Persepolis Rising by James S.A. CoreyMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Jacket Blurb: In the thousand-sun network of humanity's expansion, new colony worlds are struggling to find their way. Every new planet lives on a knife edge between collapse and wonder, and the crew of the aging gunship Rocinante have their hands more than full keeping the fragile peace.
In the vast space between Earth and Jupiter, the inner planets and belt have formed a tentative and uncertain alliance still haunted by a history of wars and prejudices. On the lost colony world of Laconia, a hidden enemy has a new vision for all of humanity and the power to enforce it.
New technologies clash with old as the history of human conflict returns to its ancient patterns of war and subjugation. But human nature is not the only enemy, and the forces being unleashed have their own price. A price that will change the shape of humanity -- and of the Rocinante -- unexpectedly and forever...
Read for September book group.
I didn't finish in time for book group. I did eventually finish, but it took me a while. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood to read a sweeping space opera, or if I am ready for this series to conclude. Maybe a bit of both, so that's going to color my review. This wasn't my favorite installment in the series, and there weren't even any death slugs.
To recap - (I'm assuming some familiarity with the series here) Holden and Naomi decide to retire when they get to Medina, and sell their share of the Rocinante to Bobbie and the gang. But before Bobbie can fully assume her Captaincy, Medina is overtaken by one of Duarte's new warships from Laconia. Laconia is claiming they want peaceful takeover, but the former Belter's start to rebel. Meanwhile, on Sol, the President of 1300 worlds is facing down that same gunship, except they now have a plan to push back. Worlds, people, and couples now find themselves divided as Laconia begins to bend Belter's, Inner's, and Earther's to Laconian rule.
This was a slow read for me. I had trouble feeling engaged with the characters - in part because it felt like everyone was experiencing some kind of emotional and physical rift. Drummer and Saba, Holden and Naomi, Bobbie and Amos, Bobbie and Alex, Holden/Naomi and the crew of the Rocinante, the newly appointed station Governor and his wife and child, Medina from Sol...it was a bit much and I really could have used some space or distraction.
And this installment, more so than previous books...except for that one where Holden's partner came back, was a transition book for the next one in the series. Did I mention I'm starting to feel like the authors could wrap up the story any book now? Yeah. While I dearly love the Expanse universe, the plot thread is beginning to become a bit threadbare.
So I sadly found the plot slow, the sub-plots were all in the same vein, the characters all faced similar emotional trial and tribulations, and there wasn't much variety. Gosh darn it. I really wanted to like this one. So it goes.
Still, I recommend this one IF you've read the previous six books in the series.
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