I mean if you’ve read the first book you should know a bit about how this one is going to be. It’s a very military based book and it’s a bit slow at times but still enjoyable. 

Having had the same experience as reading The Three Body Problem, I can safely say this is fast becoming one of my favourite series. 

The beginning can be a bit slow and takes a while to build but once you get settled in and used to the jargon this book becomes a masterpiece. Engaging, adventurous and reflective, it took me a few weeks to read the first third and then only two days to read the last two. There are many points in the book where I had to put it down and have a conference with my plushies over what I would do and say if I were in the characters' positions. The major plot points/twists don't seem forced or contrived but rather inevitable. Immediately starting the third in the series

Misogynistic and boring. 

I had higher hopes for this book than the first. I read reviews talking about the misogyny and sexism but disregarded them prior to starting the book. I thought that there’s no way it’s that bad and it must be that the author uses mainly strong male characters and few females (which is correct). That it must be a cultural difference. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Some parts are just gross. Women are seen as soft and emotional and innocent. I highlighted some of the quotes that are just disgusting. I read that the original Chinese version is even worse, and some of the misogyny was omitted from the English translation. In the English version, it is not overt but still obvious. 

Even removing those aspects of the book, this was so boring. I enjoy sci-fi and learning about science. I also enjoyed learning more about Chinese history in the first book. But, this was so dragged out and slow. I genuinely don’t understand the hype. The idea behind the books is interesting, but the execution is terrible. 

Can we also talk about how there is one ellipsis or more on almost every page? I plan on watching the Netflix series to see how it compares. I’m not sure if I will continue on with this series.

* please disregard spelling and grammatical errors due to voice texting. Thanks.

0 🌶️

First 1/3 of this book I was confused and wanted to give up. There were so many perspectives, multiple new characters and lots of characters from the first book that didn't appear. There was basically no explanation for this either. 

2/3 I figured out most of what was going on (not all lmao but enough) and enjoyed this book enough. I thought it was a letdown to its predecessor but still a good book. Planning to give it 3 stars. I also found it entertaining that the UN had so much power in this book (literally since when babes). I also spent a lot of this reading time wondering if the issues I have in understanding what the hell is going on were linked to the translators choices or maybe general difficulties translating between the two languages. I don't speak Chinese so I guess we'll never know. 

3/3 5 stars. Could not put it down. Some of the best writing ever. Genius. Excellent. Bravo :))

Super slow at the beginning, but what a superb finish.