Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
My rating: 3/5 cats
okay, so let me just say that i was totally dreading this book.
i promised some of the ladies in my online life that i would “read more fantasy” and this was suggested, even though this is more sci-fi/space opera to my untrained eyes, yeah?? i mean – where are my unicorns!? just one token unicorn will do!
this cover’s got spaceships on it, and laser beams and futuristic clothing, and that is just not appealing to me, as a reader. i look at books like this, and i feel like the author probably will discuss speculative science with wormholes and alien warfare and gravity and i will be forced to skim until it gets back to interesting stuff, so i would typically give it a pass in favor of something that has at least one foot in a realistic atmosphere.
but a girl makes promises.
and then to my delight, this started off really strong. scientists exploring the flora and fauna of an alien planet…. hazards!! vampire jellyfish what fly!! essplosions in the distance!! good stuff!i loved the two main characters, and there was some equally strong supporting cast rounding it all off. so far, so good.
this is also a love story, but a love story without urgency. this is not “oh i must have you dooooo me in the vestibule” love, it is more sensible and measured a love story than that. and it is a slow build. so that was a second thing i liked about this book; strong characters who make sense as partners, not just falling in love because they happen to be near each other and so love naturally must follow.
but then, the whole middle was kind of a wash for me. intergalactic battles and alliances and betrayals and umm stars. i really wish i could get into those things. i feel like i would be a better-rounded person for it. but my eyes tend to glaze with outer space battle fatigue. sorry, ladies.
it did pick up again at the close – i enjoyed watching these characters, with their pasts and their flaws, make decisions that seemed grounded in realistic thought-processes, in a world where cause and effect were operating correctly. it never gets wacky.
but then there was a final-final chapter. is this setting up the next book?? is it something she just felt like writing even though it wasn’t really connected to anything?? dunno. i am supposed to read the next book in the cycle, so ima get on that and maybe my questions will be answered.
so it is a three, but a three that leaves room to grow!! i could still come around!!
