Reviews with content warning for Murder - L'Éveil du Léviathan

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:

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

mythian's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.25

Content Warnings

bergha1998's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

The plot was so interesting, I was trying to figure out what happened the whole time. They really weaved the mystery well. I liked the characters, too, but I don’t think it needed to be as long as it was.

Sci-Fi, Moral Quandaries, Found Family

“Do I love you, or do I just want to love you so bad I can’t tell the difference?”

Content Warnings

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

Content Warnings

judassilver's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Content Warnings

alisonvh's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was so much fun! I got pretty strong Firefly vibes from this book, although I can’t pinpoint exactly what it was about the book that reminded me of Firefly. It was fun, action packed, and super diverse. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

Content Warnings

nschilling10's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It's pretty good, I generally like the characters even if Miller is a bit of an ass. I like Fred; he's good and honorable.

The plot is pretty good; pacing is pretty good. They build drama and tension without being too hacky.
The ending is interesting

Content Warnings

More...