L'infinit

The Outside #3

by Ada Hoffmann, Anna Llisterri (Translator), Marina Vidal (Illustrator)

Arriba l’esperada conclusió de la trilogia de L’Extern: a L’infinit viatgem al passat per saber com les IA van esdevenir divinitats, però també mirem cap al futur per esbrinar com la humanitat afronta l’amenaça de la Keres i quin destí espera a la Yasira, la Tiv i el grup dels Set.

Ada Hoffmann posa punt final a una space opera en què els humans es rebel·len contra la tirania dels déus a la vegada que miren de sobreviure a una trobada fortuïta amb l’Extern, un ens còsmic ignot i terrorífic. No us perdeu el desenllaç d’una de les trilogies de ciència-ficció més sorprenents dels últims anys.

Genres: Science Fiction, Queer, Space Opera, Fiction, Lesbian, Fantasy, Horror

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2023

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Infinite is a solid end to the trilogy, but beyond that, it's a pretty excellent example of Lovecraftian huge-space opera with huge scope and particularly fine mind-breaking elements.

Literally. The Broken and the godlike powers, the huge, multidimensional AIs and other gods (even homebrew ones on humanity's side) makes this a really interesting book. I also like the small scale Broken bits a lot. It really takes getting to know yourself to a whole new level. I was expecting a shock of white hair and other madness-cliches, but this was good, too. ;)

War. Interstellar war. With quantum stuff and uploaded consciousness, souls, rebellion, and a huge-ass complication.

So, if I love all these elements so much, why did I only give it a 4 out of 5? Pacing, mostly. There's a lot to love, but some bits were a bit slow and lost the tension. Not a dealbreaker -- but I would have loved it tighter.

It WAS quite satisfying, however, and ended on a very interesting note, so don't let me dissuade you from picking it up!

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars
This was a fantastic conclusion to one of my favourite science fiction series. All the elements that I loved in the first two books continued in this final book. I loved the characters who have grown so much from the beginning of the story. Once again I enjoyed spending time in this imaginative future. By this point, the worldbuilding has become more concrete and easy to follow.

As for the conclusion itself, I liked it but found it a touch predictable. There are certain endings I personally prefer but I can't exactly fault an author for choosing another path. Overall, I found it satisfying even if it wasn't the most mind blowing ending.

If you love morally complex characters and kooky worldbuilding, you should definitely check out this trilogy, starting with the first book, The Outside.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Khalid Abdul-Mumin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf'd this one after about 85% progress, but I intend to finish it sometime later this year at the least hence the lackluster rating. I'm finding my patience is really wearing thinner and thinner as I grow older.

I loved the first book (rated it a four 🌟 read) but it swiftly went downhill afterwards, right at the second quarter of the second volume and I'm afraid things didn't turn out better as I progressed.

I'll still recommend the first book, but I'm afraid from there onwards...fans of this subgenre that combines Space Opera, AI and Transhumanism, Conciousness and Philosophy of Ethics are on their own.

[Bertie (LuminosityLibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic ending to a fantastic trilogy. Gay neurodivergents come get your gay neurodivergent sci-fi juice. The best writing of a revolution and the ethical questions of rebellion I've seen in this genre. Also I am 100% an Enga fan forever. Sorry this isn't more coherent but this is the good shit right here.

[Dirk Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book in the trilogy and a fitting conclusion.
Some surprises, a nice build up of tension and a good ending. Some minor issues, a bit too much repetition at times, so no five stars. But after reading this instalment now I’m sure I won’t be forgetting this trilogy.


Once again, the story introduces more viewpoints, including a flashback set seven hundred years in the past to the birth of the Gods, particularly Nemesis. Additionally, the narrative offers a glimpse of the alien society beyond human space, featuring a big federation with various alien races. Among them the Zora stands out, as they come to help the mortals of the Chaos Zone, particularly Yasira, due to their familiarity with the Outside.

A surprising revelation is that Nemesis and the Keres are one and the same. Elu and Akavi make this discovery while on the run in their small spaceship, accompanied by the two captives, Luellae (Blur) and Enga. To prevent Luellae from escaping via teleportation, Akavi has an explosive device placed in her arm. When they come under attack by a Keres ship, he orders Luellae and Enga to jump to the ship and capture the pilot. From this pilot, they learn about the chain of command leading to Nemesis.

Assuming the identity of Lullae, Akavi goes undercover to inform the Seven about this news. And urges Yasira to confront Nemesis.

At the start of the book, the Seven, Tiv, and Yasira are joined by Talirr, who has been preparing for the coming battle with the Keres. They are only a week away from the confrontation, but Talirr provides the Seven with more time to prepare by introducing a back-in-time option to the airlock/portal. Users can choose to repeat a day with the only restriction being not returning to the same place (reminiscent of Groundhog Day).
The device is also utilized towards the end of the book to give Tiv and Yasira some time together, as it becomes evident that only Yasira can deal with the Gods, which may result in the end of her physical existence.

During the Keres attack, the Seven are able to resist with the help of the alien Zora. Enga, Elu and Lullae also join the battle. With guidance from the Zora, Yasira manages to annihilate Nemesis and to confront the rest of the Gods in their conference hall. Despite their pleas for mercy, Yasira kills them all. However, she becomes too immense to return to her human body, seemingly ascending to true Godhood. No doubt she’ll be much better at that task than the quantum computers that were originally programmed by warmongering humans.
And it will also be a big change for the whole human race. By killing the Gods, Yasira also got rid of all the connected angels only Elu and Enga survive because they were not connected to the network anymore. (Akavi was killed by Yasira after the Seven discovered him).

Tiv struggles to cope with what happened to Yasira, but she is contacted by the transcended being Yasira has become, and afterwards, Tiv and Talirr appear to come to terms with the situation.


In conclusion, it's a good, albeit somewhat predictable, ending. I'm eagerly looking forward to more books by Miss Hoffmann.

[Miquel Codony · Rating 4 out of 5]

M'ha agradat molt tota la trilogia i aquest darrer llibre. En l'àmbit de la imaginació és ciència-ficció molt ambiciosa, expansiva, tot i que té algun punt a on voreja la "fanta-ciència", però... Li escau. La manera de parlar de religió com a mecanisme de control social introduint-hi la intel·ligència artificial és original, tant en la seva concepció com en la seva execució. Tot bé, en aquest sentit, però el que fa diferent el llibre, el que fa que valgui especialment la pena i el converteix en una lectura amb dimensió ètica (o humana) de la que se'n pot aprendre és el tractament de la neurodiversitat. De la diversitat en general, de fet. El transfons de tota la història depèn d'un grup de gent, amb identitats (sexuals o no) de qualsevol mena menys binari i amb estils cognitius totalment diferents, que s'hauran de comprendre entre ells i a si mateixos per poder fer avançar la trama. I la sensació no és que l'autora (ella mateixa neuroatípica) tingui una agenda, sinó que aconsegueix integrar tota aquesta diversitat en una construcció d'escenari sòlida i interessant que serveix de base per una aventura impossible d'abandonar. En aquest sentit, el llibre és un magnífic exemple de com la ciència-ficció ens pot apropar altres maneres de veure el món i fer servir la diferència per explorar tot allò que ens fa humans.
Que m'ha agradat moltíssim, vaja.

[Ricard · Rating 5 out of 5]

De eso que te llevas varias lecturas para leer de vacaciones y terminas con un ebook al que le tenías ganas de hincar el diente.
Crec que seré molt dispers, perquè la ressenya és molt més emotiva que racional (em vindria bé ser menys Elu en aquests moments).

La veritat li tenia molta por: molts cops un tercer llibre que ha d'explicar els secrets del wordbu acaba sent un fiasco (vegi's el Cielo de Piedra) i per això li tenia molta por a continuar.
El final del 2n donava per explorar moltes coses, i en sí la trama general estava en un punt àlgid...
Francament no m'ha decepcionat.
És un llibre on acaba d'explorar reaccions humanes (neurodiverses, sí, però en realitat molt humanes) davant un desastre imminent.
I tots els personatges hi tenen un joc important (bé, és una mica sobret certa aranya estúpida però en un raconet petit ens calia aquest monstre egoista).

És una bona conclusió, respon i encara bé els fils i tanca la trama. Exposa molt bé una flashbacks que potser és la part més interessant i d'acció, ja que el present són preparatius i reflexions.
Sols diré, que crec que ho diuen en moltes ressenyes, que hagués tingut ganes de saber més de la Federació: de totes les societats que envolten aquests humans que havien estat amagats per culpa dels Déus.

Però com que no sé per on anirà l'autora, jo em subscric a tot el què escrigui en un futur.

[Kristenelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom! Wow! What a fantastic ending to a fantastic trilogy!

[Penny Geard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - this is one of those books where I loved so many of the elements but I don't think it quite delivered. I loved the first book, and the series had so much potential, but it didn't pull it off 😢

I wish there'd been more of the AI gods, their religion, and the angels.
And I can't believe the series is called "The Outside" but we got so little of the outside.

Instead there were a LOT of characters and the story focused more on their individual experiences rather than it feeling like a cohesive story. A lot of the themes were over-explained without engaging emotions through the plot.

[Bonnie McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Outside trilogy, wrapping up a tale of quantum supercomputers ascended to Godhood to rule over humanity, and a group of revolutionaries on a breakaway planet who wish to overthrow them. Central to the narrative is Yasira Shien, who was on the autism spectrum and as a result of mindlinking with the extradimensional-Lovecraftian-cosmic horror realm of the Outside in the last book, has now developed into a "plural," bearing many personalities in one body. Yasira, with her plurality and the mind which now hosts Outside energy, turns out to be the one thing that can defeat the Gods, and her choice to sacrifice herself to save humanity is the central plot point and decision of the book.

"If it was anyone else that's what would happen," said Yasira. There was a burning clarity in that gaze, something that unnerved Tiv. "With me, she'll try. But we all know I'm not like the rest of you anymore. My soul is half-broken. No, I know you don't like words like 'broken,' Tiv, but that's what happened. I cracked into pieces and what fills me in between the pieces is Outside. I'm the closest thing we have to Outside itself walking the earth in human form. Even closer than Ev or the gone people. And the Gods can't see Outside. Do you understand? It doesn't function according to rules they can process. Say I die. Say Nemesis tries to eat me up. That means sooner or later She takes my soul into Hers, into the very center of what makes Her a sentient being. She takes Outside inside her. She won't be able to help it. And Outside will fucking rip her apart."

This entire scenario rests on the fact that in this future, scientists has been able to confirm the existence of souls, and said soul-energy is used to power the quantum supercomputers that turn themselves into Gods. At first, Nemesis and her sisters only take terminally ill volunteers, but as their power and hubris grows, they take over the planet and mandate that every human gives up their soul at the point of death. This allows them to set up the world of the trilogy, with Nemesis and the other supercomputers the tyrannical Gods who are ruling over humanity only for their own good, really.

This is a complex book, as it has to wrap up the many plot and character threads of the previous books in the trilogy. The many multiple POVs of the previous book carry over into this one, with is the one minor ding I have against it--I wish the author had focused more on Yasira and her lover Tiv. There's also a bit of metaphysical handwaving at the end, as Yasira ascends to a Godhood of her own to defeat Nemesis and the others, somehow ending up existing in the Outside. Your mileage may vary on that, but the author thankfully doesn't dwell on it too much. These minor nitpicks aside, this is a satisfying ending to a trilogy that is one of the most inventive and absorbing in the past few years. All three books are well worth your time.

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-infi...
Interview with Ada Hoffman: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...

The Infinite is the final installment of The Outside trilogy, by Ada Hoffman, a really satisfying conclusion to this series. Space opera with a mix of cosmic horror, in the style of the science-fantasy genre I love, explores themes such as godhood and humanity in unexpected ways.

The story gets picked after Jai planet declares itself in rebellion against AI Gods, and in retribution, Gods decide to withdraw their protection over the chaotic planet, just in time when an enemy that could annihilate it entirely approaches. For Yasira Shein, and the Seven that accompany her, it's the moment to start exploring what they can do in order to prevent this destruction.

Characters are one of the main strengths of Hoffman's writing. The sudden return of Dr Evianna Talirr, and the solution she proposes to save Jai will create a big dilemma in Yasira's mind, as it requires possibly the biggest sacrifice in order to save the rebellion. We can see Yasira struggling to make a decision on it, as the price she would have to pay is too high; but at the same time, she feels as if she was a selfish person, putting herself over the rest.

We are also able to spectate how the rest of the group work and explore themselves other options, making use of the hatch. Some of them have to unleash their real potential, some may bring outside help, which is a great excuse to also explore the Universe of the Outside.

There are also some flashbacks that allow us to know more about how the AI Gods were created, the intentions behind this process, and how it this derivated in the current ones, from the perspective of one of their creators. As said, humanity vs godhood is a recurring theme of this novel, putting in contraposition how little an individual can be in comparison with the universe.

The plot gets developed in a really natural way, adding those flashbacks in the middle of narration, helping to also give a breath to the reader. As long as we advance, we can see how what we thought was the reality and what it was believed about the enemy may not be close to the truth, letting us with a final quarter that becomes really engaging, finishing with a literal apotheosis, a bittersweet ending that feels super appropriate for the series.

Again, I think The Infinite is an absolute experience of a book and a must for lovers of space operas. Ada Hoffman has written a satisfying final book, which has fulfilled perfectly what I expected from it.

[Rach A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, let’s all just stare in AWE at the exceptional cover design for this trilogy-ending book. I seriously want a poster of it on my wall. Secondly, THANK YOU ADA HOFFMANN. My 2023 reading was off to such a shaky start but I knew picking this up would make everything good again.

This is a fantastic, bittersweet ending to my favourite scifi series. I adore the way this series explores religion and godhood in such a unique way to what you often see in SFF. Instead of gods creating humanity, we have humanity creating gods, and I love the difference in perspective this gives. One of the things I loved most about this book, was that we actually got flashbacks to the creation of the very first god. It adds such a layer of complexity to the whole story: when you see the position the humans were in, what should they have done? I love that morally grey, complex ethical decision shit.

This book, and this trilogy as a whole, is full of complex characters trying to build a better society; of supercomputer gods that you discover are far more complex than you first think; and of cosmic horror mysteries that can tear apart the universe (with lots of tentacles). There are beautifully tender moments, queer relationships, several autistic main characters, other disabled side characters, it pains me this series is not more beloved.

Content warnings: violence, war, blood and gore, loss of limb, death, confinement, domestic abuse (minor), genocide, grief, kidnapping, medical content / medical trauma, mental illness (major theme), religious bigotry, sexual content (minor), suicidal thoughts (minor), torture (mentions only), toxic relationship

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provided a good end to the trilogy. Author still has a tendency to slip into telling over showing at times and something felt off with the pacing at times but I'm still glad I finished it. Explores ethical questions around revolution alongside cosmic horror. Overall I think the first book is the best in the series but the series is fine and I'd say worth a read. Multiple autistic characters, gay protagonist.

[Siavahda · Rating 4 out of 5]

HIGHLIGHTS
~believe you deserve better
~the Keres is coming
~angels will fall
~Saviour’s gonna save
~if no one in the universe will help you, look outside the universe

Hoffman’s debut trilogy has, since day one, anchored a far-future epic of AI gods and reality-breaking monsters in the human element, giving us a story leviathanic in scope but close and personal and intimate at the same time. It’s a big part of what gives these books so much punch; the fact that we can’t, even for one moment, forget how these big sweeping events affect people on an individual level – people who are so real and sympathetic that it’s instead very easy to forget that they’re fictional. This trilogy has never allowed us to forget that ‘the masses’ have names, that the bystanders have hopes and dreams and families, that the heroes on the front line have bad mental health days way more often than anyone would like.

There has never been the option to ‘zoom out’ on (and thus emotionally distance ourselves from) the conflict Yasira and her friends are caught up in; Hoffman’s given us glimpses of the Big Picture, but has always kept us grounded, focussed on the Little Picture, the human element. And that gives the big finale of this trilogy a unique flavour, more realistic than such conclusions tend to be. The adjectives that spring to mind all carry a negative connotation – mundane, banal, prosaic – and that’s not how I mean it!

Maybe it would be more accurate to say that, despite all the sci-fi and outright supernatural elements, this universe-changing climax feels grounded. Grounded in reality; The Infinite is not the breathtaking but bloodless kind of sweeping epic reminiscent of ancient poetry…but it is, instead, a great and fundamentally human resolution that I can believe in.

Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!

[Jax · Rating 4 out of 5]

After not loving book two in the series, I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish it. Not because I didn’t expect it to be well written, but because I was bored. I’m so glad I pushed through and picked up the third book right away! It brought back everything I loved about The Outside, with good pace, surprising revelations and clever character development (not only for Yasira but for all of them), and it kept me on my toes from beginning to end. In fact, it makes me want to re-read book two, to make sure I fully understood and appreciated it.

The conclusion of the series is, quite honestly, a gem. It features thrilling action scenes, personal growth, reflections and revelations, and the opportunity to get to know additional characters who we only really knew by name before. While book two felt like a long (and sometimes tedious) introduction, the final part demonstrates just why such a buildup might have been necessary.

Overall, an intelligently written book that concludes the series in a satisfying manner. Very well done.

[Aran B. Riera · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5.

En primer lloc, és un bon tancament de trilogia. M'esperava part del que passa, però no per això em sembla menys satisfactori. L'evolució dels personatges és coherent i el ritme (lent, com a les novel·les anteriors) està ben calibrat. El seu punt fort és que tracta temes que difícilment es deixaran enrere perquè parteix de dilemes ètics i diversitat, però el més interessant és que Ada Hoffmann es posiciona tant com autori com com narradori i ens convida a reflexionar sobre com construïr un futur diferent, a poder ser just i respectuós.

[FRan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yasira junto con los siete deberá enfrentar el asalto de Keres sin más ayuda. Tiene poco tiempo para buscar alternativas, aliados y prepararse antes de la destitución.

Intenso, profundo y duro. Me ha gustado el cierre de la trilogía, da con soluciones interesantes y explota las opciones más allá de donde yo me imaginaba.

[Jonah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonably satisfying conclusion to this series. Found some of the characters and their dialogue started to grate three books in (especially the Seven), but the concepts around the AI machine gods and cyborg angels etc were first class and carried the whole thing home.

[Marina Vidal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gran cierre para la trilogía 💖

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Borka Szilágyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up late to finish this. Beautiful end to a beautiful trilogy ❤️ it's masterfully crafted, but also feels specifically tailored to me

[Alexander Tas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and other Science Fiction/Fantasy book reviews at The Quill to Live

Reviewing the third book in a trilogy is always tough. I’m often flipping between several different emotions, attempting to understand the book as its own object and as the culmination of years of storytelling. Ada Hoffman’s The Infinite is no different and has me feeling the bitter sweet symphony of emotions that comes with a well earned ending that leaves the reader with the right questions.

The planet Jai is on its own. The gone people of the chaos zone, along with the rebellious seven and the yet to be corrupted citizens, managed to stake their claim on their future. While the A.I. Gods, especially Nemesis, would not normally abide such brazen autonomy from humans, they have decided to step back and let their ancient foe, Keres, make short work of the planet Jai. With only a couple days to prepare, Yasira, the rest of the seven, and the people of Jai prepare themselves for an even bigger battle than they faced before. Meanwhile, Akavi has their own plans on how to use the Seven and challenge Nemesis herself.

I picked up The Outside way back in 2020, and Hoffman’s debut did not disappoint. It was Lovecraftian science fiction, with a neurodivergent cast and several different science fiction concepts mashed together, chief among them A.I. Gods, for a fun ride with deep themes. Its sequel, The Fallen, took a step back from the heavier plot orientation of the first and spent more time with the cast beyond Yasira and Akavi, diving into what life would be like outside the God’s influence. The Infinite does a great job combining the two paths Hoffman took for the previous books while giving it a little more of an edge.

I’m often wary of the third book in a trilogy. The path usually feels like it’s been laid out, and the characters have to walk it, with a few twists and turns for good measure. However, I didn’t really know what to expect for The Infinite, and Hoffman immediately throws the reader off her scent with the God’s deciding to leave the planet Jai, opening them up for attack by the dreaded Keres. It forces the rebellious leaders and the citizens of the planet to come up with a plan as soon as they can in order to defend themselves from Keres and her angels, along with future attacks from Nemesis. The way Hoffman has her characters deal with this is clever, even if it can feel a bit contrived, but she doesn’t spend too much time with the mechanics. She lays out the idea, and just expects you to understand the time and effort involved, which honestly works here. I hear “time travel” and my guard goes up, but Hoffman doesn’t try to overdo it, or prove that she has the best version of it. It’s just a tool, and while it plays a big part in the grand scheme, it doesn’t weigh down the characters’ journeys and actually highlights the stakes.

Hoffman also takes the opportunity to dive into the birth of the gods in the final book, exploring how her world was shaped after the creation of Nemesis. Again, my alarm bells began to ring, worried there would be too much space devoted to something I was not particularly interested in, but Hoffman took it to places I was not expecting. The origin of Nemesis as a savior turned out to be intriguing and served as an excellent mirror to Yasira’s relationship with her mentor, Dr. Evianna Talirr. Where the past events could have easily just been quick reveals, Hoffman dove deep into the characters who birthed the A.I. Gods, the reasons behind their creation, and their relationship to responsibility, duty and those higher up in the decision food chain. Instead of offering insight on how to defeat Nemesis and the other Gods, it’s another tale exploring the need to absolve one’s own guilt for committing something possibly heinous. I rarely experience mentor relationships, in life and in science fiction, so having such a delicious one that is full of nuanced flavors served up in this final act was a real treat.

As much as I loved having my expectations subverted deftly, I loved even more Hoffman’s curiosity about her own themes. These books have always been heavy on exploring them, whether it’s through the characters’ internal lives, what the Gods determine to be “normal” or “heretical,” and even in the relationships between those who exist in hierarchical structures, perceived or rigidly enforced. Yasira, for the most part, has been at the whim of Dr. Talirr. She pushes back, and questions her, but Dr. Talirr often has the higher ground and a single minded devotion to her project of destroying the Gods. I found it fascinating that Yasira was not opposed to the project, but often questioned the means and her necessary involvement within them. Not as an act of relinquishing responsibility for civility's sake, but instead in opposition to just following the “most logical path.” Her bargaining heightened the conversations between the other members of the seven, and set up the questions “how should we live” and “who determines how anyway” quite nicely. It’s a fitting end to a series that never stopped asking questions about why and who all throughout.

I want to know so much more about where the world of Ada Hoffman’s The Outside is headed, but I’m satisfied with the answers Hoffman has provided in The Infinite. She makes room for the potentialities of the human spirit, and underlines how rigidity punishes far more often than it rewards. The trilogy as a whole is an achievement in how weird science fiction can be, while still feeling so close to what we already know. It asks questions, and pulls apart its own world to highlight how maybe we should do the same to our own world. It’s given me a deeper appreciation for how easily we marginalize folks for neurodivergence and apply labels to signify their difference and apply superiority and morality to them. And how this gets applied over and over again to build hierarchies where privileges are given to those most able to conform to structure. I highly recommend this series if you haven’t started it. And if you have, but are tepid about the final act, don’t be. The Outside is warm and inviting, even if it is winter.

Rating: The Infinite 8.5/10
-Alex

An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts on this book are my own.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Infinite turned out to be more quietly hopefully than I expected - this conclusion to The Outside trilogy was surprisingly uplifting and satisfying.
I greatly appreciated the flashback scenes, and further detail about how the society came to be - I also enjoyed the introductions to previously unexplored areas of this universe, such as the Federation. The mesmerising world-building in this series really got a chance to shine in this instalment.
The novel wasn't without its issues, however - I found I enjoyed the book less when it focussed on the three central characters - unfortunately an Ev, Yasira, or Akavi point-of-view often meant I was going to be feeling frustrated. As with the other books in the series, there's such potential here, and it's disappointing when it doesn't quite hit the mark. The writing style fluctuates throughout, and while this may be both a stylistic choice and a personal taste issue, I found myself enjoying certain parts much more than others because of it.
In contrast to the previous instalment, however, lots of plot threads resolve themselves in a way that feels ultimately satisfying. I was engaged throughout, and found this to be an enjoyable read.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infinite by Ada Hoffman cemented The Outside as one of my favourite sci-fi trilogies and one I will be freely recommending for years to come. What I love most about this queer, neurodivergent, cosmic horror series is its heart; even with grave, universal consequences and harrowing trauma, this series speaks to the strength of human resilience and the power we find in love and community.

Like the previous novel, the format of The Infinite differs from the other two in the series. In this novel, we follow Yasira and other characters as the rebellion on Jai reaches a fever pitch; simultaneously, flashbacks illuminating the history of this universe and its gods are woven through the central narrative. The end result is an experience that, while not without its inconsistencies, sticks a powerful, emotionally resonant ending.

The Infinite and The Outside as a whole trilogy achieve two things that can be hard to manage at the same time in my experience. Having worldbuilding and plot unique enough to stand out in their details AND an emotional experience I won’t soon forget—and indeed haven’t forgotten months later—is rare indeed, but Hoffmann’s novels definitely accomplish both. These weird, wonderful books have earned a place in my heart and on my shelves.

Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Ranger Liu · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok well i wrote a whole ass review and then it deleted but, basically, third book insane exposition and unnecessary worldbuilding syndrome similar to broken earth and dreams of gods and monsters. the ending felt too fast and too easy, and then there was nothing to back it up. the hunger games did it so much better. i enjoyed it on a surface level but the moral meaning of it all is a bit mixed up bc the whole governmental overthrow theme kind of came out of nowhere. anyways….whatever. i think the outside stands on its own perfectly well enough. i’m glad i read the rest of it but i am a bit disappointed in how it ended.

[Chris Cullins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that I've finished the trilogy, I can safely say that I didn't really enjoy the overall plot. The series certainly has elements I like, the premise and setting is great, what a cool idea, A.I. gods and cyborg angels and all that. But unfortunately Hoffmann runs afoul (with me, at least) once we start "turning" the story about midway through the first book, where Ev is trying to "spread" the outside, and Yasira is sort of fighting against her but also fighting against Akavi, etc. I guess at this point I never really felt the reasoning behind Yasira's switch to basically "join" Ev's side. The whole second half of the book I thought FOR SURE that we were going to get some revelation about The Outside, where it turns out it's the "Real world" (as we know it) and the world that Yasira knew was actually some simulation created by the AI gods, and that Ev was trying to break humanity of the "spell", or something to that effect (I know that's cliche as described, but that's why i'm not a writer) - but the first book ends and we kind of just get....nothing. Just the Chaos zone stuff, etc. No revelation, no understanding (really) of Ev's motivations, or really of Yasira's motivation for helping her. All we really have is AI Gods and angels mean, so guess we have to struggle against them. Okay, but like, why...

So, well, I thought for sure we would get this revelation at some point, or something at least to that scale. But the closest thing we got was the Nemesis / Keras one, which, sure, that was fine. That did explain a bit as to why humanity / the Gods were in the situation we were in, but that just felt... flat to me. There was also the early Nemesis1 and the General's soul stuff, which kind of explained why the gods were acting the way they were, came very late in the series and really didn't scratch the "SciFi" itch that I was wanting.

That issue aside, I think the story overall was fine. Certainly wouldn't call it a waste of my time or anything, but just felt like it was missing that something as described above that I think would have really made me feel a little more something about it all. Overall, glad I read it, just was missing those things. Thanks for reading!

[Vervada · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

An incredibly creative, inclusive, strange yet beautiful and epic end to a fascinating trilogy. I've found the whole concept of Outside to be extremely intriguing from the very beginning of the series and the few answers we got in this book just made me even more interested. The world building was just as good as before or maybe even a little better because of a few things like the inclusion of the aliens and seeing how the Gods were made. The characters were real in a way that's not often found in fiction, namely in the way they reacted to traumatising events and how they tried to cope and heal after. I'm not saying that I've never read good depictions of traumatised characters before, they just felt more genuine than usual in "The Infinite". And Dr. Evianna Talirr has remained one of the most morally ambiguous, flawed, ruthless, strange characters I've ever read and I absolutely loved every scene containing her.

I didn't quite love the ending, I know it was an objectively good ending, but the bittersweetness was a drop too bitter for me since I am an incurable romantic after all. But I still think that the entire series is definitely worth a read.

[Kristjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the conclusion to The Outside trilogy after The Fallen. Returning to the Planet Jai and the Chaos Zone introduced with “The Seven” in the second book and where the story seemed to get lost and drift in confusion with a rebellion that goes nowhere (IMHO you can skip that book without losing that much). Here the story gets back on track and jumps into action with the pending attack of Keres … an apparent rogue AI god perpetually at war with humanity and the rule of their AI gods. The situation looks very dire for our Hero and her broken companions (aka The Seven).

The [lovecraftian] world building here was some of the best I have seen in SciFi, and the character development of her flawed protagonists was solid and interesting. The best part to me are the answers to the many questions left after book one (1): How did the AI gods evolve? Who/What is the Keres? Who are the Morlocks? Stir in a few aliens and the world just keeps getting more interesting as the story unfolds with a few unexpected twists toward a satisfying conclusion.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#TheInfinite #TheOutside #NetGalley.

[Juliet Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent end to the series, tying everything up in a deeply satisfying way.

I especially enjoyed the flashbacks to the creation of the gods -- and I love the worldbuilding of how and why these gods were created. It tied in beautifully to some of the other things we discover in this book. Meeting more aliens is also great, and I liked the sense of how humanity and their worlds fit into the wider (much wider!) universe, and who else might know of and understand Outside.

The experiences of Yasira and the others is the heart and centre of the book, as with the previous ones; it's so great to see neurodiversity (of many assorted flavours) on the page this way. And to see our heroes struggling and working with and around their own strengths and weaknesses (and things which are both at different times or even at the same time); everyone feels very real and with very real concerns and experiences, and that's what really makes the book (all three books).

I enjoyed this whole series; this wraps it up very nicely. I'm looking forward to whatever Hoffman does next!

(With thanks to the author for an ARC.)

[Andrew Jaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid end to a pretty solid trilogy. Some really interesting allegories and not-so-veiled commentary on... well, a decent range of things, going from the flaws of AI, the inaction of those in power for the sake of retaining power, how neurodivergency is 'atypical' from one perspective and yet the default for another, to criticism of religion and even dealing with narcissist parents, in a sense.

I think my main complaint would be that the connective tissue feels a little scant; there's some subplots and arcs that I think ended well, but could have been filled out better. I'd go so far as to say it could have been a four-book series, there's enough to engage with.

But for a trilogy that I was indifferent on when starting, and actually stalled reading for a couple of months on book 1, it's definitely done a lot better than I thought it'd be. No regrets about picking it up at all; I had fun, not just with the plot but with the characters. Enga's desire for mass destruction and mayhem as a solution will never cease to amuse