who would've thought a murder mystery set in an attack on titan-like world would work so well. i loved how the fantastical worldbuilding was slowly inwho would've thought a murder mystery set in an attack on titan-like world would work so well. i loved how the fantastical worldbuilding was slowly introduced to us through the investigation and the fast-paced, high stakes nature of the mystery itself (a murder mystery with the threat of enormous world-breaking sea monsters hanging over it is certainly a unique spin).
in true knives out style, the why and how of the mystery was way more intriguing than who actually committed the crime. i really liked seeing how the bits and pieces of the puzzle eventually came together for the dramatic final reveals.
ana and din's detective duo was pretty fun to read - eccentric, blunt old woman investigator and her deadpan bisexual young assistant made for an engaging dynamic. i really appreciated both characters being neurodivergent (din having dyslexia) and how we're shown din's painstaking struggle to gain a respectable position in a society built to exclude people like him.
we didn't get to learn a lot about ana and din's backstories (which makes sense considering the mystery and its tight deadline), so for the sequels i'm hoping we get a closer look at our protagonists. overall, i'm looking forward to seeing what else rjb has in store for this series....more
a really sweet regency romance fantasy with just the right amount of whimsy and humor balanced with a surprisingly class conscious narrative (somethina really sweet regency romance fantasy with just the right amount of whimsy and humor balanced with a surprisingly class conscious narrative (something i've honestly never seen in a historical romance before). ...more
i'm glad i started this book on a whim because it ended up being a pretty impressive debut - an intricate, ambitious space opera carried by a str4.5/5
i'm glad i started this book on a whim because it ended up being a pretty impressive debut - an intricate, ambitious space opera carried by a strong writing style. if you're into insane, twisted, maddeningly obsessive characters and complicated, messy relationships, i cannot recommend this enough.
esek was such a despicable character to follow but also uncomfortably compelling, a train wreck you couldn't look away from. chono gave me mixed feelings - i felt for her and liked her natural compassion but some of her choices and uncertainties did frustrate me (even though i understood them). six remained the most fascinating figure and i loved how the plot slowly uncovered the mysteries shrouding their character. some of the side characters could've used more depth but i still liked them all (and the bonus lesbian relationship of course).
six and esek's wild, revenge-fueled cat-and-mouse chase across planets was so gripping to read, and the way chono was caught in the middle. i also liked that the complex, obsessive relationships they all had with each other were platonic.
the worldbuilding was really good - the only thing that bothered me was the futuristic tech (or casting). it was rather vaguely described and hard to picture most of the time, but didn't affect my enjoyment too much.
the non-linear plot going back and forth in time was utilized surprisingly well here - in retrospect, all the pieces of the story were arranged in the most perfect way to slowly lead us to a truly incredible plot twist. i really enjoyed how the intrigue and anticipation kept building with each chapter, culminating in an explosive, satisfying climax and resolution.
in fact, this almost reads as a standalone since it pretty much wraps up the main conflict, only with an ending that sparks quite interesting possibilities for the rest of the trilogy. needless to say, i'm very much looking forward to the sequel....more
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