Elle ha recensito Seven Mercies di Laura Lam
The deserved second half of Seven Devils
5 stelle
Seven Devils introduced the futuristic queer rebellion against a mind-controlling Empire, and Seven Mercies is a necessary sequel. The original didn't really reach any conclusions or stand entirely on its own.
Seven Mercies really finds its feet. The writing is smoothed out compared to the original, even if still slightly stilted. Small tweaks in balance, such as adding a tinge more comedic relief, does a great job of smoothing over the rough edges. Characters, fully established, have room to have the big important moving moments that the original lacked.
The delicate balance of an epic space opera is taking soaring through the stars and grounding it in the essential facts of being human. More than anything, that is what the story gets right. While the characters may also have incredible superhuman abilities, they are still portrayed as complex, imperfect people with complicated motivations and sloppy attempts at doing their best. …
Seven Devils introduced the futuristic queer rebellion against a mind-controlling Empire, and Seven Mercies is a necessary sequel. The original didn't really reach any conclusions or stand entirely on its own.
Seven Mercies really finds its feet. The writing is smoothed out compared to the original, even if still slightly stilted. Small tweaks in balance, such as adding a tinge more comedic relief, does a great job of smoothing over the rough edges. Characters, fully established, have room to have the big important moving moments that the original lacked.
The delicate balance of an epic space opera is taking soaring through the stars and grounding it in the essential facts of being human. More than anything, that is what the story gets right. While the characters may also have incredible superhuman abilities, they are still portrayed as complex, imperfect people with complicated motivations and sloppy attempts at doing their best.
It is necessary to look at Seven Devils and Seven Mercies as a single novel. Neither stands on its own, so there is a 900ish page investment to appreciate what is on offer, but that offer is a good one.