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xtinabmmb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It took me a little to get fully invested in both POVs, but I ended up loving it all by the end. The action sequences were well written and I was actually nervous at times. It's mostly plot driven, but I think the characters had their moments to shine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Genocide and Suicidal thoughts
hdkreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
beck_wreck's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It took some time for me to get into it. That's more a reflection of me and not of the book. The plot was more of a "how are these things connected?" at the start and that didn't draw me. Once it became a "oh shit THATS how those things are connected" story, that's when I was hooked!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and War
milesofsmiles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
tombomb's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Violence and War
ingi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
wyatt6jones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, and Classism
Hands down, the best science fiction I've ever come across. A realistic, scientifically accurate, depiction of human expansion into our solar system, and the struggles of human nature on a grander scale. There's mystery and intrigue, with a wonderfully terrifying take on extra-solar life and first contact. I loved how rich and complex the different cultures of humanity are in this story. The world building is off the charts. I especially resonated with the Belters, who have become an entire race of human beings who cannot go "home" to earth, even if they wanted to. The physical repercussions of generations of people born and raised in low gravity, and how that contributes to the political climate between the inner planets and the outer planets is so so interesting and well done. Favorite science fiction series by far.storykath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very cool tonal shifts between the two narrators, and I loved the sci-fi/noir mystery blend. And any well-developed fictional creole is a win. Are there some weird moments that feel a little sexist/objectifying of women? Yeah. Do they highlight the narrators' worldviews rather than the authors'? I hope so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Alcohol, and Classism
timmytunter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Leviathan Wakes is a brilliantly entertaining, fast-paced, and engrossing entry into the sci-fi genre that combines mystery, political intrigue, and high-stakes action in a richly imagined futuristic setting. I found it difficult to put down once swept up in its clever, highly readable narrative. The plot takes a surprising turn around the 400-page mark when it seems to be wrapping up—only to launch into another compelling storyline, a development I welcomed rather than dreaded.
James S.A. Corey’s writing style shines throughout the novel. His (their..?) prose is engaging and accessible, with a knack for capturing relatable human experiences amid the foreignness of space. Despite the vast and often alien backdrop, the characters’ struggles and emotions feel grounded and real, making it easy to connect with them.
One of the standout aspects of Corey’s writing is his ability to articulate everyday human sensations in a way that resonates deeply. For example, Miller’s struggle with direction and purpose after losing his detective job is poignantly described:
It had been years since he’d tried to find work … Now that events had thrown him out [of his job], everything had an odd floating feeling. Like the gap between getting hit and feeling the pain.
This passage struck a chord with me, reflecting the disorienting experience of unemployment and the loss of purpose.
Similarly, Corey’s portrayal of moral complexity through Holden is spot on. As Holden grapples with the consequences of his actions, Corey captures a very human cognitive response:
Similarly, Corey’s portrayal of moral complexity through Holden is spot on. As Holden grapples with the consequences of his actions, Corey captures a very human cognitive response:
Holden decided that he was okay with not feeling any remorse for them. The moral complexity of the situation had grown past his ability to process it, so he just relaxed in the warm glow of victory instead.
This illustrates a universal psychological coping mechanism when faced with overwhelming moral dilemmas—a relatable and insightful moment that adds depth to Holden’s character.
The novel also challenges assumptions about the value of physical versus digital media, cleverly subverting my own (perhaps profligate) preference for physical books through Miller’s eyes:
The OPA man, Anderson Dawes, was sitting on a cloth folding chair outside Miller’s hole, reading a book. It was a real book—onionskin pages bound in what might have been actual leather.
Miller had seen pictures of them before; the idea of that much weight for a single megabyte of data struck him as decadent.
This humorous yet thought-provoking observation nudged me to reconsider my attachment to physical books in an increasingly digital world.
Overall, Leviathan Wakes delivers an exceptional blend of compelling characters, intricate plotting, and relatable moments that anchor the grandiosity of its space opera setting. Its unexpected plot twists and insightful character work kept me hooked from start to finish. This is a must-read for sci-fi enthusiasts and anyone looking for an accessible yet thought-provoking adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Vomit
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
riththewarluid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you are looking for an unsettling sci-fi novel with themes of galactic politics, body horror, and morally neutral people just trying to do their best wrapped up in a healthy blanket of “what exactly do high and low gravity environments do to human bodies” and men being kind of dumb, then this is the book for you. Highly recommend. Half a star off because the women weren’t terribly well fleshed out, and exist as kind of perfect foils for the main characters to develop from, but I love Naomi and I hope to see more of her in the rest of the series. Also there was a bit of weird focusing on Naomi’s racial biology that was not equally applied to the other characters. Just say she’s mixed race, you don’t need to keep talking about her epicanthic fold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, and War
Minor: Child abuse and Rape