franzkafka
N00b
I recently read this book and thought it deserved more attention. Apologies in advance, as I have never written a review before, so it might be more of a ramble. I plan on only talking about the broad strokes of the relationship and what is mentioned in the book description. This volume covers what was originally released as volumes 1 and 2 on RoyalRoad, and the series is ongoing. Sorry if I am vague; I’m trying not to spoil anything about the story or the world.
The book is about our two main characters, Grant and Sykora. The story is told almost exclusively from Grant’s perspective, with one chapter viewed from another perspective I will not name. We follow Grant as he is hired as a nightshift guard by a government contractor to watch Sykora in her cell. He eventually helps her escape, and we get to explore the wider galaxy.
Now, while the exploration is interesting, the main thing I want to talk about is the relationship. It starts out a bit rough and did put me off at first, as Sykora does not treat Grant well, but this is caused by a cultural/biological difference between species. It only lasts for a few chapters before the confusion is cleared up. Sykora spends time trying to make up for her behavior, and it’s not just brushed aside.
The relationship is the true focus of the book and is done well. It’s not all smooth sailing—that would be too boring—and a lot of this first book follows the two of them struggling to deal with their cultural differences. Watching them try to find a happy medium is a joy to read.
Sykora is the more interesting of the two and is written very well. She is a strong and capable leader who can and will kill any and all who pose a problem for either her job or Grant. But when she’s not working, she turns into a mischievous and playful partner. She goes through some genuine emotional struggles, most of which center around the problems caused by cultural differences. The writing does an amazing job conveying her emotional depth. We see her grow through the book as she comes to rely on Grant—not for any incredible talent on his part, but for the emotional support he provides. Grant does help move the plot and isn’t just a passenger, but his main role is supporting Sykora’s growth.
While I liked Sykora more, Grant is also well-done. He has his own emotional struggles, particularly dealing with being a "fish out of water" in a more feudalistic society that is not kind to him because he comes from a primitive world. I won't explain the specific pros and cons caused by his relationship with Sykora, but Grant does have a few advantages that he uses when given the opportunity. I would describe him as being average—a simple guy looking for a quiet life before it all went wrong.
The book is about our two main characters, Grant and Sykora. The story is told almost exclusively from Grant’s perspective, with one chapter viewed from another perspective I will not name. We follow Grant as he is hired as a nightshift guard by a government contractor to watch Sykora in her cell. He eventually helps her escape, and we get to explore the wider galaxy.
Now, while the exploration is interesting, the main thing I want to talk about is the relationship. It starts out a bit rough and did put me off at first, as Sykora does not treat Grant well, but this is caused by a cultural/biological difference between species. It only lasts for a few chapters before the confusion is cleared up. Sykora spends time trying to make up for her behavior, and it’s not just brushed aside.
The relationship is the true focus of the book and is done well. It’s not all smooth sailing—that would be too boring—and a lot of this first book follows the two of them struggling to deal with their cultural differences. Watching them try to find a happy medium is a joy to read.
Sykora is the more interesting of the two and is written very well. She is a strong and capable leader who can and will kill any and all who pose a problem for either her job or Grant. But when she’s not working, she turns into a mischievous and playful partner. She goes through some genuine emotional struggles, most of which center around the problems caused by cultural differences. The writing does an amazing job conveying her emotional depth. We see her grow through the book as she comes to rely on Grant—not for any incredible talent on his part, but for the emotional support he provides. Grant does help move the plot and isn’t just a passenger, but his main role is supporting Sykora’s growth.
While I liked Sykora more, Grant is also well-done. He has his own emotional struggles, particularly dealing with being a "fish out of water" in a more feudalistic society that is not kind to him because he comes from a primitive world. I won't explain the specific pros and cons caused by his relationship with Sykora, but Grant does have a few advantages that he uses when given the opportunity. I would describe him as being average—a simple guy looking for a quiet life before it all went wrong.