoilers: I miss the good old days of the Rocinante flying around the universe, new characters being introduced, and Avasarala being a scheming badass. 30 years later, no new characters have shown up, we're stuck on a station hiding like rats, and I can already tell that the book isn't going to wrap everything up in the end. I may give it another try if people tell me that the next book is great, but for now, it goes back on the shelf.
Another improvement over the previous entry. The time jump didn't bother me at all like it did for some other reviewers. There is very little that makes the time jump apparent. The author just tells us the crew is older and they ache some and they have grey hair. But beyond that, its still the same crew. More action in this book than previous two and the space fascist bad guys are interesting. I have high hopes for the final two books in the series.
Spoilers below:
The Expanse continues to shine in all that it does well: being smart and being fun at the same time, having real consequences without feeling too arbitrary or too “plot armor-ey,” having villains with some redeeming characteristics and reasonable views. I really liked the arc for Governor Singh; he made a lot of mistakes and did a lot of growing in a hurry, and kept learning right until the end. The ultimate morality level of the Laconians is excellently murky; their brutal foundation, and medical experiments show their true colors, but Duarte and Trejo (and even Singh) have some great arguments in their favor. The book shows their hypocrisy, but also how in the grand scheme they might be right. It takes a big combination of morals and stakes for me to respect them for killing a main character I liked and identified with, and think they maybe did the right thing. The constant juxtaposition of short-term and long-term ethics (killing Singh is worth it to avoid setting off centuries of hatred) works really well.
It's also the first book to have real tension within the crew, and that feels like it was well overdue. The timelapse was fine; the “Empire Strikes Back” ending with Holden captured works well. Sometimes, the “bad” guys have a lot more advanced weapons than you, some good arguments, and you can't really beat them. In most plots, the protagonists find some clever workaround. Here, the bad guys overcame some mistakes, killed a main character, captured the hero, and are looking like the powerhouse they are. I respect it.
I also really liked the display of both of the Martian views on the Laconians: Alex thinks they're all traitors and should die, while Bobby's dismayed sadness and “there but for the grace of God would have been me.” Both have merit and are very understandable. A really good job of showing how The Expanse refuses to have a monolithic view on most complex topics. Would have been really easy for it to be a one-note viewpoint.
A mostly new and seeming unstoppable enemy appears and our aging heroes do what they can to stop him. I found it a bit tedious and hopeless. But if you have read the books to here, you're sure to finish it. I just started the next one and I'm enjoying that
4.5 stars! Absolutely fantastic! Back to its best after a slight drop off for book 6 (in my opinion)! Cannot wait to start book 8
Oh man, this one was boring. It desperately needed an editor to trim it down. Could've been 300-400 pages easily. The beginning and end were good though.
This series just keeps getting better and better. The characters are pretty much all like old friends at this point.
The plot and the action and the character development are all fantastic throughout.
600+ pages absolutely flew by. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next! Scary bad guys, overwhelming odds, unexpected hope, grudging sympathy for the devil, and Chrisjen Avasarala with the best quote I've seen in years!
If you watched the Expanse series and you're jonesing for more, I highly recommend jumping in on this book - you'll be caught up enough by the show to start right in.
This was a great book in the series. the start was a bit discombobulating for me, but once I got that I was on the right book, it was exactly what I wanted. And somehow, the characters came even more alive than they normally do in these books. Bobbie really shines in this one.
There is a HUGE time jump between this book and Book 6. 30 years. I...didn't really see the need for it, and honestly, it kind of put a damper on the rest of the book because of it. At least for me, anyway. The characters are still themselves, but that time jump puts them at least in their sixties. A lot of the stuff they were doing in the book seemed....unlikely at that age, but what do I know?
Finally, there is a villain/bad guy group that ACTUALLY put fear into me. The Laconians are terrifying. Their tactics, their ships, what weapons they have. Holy shit are they scary. Watching what happens to the governor though, that was just...a+. Loved it.
I genuinely don't know what's going to happen in the rest of this series. I can't guess, but I'm interested to find out.
a very obvious two patter this book moved too slowly. There was not enough interaction between the main characters. Lots more inside the heads of the people the chapters were about.
There have been better expanse books.
Not my favorite book in the Expanse. I am struggling with the idea of my favorite characters getting old. I do enjoy the addition of some more fresh Characters and the incredible world-building that occurs in this book.
I wasn't immediately gripped by this one as I have been by all the other books in the series. You immediately find that there has been a time jump between the last book and this one and I thought it would change too much of my beloved characters. I was wrong.
The greater story at this point, the part of the plot with universe shifting elements, was the most intense and surprising aspect. I really really loved the ending of the book and the direction we are left facing. But I felt like I was missing character work. I adore the interactions between the Roci's crew and I didn't get as much time as I'd like watching the new interactions.
The authors continue to relentlessly pursue the evolution of the setting and the characters.
The long time jump was a bold move, and it was very useful to avoid a slump where the new status quo would either stay as it is (boring) or change too fast (unrealistic).
Knowing only a couple of books remain in the saga, I'm curious to see where it all will go.
Another hit
Again an amazing book in the series. I got hooked from the first word and can't stop until I finished it.
I liked this alot better than the 2 prior books for their tone and hints at possible next book storylines. And I want to go back and reread some parts as I don't remember Duarte's history, or if the novella Strange Dogs is or isn't Laconia.
I'm thankful for the epilogue because I was wondering where some of the characters had gotten to.
Another great read from the series. It's unusual to maintain such a high standard over so many books but it still seems fresh and exciting, which was helped by an unexpected plot device at the start. On to the next!
Persepolis Rising est le septième volume de la saga de science-fiction The Expanse signée James S.A. Corey, le nom de plume du duo composé des auteurs Daniel Abraham et Ty Franck.
Après un sixième volume sympathique mais un peu moins à mon goût que les précédents, j'attendais que celui-ci relance totalement mon intérêt pour la saga. Malheureusement, je garde un sentiment mitigé après ce septième tome.
Pourtant, cela commençait plutôt bien : après la multitude de narrateurs du précédent volume, j'ai d'abord été rassuré en parcourant la table des matières de voir que le nombre de points de vue était réduit. Hormis quelques rares chapitres isolés, l'action est recentrée sur quatre personnages et donc quatre points de vue :
- Holden, le boy-scout capitaine du Roccinante
- Bobbie, l'ancienne combattante des Marines martiens
- Drummer, désormais présidente de l'Union qui gère les transports entre les Anneaux
- Singh, un nouveau personnage venu de Laconia, le système où les rebelles martiens s'étaient exilés pendant que la Free Navy semait la terreur lors du cinquième tome
L'autre élément qui saute aux yeux dès les premières pages, c'est le bond dans le temps proposé par les auteurs. Alors que les dix premiers tomes se déroulaient l'espace de quelques années, celui-ci reprend le récit 30 ans après la fin du précédent volume. L'équipage du Roccinante a vieilli, Jim et Naomi rêvent de prendre une retraite bien méritée sur Titan quand l'anneau de Laconia, inactif depuis trois décennies, montre des signes d'activité.
Pourtant, je dois dire que j'ai eu un peu de mal à me passionner pour cette histoire. Nous sommes face à une histoire somme toute classique d'invasion par une puissance technologiquement supérieure et de résistance face à l'envahisseur. Cela pourrait être passionnant et bien traité dans un récit de science-fiction, mais je n'ai pas été emballé cette fois-ci. Il y a de bons moments, des passages réussis, mais j'ai aussi eu du mal à avancer parfois, un peu lassé par les actes prévisibles des personnages et par un récit sans grande surprise.
C'est d'autant plus dommage qu'il y a tout pour me plaire dans ce volume : un récit qui se veut épique, l'évocation de la vie dans une cité occupée, la guerre désespérée face à un ennemi nettement supérieur, et un antagoniste fascinante. Malheureusement j'ai été déçu par la façon dont les auteurs développent tous ces aspects prometteurs.
Espérons que le huitième et avant-dernier tome de la saga, Tiamath's Wrath, me réconciliera avec les auteurs de The Expanse, qui m'avaient habitué à bien mieux jusque là.
Whoa time jump! This book was more sad than I expected but it worked for me. (I love sad.) I'm excited to see what happens next - it's never a dull moment in space!
Re-read: it took me a bit to get into this as the weight of occupying fascists is pretty heavy right now but still an enjoyable read. I love seeing some more emotions from Amos and of course, Bobbie a being a badass.
So, this story is an interesting time jump which puts a different spin on some things and people. I think you'll see some of your favorite characters in a different, perhaps not flattering, light. Still, the quality of storytelling and character development is as high as it has ever been for this series.
I was saddened by a death, but also pleased that it was not who I expected. Though I still feel that the one I expected may still come to pass.
Great new start to the trilogy
Started a little slow but once things took off it went quick. Definitely a good read. I like the reduced focus on Holden. It's time to let new lights shine.
The thirty year time jump threw me for a loop. It was difficult imagining Amos and Holden and Bobbie and Alex and Naomi in their fifties and sixties. Hell, wouldn't Amos be in his seventies? I'm pretty sure he's supposed to be fortyish in the earlier books.
And one of my first thoughts was ‘Oh shit, this means Avasarala is dead.' When she showed up I grinned with delight.
Besides the period of adjustment, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. I love how so many threads from previous books continue on in Persepolis rising, whether people or events. I love getting all the different perspectives, especially one from the enemy. Though, I did not like Singh. He was an indecisive, weak, brainwashed little jerk. Though I suppose everyone in Laconia has sipped the Kool Aid.
Duarte and Laconia are disturbing and I want to see him and it taken down. Why is there always someone who thinks he, and only he, knows what is best for the entire human race and is willing to do anything to achieve his absolute rule?
Anyway, I continue to love the core group of characters, even Clarissa. Her willingness to die for the group and her badass end almost made up for the suffering she endured. I know it was brought on by herself. But she grew and changed and that has to count for something.
The tension, as with the with the whole series, is wonderfully built up. There is a real sense of danger for our heroes.
And the science, the actual space stuff (not that I know anything about any of it) is fascinating and detailed. I've read that the science in the books is actually quite accurate. That makes it even more appealing.
I hope the group gets back together again. I hate seeing them separated. Naomi's pain broke my heart.
Until ‘Tiamat's Wrath' which I pre-ordered today......