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Escaping Exodus #2
Symbiosis
The Compton Crook Award-winning author weaves her trademark blend of science fiction and dark humor in this dazzling story that continues the imaginative saga begun in
Escaping Exodus
, in which a society lives in the belly of a beast—and an entire civilization's survival depends on a pair of uneasy allies who must come together for one epic battle.
Nearly a thousand years removed from Earth, the remnants of humanity cling to existence inside giant, space faring creatures known as the Zenzee. Abused and exploited by humans for generations, these majestic animals nearly went extinct, but under the command of its newly minted ruler, Doka Kaleigh, life in the Parados I has flourished. Thanks to careful oversight and sacrifice by all of its crew, they are now on the brink of utopia, and yet Doka's rivals feel threatened by that success.
The Senate allowed Doka to lead their people believing he'd fail spectacularly—a disaster that would cement the legitimacy of their long-standing matriarchy. Despite vocal opposition and blatant attacks on his authority, Doka has continued to handle his position with grace and intelligence; he knows a single misstep means disaster. When a cataclysmic event on another Zenzee world forces Doka and his people to accept thousands of refugees, a culture clash erupts, revealing secrets from the past that could endanger their future. For Doka, the stakes are bigger and more personal than ever before—and could cost him his reign and his heart.
He has fallen for the one woman he is forbidden to his wife, Seske.
Doka and Seske must work closely together to sway the other Zenzee worlds to stop their cycles of destruction. But when they stumble upon a discovery that can transform their world, they know they must prepare to fight a battle where there can be no winners, only survivors.
Nearly a thousand years removed from Earth, the remnants of humanity cling to existence inside giant, space faring creatures known as the Zenzee. Abused and exploited by humans for generations, these majestic animals nearly went extinct, but under the command of its newly minted ruler, Doka Kaleigh, life in the Parados I has flourished. Thanks to careful oversight and sacrifice by all of its crew, they are now on the brink of utopia, and yet Doka's rivals feel threatened by that success.
The Senate allowed Doka to lead their people believing he'd fail spectacularly—a disaster that would cement the legitimacy of their long-standing matriarchy. Despite vocal opposition and blatant attacks on his authority, Doka has continued to handle his position with grace and intelligence; he knows a single misstep means disaster. When a cataclysmic event on another Zenzee world forces Doka and his people to accept thousands of refugees, a culture clash erupts, revealing secrets from the past that could endanger their future. For Doka, the stakes are bigger and more personal than ever before—and could cost him his reign and his heart.
He has fallen for the one woman he is forbidden to his wife, Seske.
Doka and Seske must work closely together to sway the other Zenzee worlds to stop their cycles of destruction. But when they stumble upon a discovery that can transform their world, they know they must prepare to fight a battle where there can be no winners, only survivors.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2021
48 people are currently reading
2192 people want to read
About the author
Nicky Drayden
37 books881 followersNicky Drayden is a Systems Analyst who dabbles in prose when she’s not buried in code. She resides in Austin, Texas where being weird is highly encouraged, if not required.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
March 20, 2021
3.5 Stars
Escaping Exodus is one of my all time favourite science fiction novels so I was incredibly excited to read this sequel.
For the most part, this one had most of the elements that I loved so much in the first book. It was diverse in terms of gender norms and sexual pairings. There is a lot of romance in this series, which usually is not my thing, but somehow worked in this particular case. I appreciated getting the third POV in this sequel, getting more of the male perspective in this matriarchal society. There was a lot of politics as well as tension surrounding the beasts in this one, but the stakes just never seemed as high as they were in the first book.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, but did not find it as fresh and exciting as the first. It did not affect my love for Escaping Exodus. It felt like an unnecessary sequel that did not significantly advance the plot or further development. Yet I honestly did enjoy spending more time with these characters I have come to love.
Despite not living up to my (probably impossible) expectations, I still am glad I read it and would certainly recommend it to fans of the first book looking to spend more time in this future.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Escaping Exodus is one of my all time favourite science fiction novels so I was incredibly excited to read this sequel.
For the most part, this one had most of the elements that I loved so much in the first book. It was diverse in terms of gender norms and sexual pairings. There is a lot of romance in this series, which usually is not my thing, but somehow worked in this particular case. I appreciated getting the third POV in this sequel, getting more of the male perspective in this matriarchal society. There was a lot of politics as well as tension surrounding the beasts in this one, but the stakes just never seemed as high as they were in the first book.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, but did not find it as fresh and exciting as the first. It did not affect my love for Escaping Exodus. It felt like an unnecessary sequel that did not significantly advance the plot or further development. Yet I honestly did enjoy spending more time with these characters I have come to love.
Despite not living up to my (probably impossible) expectations, I still am glad I read it and would certainly recommend it to fans of the first book looking to spend more time in this future.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 20, 2021
Read Escaping Exodus first. You'll want to anyway—that novel is the setup for which Symbiosis is the payoff, and this one won't make much sense without its predecessor. I was lucky—I had both books in hand, so I could start reading this as soon as I'd finished the first part of Nicky Drayden's unique and lively duology.
If you have the chance, I'd recommend you do the same. These books benefit from being read back-to-back.
*
Symbiosis begins with some trigger warnings for body horror of various kinds—warnings which, frankly, Escaping Exodus could've used as well. As I mentioned in my review of that book, whether (and how much) you liked the rot, decay, filth and bodily fluids in Kameron Hurley's The Stars Are Legion would be a good indicator of how you'll like Drayden's setting—the messy, organic Zenzee, living spaceships that however unwillingly host humanity's lost and wandering remnants.
*
Symbiosis follows the same general structure as its predecessor, alternating viewpoints between Seske Kaleigh and, this time, her husband Doka. Ex-husband, that is. Relationships aboard a Zenzee can get complicated.
As can life itself. Even more than in the first book, one thing I noticed in Symbiosis was how people used common terms for things that are obviously not the same as their terrestrial referents. (As in, for example, Neal Stephenson's Anathem, where a "carrot" is nothing like an Earthly carrot.)
For the humans of Exodus, denizens of the Zenzee, cheese has thorns and limes have little legs... but Drayden's characters seem to savor them quite as much as we do our versions anyhow.
*
Escaping Exodus was accurately named—it was all about escaping, from situations that often seemed inevitable, and from people who often seemed unstoppable. Symbiosis is true to its title as well—here, the crises are more about integration, about bringing together disparate entities and trying to make them work together.
Together, the duology make a satisfying whole.
*
One thing I really like about Nicky Drayden's work is that she is very good at smoothly switching tones—from deadly serious to funny, from elevated to (sometimes) downright raunchy—see, for example, p.105, where a character I'm not going to name "looks around, making sure no one is watching before cupping my crotch. I'm so taken aback, I forget all about him insulting my mother, even though I know he's right, because in about half a minute, I'm going to have a-whole-nother problem going on in my pants."
In another writer's hands, that sort of talk might be jarring (and it might be jarring here, since I'm pulling it out of context), but trust me, in Drayden's hands this stuff fits right in. So to speak.
*
Nicky Drayden was finishing Symbiosis during 2020, and that was a tough year for almost everybody. I really empathized with this part of her Acknowledgements:
And, on the whole, I think Drayden did a pretty good job.
If you have the chance, I'd recommend you do the same. These books benefit from being read back-to-back.
*
Symbiosis begins with some trigger warnings for body horror of various kinds—warnings which, frankly, Escaping Exodus could've used as well. As I mentioned in my review of that book, whether (and how much) you liked the rot, decay, filth and bodily fluids in Kameron Hurley's The Stars Are Legion would be a good indicator of how you'll like Drayden's setting—the messy, organic Zenzee, living spaceships that however unwillingly host humanity's lost and wandering remnants.
*
Symbiosis follows the same general structure as its predecessor, alternating viewpoints between Seske Kaleigh and, this time, her husband Doka. Ex-husband, that is. Relationships aboard a Zenzee can get complicated.
As can life itself. Even more than in the first book, one thing I noticed in Symbiosis was how people used common terms for things that are obviously not the same as their terrestrial referents. (As in, for example, Neal Stephenson's Anathem, where a "carrot" is nothing like an Earthly carrot.)
For the humans of Exodus, denizens of the Zenzee, cheese has thorns and limes have little legs... but Drayden's characters seem to savor them quite as much as we do our versions anyhow.
*
Escaping Exodus was accurately named—it was all about escaping, from situations that often seemed inevitable, and from people who often seemed unstoppable. Symbiosis is true to its title as well—here, the crises are more about integration, about bringing together disparate entities and trying to make them work together.
Together, the duology make a satisfying whole.
*
One thing I really like about Nicky Drayden's work is that she is very good at smoothly switching tones—from deadly serious to funny, from elevated to (sometimes) downright raunchy—see, for example, p.105, where a character I'm not going to name "looks around, making sure no one is watching before cupping my crotch. I'm so taken aback, I forget all about him insulting my mother, even though I know he's right, because in about half a minute, I'm going to have a-whole-nother problem going on in my pants."
In another writer's hands, that sort of talk might be jarring (and it might be jarring here, since I'm pulling it out of context), but trust me, in Drayden's hands this stuff fits right in. So to speak.
*
Nicky Drayden was finishing Symbiosis during 2020, and that was a tough year for almost everybody. I really empathized with this part of her Acknowledgements:
If there were ever a year that drained my creativity, this was it. And yet, with a little (a lot of) help from my friends, I was able to pull through and finish this story.Symbiosis does end with a sort of deus ex machina, although in this case the "machine" is more of an organism (and no, not necessarily the one you're thinking of).
—p.315
And, on the whole, I think Drayden did a pretty good job.
February 23, 2021
Content warnings:
Hello, another gorgeous cover! This is the second in the Escaping Exodus series and absolutely cannot be read without reading the first. Trust me, the book is confusing enough without it!
The book picks up three years later with Doka and the rest of his people having made great strides in approaching a less harmful – a less parasitical – living situation with their Zenzee. It also means that a lot of sacrifices have had to be made, including leaving a chunk of the population still in stasis, not to mention numerous quality of life changes. Adalla and Seske remain part of the family unit, with Doka having taken two additional members, including Kallum, a trans man and childhood friend, in another break from tradition. A male Matris and all the changes are hard enough for their people to swallow, and all isn’t well on the other Zenzees, either, especially when it becomes clear that the Klang’s Zenzee is dying, spurring calls to allow a new hunt. Beset on all sides, Seske and Doka must decide who to trust, as the wrong choice will cost them – and their Zenzee – their lives.
While this definitely took care of one of my main criticisms of the first book (how easily everyone seemingly accepted Doka as Matris and his reforms), I also found the ending of this book… interesting. The whole book, honestly, is a bit sad to me, though, I think, ultimately hopeful. The relationships between our main characters are cracking, there are enemies at every turn, and it’s becoming clear to them that there are even more dark secrets that underpin their society. As one of the premier heart workers, Adalla is constantly working, while Seske feels hollowed out, removed from the fiery woman who fought for her love and defied tradition. There’s something still between Doka and Seske, though a liaison between them is forbidden due to the structure of their family unit. And while Doka loves Kallum, Kallum has aspirations to become the first male senator, aspirations which are put on hold to keep from further eroding Doka’s tenuous control of the senate.
The story is told from Doka and Seske’s alternating points of view, and while I found Seske much more bearable than in the last book, I still strongly preferred Doka. There’s several new characters introduced, including Bakti, son of one of the Klang leaders, and Cherelle, Doka’s wife, but my absolute favorite was Baradonna, Doka’s knife-happy accountancy guard. The Zenzee and all its bits are pieces are truly amazing worldbuilding, even with all the extended references to bile ducts and anuses (there’s three, as far as I can tell). It’s immersive and original, though at times a victim of its own success, as some of the more complicated societal structures and their taboos (or breaking of them, given we’re talking about Seske here) remained incomprehensible to me. Why is it such a big deal that the three triads that form a family not interact sexually? There’s no explanation given, but then again, I suppose it would be hard explaining some of my own culture’s taboos. The Klang civilization and all its contrasts to Doka and Seske’s daily lives was fascinating as well.
In terms of cons, the pacing felt a bit jumpy, and there are a few time skips of several months that left me trying to figure out exactly what happened between one chapter and the next. And this was a bit of a big deal, because I desperately needed to know what was going on. The plot was compelling (the throttle fish plot alone was truly terrifying nightmare material, and let’s not even talk about the tentacles) and fascinating. The book is divided into four sections: “Parasitism,” “Commensalism,” “Mutualism,” and “Surviving Symbiosis.” In case you (like me) have forgotten high school biology, the basic Google definitions are that parasitism is where one organism lives off another, causing it harm; commensalism is when one organism benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped; mutualism is a mutually beneficial relationship for both; and symbiosis refers to the relationship between two organisms. On the surface, these states refer to the society and their relationship with their Zenzee, but as the book progresses, it’s clear it refers also to them and the Klang, and even the relationship between Doka and Seske.
Overall, another 3.5 stars. I’d recommend this series to anyone looking for unusual and complex worldbuilding, especially with an environmentalist focus.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hello, another gorgeous cover! This is the second in the Escaping Exodus series and absolutely cannot be read without reading the first. Trust me, the book is confusing enough without it!
The book picks up three years later with Doka and the rest of his people having made great strides in approaching a less harmful – a less parasitical – living situation with their Zenzee. It also means that a lot of sacrifices have had to be made, including leaving a chunk of the population still in stasis, not to mention numerous quality of life changes. Adalla and Seske remain part of the family unit, with Doka having taken two additional members, including Kallum, a trans man and childhood friend, in another break from tradition. A male Matris and all the changes are hard enough for their people to swallow, and all isn’t well on the other Zenzees, either, especially when it becomes clear that the Klang’s Zenzee is dying, spurring calls to allow a new hunt. Beset on all sides, Seske and Doka must decide who to trust, as the wrong choice will cost them – and their Zenzee – their lives.
“I admire his unrestrained passion for creating change. I vaguely remember what such optimism felt like.”
While this definitely took care of one of my main criticisms of the first book (how easily everyone seemingly accepted Doka as Matris and his reforms), I also found the ending of this book… interesting. The whole book, honestly, is a bit sad to me, though, I think, ultimately hopeful. The relationships between our main characters are cracking, there are enemies at every turn, and it’s becoming clear to them that there are even more dark secrets that underpin their society. As one of the premier heart workers, Adalla is constantly working, while Seske feels hollowed out, removed from the fiery woman who fought for her love and defied tradition. There’s something still between Doka and Seske, though a liaison between them is forbidden due to the structure of their family unit. And while Doka loves Kallum, Kallum has aspirations to become the first male senator, aspirations which are put on hold to keep from further eroding Doka’s tenuous control of the senate.
“Trust is such a fragile thing. It’s grown and sown, not commanded and demanded.”
The story is told from Doka and Seske’s alternating points of view, and while I found Seske much more bearable than in the last book, I still strongly preferred Doka. There’s several new characters introduced, including Bakti, son of one of the Klang leaders, and Cherelle, Doka’s wife, but my absolute favorite was Baradonna, Doka’s knife-happy accountancy guard. The Zenzee and all its bits are pieces are truly amazing worldbuilding, even with all the extended references to bile ducts and anuses (there’s three, as far as I can tell). It’s immersive and original, though at times a victim of its own success, as some of the more complicated societal structures and their taboos (or breaking of them, given we’re talking about Seske here) remained incomprehensible to me. Why is it such a big deal that the three triads that form a family not interact sexually? There’s no explanation given, but then again, I suppose it would be hard explaining some of my own culture’s taboos. The Klang civilization and all its contrasts to Doka and Seske’s daily lives was fascinating as well.
“Even the most heroic among us are still parasites—mouths always open, minds never so.”
In terms of cons, the pacing felt a bit jumpy, and there are a few time skips of several months that left me trying to figure out exactly what happened between one chapter and the next. And this was a bit of a big deal, because I desperately needed to know what was going on. The plot was compelling (the throttle fish plot alone was truly terrifying nightmare material, and let’s not even talk about the tentacles) and fascinating. The book is divided into four sections: “Parasitism,” “Commensalism,” “Mutualism,” and “Surviving Symbiosis.” In case you (like me) have forgotten high school biology, the basic Google definitions are that parasitism is where one organism lives off another, causing it harm; commensalism is when one organism benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped; mutualism is a mutually beneficial relationship for both; and symbiosis refers to the relationship between two organisms. On the surface, these states refer to the society and their relationship with their Zenzee, but as the book progresses, it’s clear it refers also to them and the Klang, and even the relationship between Doka and Seske.
Overall, another 3.5 stars. I’d recommend this series to anyone looking for unusual and complex worldbuilding, especially with an environmentalist focus.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 14, 2021
It has all the creativity and humor of its predecessor but hasn't worked on its weaknesses. Full review here: https://youtu.be/dxcFCL0R0w4
January 18, 2023
2.5 stars
This is a direct sequel to Escaping Exodus. I only state that because the synopsis for that book states it is a stand alone which it must have been then Drayden decided to continue on with the story later. Anyway, this is one of those books that was perfectly fine for me, nothing was glaringly wrong I just didn't love it for whatever reason. There was an ancestral mystery that was uncovered in this installment and that was probably my favorite part of it all but in general the book was just lacking any major wow factors for me. This wasn't a huge character study like all of Becky Chamber's sci-fi books where the plot was light but it's ok because spending time with the characters is the best part it's just that the plot was middling and the characters didn't make up for it. Also, the ending felt very rushed to me. It was like this huge life altering event occurred and then we deus ex machina'd our way out of it then the story ended like 20 pages later in a relatively unsatisfactory way.
Drayden did end this in a way that the story does feel complete where it is now but there is also room to continue on if they ever so choose. I know many people loved this second installment and would be very excited to read more in this world but I think I will likely pass if another installment ever does come out. That being said though, I still do plan to read other things by Drayden as this has been the first of 3 from this author that didn't ring all the way home with me.
This is a direct sequel to Escaping Exodus. I only state that because the synopsis for that book states it is a stand alone which it must have been then Drayden decided to continue on with the story later. Anyway, this is one of those books that was perfectly fine for me, nothing was glaringly wrong I just didn't love it for whatever reason. There was an ancestral mystery that was uncovered in this installment and that was probably my favorite part of it all but in general the book was just lacking any major wow factors for me. This wasn't a huge character study like all of Becky Chamber's sci-fi books where the plot was light but it's ok because spending time with the characters is the best part it's just that the plot was middling and the characters didn't make up for it. Also, the ending felt very rushed to me. It was like this huge life altering event occurred and then we deus ex machina'd our way out of it then the story ended like 20 pages later in a relatively unsatisfactory way.
Drayden did end this in a way that the story does feel complete where it is now but there is also room to continue on if they ever so choose. I know many people loved this second installment and would be very excited to read more in this world but I think I will likely pass if another installment ever does come out. That being said though, I still do plan to read other things by Drayden as this has been the first of 3 from this author that didn't ring all the way home with me.
November 14, 2021
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
Video Series Review (Spoiler Free): https://youtu.be/iLswE3eJpyQ
Like the first book the beginning of this novel had me hooked from the beginning and I loved returning to Seske's point of view and having Doka as the second perspective in this one. Exploring how this society is evolving and discovering their history we really interesting and like with the first book by only complaint was that the ending felt a bit rushed for my taste. Per usual the world and characters are why I loved reading Nicky Drayden's work, they are always so imaginative and a fun time!
Video Series Review (Spoiler Free): https://youtu.be/iLswE3eJpyQ
Like the first book the beginning of this novel had me hooked from the beginning and I loved returning to Seske's point of view and having Doka as the second perspective in this one. Exploring how this society is evolving and discovering their history we really interesting and like with the first book by only complaint was that the ending felt a bit rushed for my taste. Per usual the world and characters are why I loved reading Nicky Drayden's work, they are always so imaginative and a fun time!
March 18, 2022
This follow-up to Escaping Exodus shows the aftermath of its cataclysmic events a few years afterwards. It continues the intriguing weirdness of living in a ship that is actually a beast with all the accompanying biological ramifications (honestly, kind of gross ones sometimes). There are political wars to be won, some as continuations of issues from the first book but with added concerns like what to do with thousands of refugees from another ship. There are interesting conversations about egalitarianism and resisting constricting social traditions. There are conspiracies to uncover and careful socialization to unravel. I think one of the strengths of this book is creating a society with far different norms from any on Earth (restrictive, domineering matriarchy and standardized, tradition-bound polyamory) to show how any social mandate about gender and sexuality can be harmful even if it's not in a familiar form.
A strength of this book is the queer representation, including the poly relationships required in this society, where three throuples in specific configurations make a family unit. Before, it was background, but here it's front and center in the two main characters' lives, their family unit gifting both joy and drama throughout. There's also more time spent with a trans man side character since he is a husband in their family unit.
Something that bothered me with this book that I don't recall being an issue for me in the first is that dramatic happenings and bad decisions lead to a lot of harm done, but the emotional ramifications felt surface level. The plot moves so quickly that characters' reactions are lost in the milieu, and sometimes a shift in the plot called for an abrupt change to the characters' feelings or relationships that didn't feel organic to me. As an ace reader, I was also frustrated by how much the bonds between characters were based in attraction or sex without convincing (to me) work done on the emotional connection. This lent itself to some bizarre choices about when and where to have sex and who to hurt in the process (content warning for cheating). It left me unbalanced and uninvested, but someone who's wired differently might not be concerned since that's a purely personal reaction.
***mild spoilers from Escaping Exodus follow. Proceed with caution.***
One of my biggest complaints is the shift in POVs from the first book, largely because Adalla is downgraded from an intriguing and pivotal character with her own plot to a background character who works too much and mostly doesn't engage with any of the major happenings of the plot on a macro or micro scale. The addition of Doka's POV in her stead was welcome generally speaking but not as a replacement. It seemed like such a disservice to Adalla that she is sanded down to blandness, losing her edges, opinions, and vigor from before. Her behavior is a catalyst for Seske in some ways, and she is the source of much of Seske's angst and guilt, but she lacks her own vitality.
This was a disappointing conclusion to the duology for me, and a rushed ending left things on an unsatisfying note.
A strength of this book is the queer representation, including the poly relationships required in this society, where three throuples in specific configurations make a family unit. Before, it was background, but here it's front and center in the two main characters' lives, their family unit gifting both joy and drama throughout. There's also more time spent with a trans man side character since he is a husband in their family unit.
Something that bothered me with this book that I don't recall being an issue for me in the first is that dramatic happenings and bad decisions lead to a lot of harm done, but the emotional ramifications felt surface level. The plot moves so quickly that characters' reactions are lost in the milieu, and sometimes a shift in the plot called for an abrupt change to the characters' feelings or relationships that didn't feel organic to me. As an ace reader, I was also frustrated by how much the bonds between characters were based in attraction or sex without convincing (to me) work done on the emotional connection. This lent itself to some bizarre choices about when and where to have sex and who to hurt in the process (content warning for cheating). It left me unbalanced and uninvested, but someone who's wired differently might not be concerned since that's a purely personal reaction.
***mild spoilers from Escaping Exodus follow. Proceed with caution.***
One of my biggest complaints is the shift in POVs from the first book, largely because Adalla is downgraded from an intriguing and pivotal character with her own plot to a background character who works too much and mostly doesn't engage with any of the major happenings of the plot on a macro or micro scale. The addition of Doka's POV in her stead was welcome generally speaking but not as a replacement. It seemed like such a disservice to Adalla that she is sanded down to blandness, losing her edges, opinions, and vigor from before. Her behavior is a catalyst for Seske in some ways, and she is the source of much of Seske's angst and guilt, but she lacks her own vitality.
This was a disappointing conclusion to the duology for me, and a rushed ending left things on an unsatisfying note.
May 5, 2021
Update (May 4):
I don't know why this review took so long to write, but the story is so weird! I don't even know where to properly start.
I will say that the worldbuilding in Book 1 had me more engaged initially - largely because I was discovering this new, strange world and trying to understand the setting, the politics, and the society. I just fell in love with the concept.
Book 2 initially feels like much more of a character study. Which may be hit or miss for you - I certainly missed Adallah's perspective. Seske and Doka's dynamic didn't initially appeal to me. But I gradually started appreciating Doka's voice and his insights. And we are introduced to a new character, who is definitely one of my favourites!
Once you get into it, Symbiosis unpeels even more layers about the politics and the society. I loved learning about life on different Zenzee ships, and how the cultures evolved differently. There was also a lot more clarity on the family units (which I GREATLY appreciated), and how and why the society runs the way it does. There were also a few shocking twists about the underlying politics that support the matriarchy.
I didn't 100% love the ending, however it did feel true to the story. And I like that the main takeaway is that humans are the parasites.
I also want to highlight - Symbiosis is really funny! There were some scenes that literally had me burst out laughing. All I will say is - poor Doka!
Overall, I enjoyed this duology. It is one of the most creative concepts I've read in a long time. If you're up for some exciting, graphic, and occasionally creepy sci-fi, then check it out.
Thank you Harper Voyager US for sending #gifted copies to B2Weirdos!
--
This story just gets weirder and weirder! I like it tho, lol.
Full review whenever I can get my thoughts together.
I don't know why this review took so long to write, but the story is so weird! I don't even know where to properly start.
I will say that the worldbuilding in Book 1 had me more engaged initially - largely because I was discovering this new, strange world and trying to understand the setting, the politics, and the society. I just fell in love with the concept.
Book 2 initially feels like much more of a character study. Which may be hit or miss for you - I certainly missed Adallah's perspective. Seske and Doka's dynamic didn't initially appeal to me. But I gradually started appreciating Doka's voice and his insights. And we are introduced to a new character, who is definitely one of my favourites!
Once you get into it, Symbiosis unpeels even more layers about the politics and the society. I loved learning about life on different Zenzee ships, and how the cultures evolved differently. There was also a lot more clarity on the family units (which I GREATLY appreciated), and how and why the society runs the way it does. There were also a few shocking twists about the underlying politics that support the matriarchy.
I didn't 100% love the ending, however it did feel true to the story. And I like that the main takeaway is that humans are the parasites.
I also want to highlight - Symbiosis is really funny! There were some scenes that literally had me burst out laughing. All I will say is - poor Doka!
Overall, I enjoyed this duology. It is one of the most creative concepts I've read in a long time. If you're up for some exciting, graphic, and occasionally creepy sci-fi, then check it out.
Thank you Harper Voyager US for sending #gifted copies to B2Weirdos!
--
This story just gets weirder and weirder! I like it tho, lol.
Full review whenever I can get my thoughts together.
March 9, 2022
I love this science fiction story of humans in the distant future who have escaped their dying planet to travel the stars as unwanted passengers of starships, the Zenzee, a sentient race of space-faring, moon-sized creatures who navigate the space depths like the pod of whales. Seske's people have culled too many zenzees, caring more for their own comforts than the viability of these space creatures. Gender roles, class divisions, extended marriage groups, and straight up human politics and drama play an oversized role in this tale, which makes for a thrilling read. It's action-packed and the characters are engaging and endearing, although Seske herself can be a tad bit annoying. My criticism of this book lies mainly in its execution - there are so many surprises, twists, turns, and then several deus ex machina quick resolutions that left my head spinning. It would have been nice to play out some of the "earth-shattering" discoveries that are made by Doka, Seske, and others. Instead, we are quickly whisked off to the next drama after a quick resolution plays out, sometimes on half a page.
Overall, I enjoyed the read, but it pales in comparison to the much stronger initial book, Escaping Exodus.
Overall, I enjoyed the read, but it pales in comparison to the much stronger initial book, Escaping Exodus.
March 14, 2021
4 STARS ****
Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis is the second book in Nicky Drayden’s Escaping Exodus Duology. In the first book, we are introduced to alternating stories: Seske (the Matris & heir apparent), Adallah (a ‘lower’ class heartworker) who are best friends and are both in love with one another. Seske and Adallah live inside a Zenzee, a space-faring beast that has been colonized and carved into a tool for humanity’s survival. Seske faces a tough choice: should she silently become Matris (ruler of her people) and leave Adallah behind or choose to follow what she wants. Compounding this is coming to terms with how harmful their relationship with the Zenzee has been and that they may not be able to survive much longer.
In book two Drayden introduces the perspective of Doka (Seske’s husband) as well as Seske’s inner dialogue. Doka is now acting as Matris as Seske recovers from the end of book 1 & is struggling to make headway. The Senate does not want to give a man power, but Doka pours his heart into making conditions better on their Zenzee. Soon enough, members of nearby Zenzee find themselves aboard a dying ship and Doka & Seske invite them to board their Zenzee. Simultaneously, Seske/Doka/Adallah’s family learns that Charrelle (Doka’s wife) is expecting their Line’s first child. This revelation eventually leads to Doka and Seske learning that their people have been ‘culling’ male children for decades; turning them into half fish creatures. Both Doka and Seske still want to live in Symbiosis with their Zenzee, but politics and the traditions of abuse aboard the ship are working against them. Only once the Senate shifts and a failed coup forces them into desperation, does Seske ask the last person she’d want to work with for help. The end result is that their Zenzee can pseudo mind control their actions to ensure that neither being is overstepping their newly balanced symbiotic relationship.
I absolutely loved this series. The characters are diverse in many different ways (genders, class, culture, hierarchies) and while there are major divisions in class playing out, there is still a lot of fluidity in some parts of the cultures we discover. This book continues to explore the idea of humans not being able to live in balance and the consequences of our actions towards our environment. I also just loved the sheer imagination of this series. A space faring beast being molded for humanity to survive & detailed descriptions of the Third Ass, Sphincters, Tentacle Cooch and heart murmurs? Safe to say I’ll be reading everything Nicky Drayden writes! :D
Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis is the second book in Nicky Drayden’s Escaping Exodus Duology. In the first book, we are introduced to alternating stories: Seske (the Matris & heir apparent), Adallah (a ‘lower’ class heartworker) who are best friends and are both in love with one another. Seske and Adallah live inside a Zenzee, a space-faring beast that has been colonized and carved into a tool for humanity’s survival. Seske faces a tough choice: should she silently become Matris (ruler of her people) and leave Adallah behind or choose to follow what she wants. Compounding this is coming to terms with how harmful their relationship with the Zenzee has been and that they may not be able to survive much longer.
In book two Drayden introduces the perspective of Doka (Seske’s husband) as well as Seske’s inner dialogue. Doka is now acting as Matris as Seske recovers from the end of book 1 & is struggling to make headway. The Senate does not want to give a man power, but Doka pours his heart into making conditions better on their Zenzee. Soon enough, members of nearby Zenzee find themselves aboard a dying ship and Doka & Seske invite them to board their Zenzee. Simultaneously, Seske/Doka/Adallah’s family learns that Charrelle (Doka’s wife) is expecting their Line’s first child. This revelation eventually leads to Doka and Seske learning that their people have been ‘culling’ male children for decades; turning them into half fish creatures. Both Doka and Seske still want to live in Symbiosis with their Zenzee, but politics and the traditions of abuse aboard the ship are working against them. Only once the Senate shifts and a failed coup forces them into desperation, does Seske ask the last person she’d want to work with for help. The end result is that their Zenzee can pseudo mind control their actions to ensure that neither being is overstepping their newly balanced symbiotic relationship.
I absolutely loved this series. The characters are diverse in many different ways (genders, class, culture, hierarchies) and while there are major divisions in class playing out, there is still a lot of fluidity in some parts of the cultures we discover. This book continues to explore the idea of humans not being able to live in balance and the consequences of our actions towards our environment. I also just loved the sheer imagination of this series. A space faring beast being molded for humanity to survive & detailed descriptions of the Third Ass, Sphincters, Tentacle Cooch and heart murmurs? Safe to say I’ll be reading everything Nicky Drayden writes! :D
March 28, 2021
Symbiosis, true to its name was a story of Seske and Doka's people learning to coexist with the Zenzee after the events of the first book. But it's not easy and sometimes past actions and people come back to haunt the present.
This is one of the most unique sci-fi books that I've ever read. The world building is fascinating and I love the attention to detail. I really enjoyed the second book of this duology and felt like it came to a great resolution in the end. Much like the first book there was still plenty of bizarre things that left one feeling a bit unsettled. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and there was lots of messy relationship drama between the many wives and husbands of Seske and Doka which felt authentic and was entertaining. Mostly I appreciated seeing the adaptations and resilience of the society as they worked towards reaching symbiosis with their host Zenzee.
My only qualm in this book is that I greatly missed Adalla's perspective from the first book. While I understand the need to have Doka's perspective instead, I missed Adalla's more level-headed decision making and beast worker perspective.
This is one of the most unique sci-fi books that I've ever read. The world building is fascinating and I love the attention to detail. I really enjoyed the second book of this duology and felt like it came to a great resolution in the end. Much like the first book there was still plenty of bizarre things that left one feeling a bit unsettled. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and there was lots of messy relationship drama between the many wives and husbands of Seske and Doka which felt authentic and was entertaining. Mostly I appreciated seeing the adaptations and resilience of the society as they worked towards reaching symbiosis with their host Zenzee.
My only qualm in this book is that I greatly missed Adalla's perspective from the first book. While I understand the need to have Doka's perspective instead, I missed Adalla's more level-headed decision making and beast worker perspective.
March 12, 2021
✨4.5✨ You know what’s super satisfying? A bomb ending to a duology that grips you and makes you think with an expert use of metaphors, character development, and plot. SYMBIOSIS features fast-paced action and another dual-perspective, this time between Seske and Doka. Because these two characters are so different and also think differently, it is always clear whose head we’re in.
SYMBIOSIS also features a host of political intrigue mixed with familial and relationship drama, as well as alien drama! It continues and builds on the already fascinating premise of a civilization of people inhabiting a live space beast for survival, but at what cost? Much like in this first book, we have EXCELLENT descriptive storytelling. It’s impossible not to envision this world and creature that Drayden has created.
SYMBIOSIS is also a story about what it means to truly be symbiotic. To be symbiotic is to have a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups, and I think that, oftentimes, human beings conflate parasitic actions and symbiotic actions. I don’t want to give away too much, but I will say that I found the exploration of this theme to be expertly woven throughout the story in a multitude of ways. SYMBIOSIS questions what it means to let go of a toxic circumstance that you think is beneficial in order to truly thrive and move on. Nicky Drayden has definitely gained a fan, and I’m excited to read her other works, THE PREY OF GODS and TEMPER!
SYMBIOSIS also features a host of political intrigue mixed with familial and relationship drama, as well as alien drama! It continues and builds on the already fascinating premise of a civilization of people inhabiting a live space beast for survival, but at what cost? Much like in this first book, we have EXCELLENT descriptive storytelling. It’s impossible not to envision this world and creature that Drayden has created.
SYMBIOSIS is also a story about what it means to truly be symbiotic. To be symbiotic is to have a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups, and I think that, oftentimes, human beings conflate parasitic actions and symbiotic actions. I don’t want to give away too much, but I will say that I found the exploration of this theme to be expertly woven throughout the story in a multitude of ways. SYMBIOSIS questions what it means to let go of a toxic circumstance that you think is beneficial in order to truly thrive and move on. Nicky Drayden has definitely gained a fan, and I’m excited to read her other works, THE PREY OF GODS and TEMPER!
March 5, 2021
Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis picks up three years later with Seske, Adalla, and Doka coping with the aftermath of the events from Escaping Exodus.
🐙💫🌌🐙💫🌌🐙💫🌌🐙💫
Doka and Seske now tell a wider story of politics, discrimination, immigration, humanity, and how they will meet those challenges as individuals and a people. I wanted Adalla’s point of view, but I really enjoyed Doka’s (in spite of myself). Side note: I really missed a character from Escaping Exodus. I’m still not over it. 😩
💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫
If you love weird books that make you think while taking you on a good time. Pick up Escaping Exodus and Symbiosis. It will make you want to read everything Nicky Drayden has written. I know it did that to me.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and Nicky Drayden for providing an advanced copy for review.
P.S. I’m pretty sure I would end up like Ol’ Baxi Batzi on this ship 😒
🐙💫🌌🐙💫🌌🐙💫🌌🐙💫
Doka and Seske now tell a wider story of politics, discrimination, immigration, humanity, and how they will meet those challenges as individuals and a people. I wanted Adalla’s point of view, but I really enjoyed Doka’s (in spite of myself). Side note: I really missed a character from Escaping Exodus. I’m still not over it. 😩
💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫
If you love weird books that make you think while taking you on a good time. Pick up Escaping Exodus and Symbiosis. It will make you want to read everything Nicky Drayden has written. I know it did that to me.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and Nicky Drayden for providing an advanced copy for review.
P.S. I’m pretty sure I would end up like Ol’ Baxi Batzi on this ship 😒
September 1, 2021
If you liked Escaping Exodus you will probably also like Symbiosis. It was an excellent sequel and I continue to be entranced with the world building. I have the same issues where I didn't enjoy the cruelty and particularly the cruel and unusual punishments, but I did very much enjoy the exploration of ethics. How do you ethically inhabit space beasts? I enjoyed diplomatic tensions both within the pov culture and between them and the other cultures on other space beasts. It is fascinating to see how the shape of families could be so drastically different and how a culture's sense of family morals could be different. Overall, enjoyable and fascinating.
Sexual violence? No. Other contents warnings? Torture, abortion, genocide, gross body stuff, betrayal.
Sexual violence? No. Other contents warnings? Torture, abortion, genocide, gross body stuff, betrayal.
April 15, 2021
3.75
This takes place 3 years after the events of the last book, and we follow a character who was introduced in book 1. This feels way more political and I think because of that we get in depth explanations not only on the familial structure but of the mechanics of the space creatures and this society as a whole, which was a big help as I personally found it a little confusing when I first read Escaping Exodus. Plot points that felt dropped in book 1 are addressed, and in general this feels like the author went around cutting away loose threads to bring about a cohesive duology.
This takes place 3 years after the events of the last book, and we follow a character who was introduced in book 1. This feels way more political and I think because of that we get in depth explanations not only on the familial structure but of the mechanics of the space creatures and this society as a whole, which was a big help as I personally found it a little confusing when I first read Escaping Exodus. Plot points that felt dropped in book 1 are addressed, and in general this feels like the author went around cutting away loose threads to bring about a cohesive duology.
September 13, 2021
Trigger warnings: Body horror, pregnancy horror, abortion, genocide, sexism, gore, blood, vomit, death, murder, infidelity, PTSD, panic attacks, grief, animal death/cruelty
Overall rating: 4 stars
Style/writing: 3.5 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4 stars
Overall rating: 4 stars
Style/writing: 3.5 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4 stars
July 15, 2022
4.5 Stars
I absolutely loved following Seska and then getting Doka as another POV in this one! I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved learning more about the history of this society and how it evolves and affects its members. I loved the exploration of relationships and family. I wish the ending had been drawn out a bit more, but I had such a great time with this book!
I absolutely loved following Seska and then getting Doka as another POV in this one! I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved learning more about the history of this society and how it evolves and affects its members. I loved the exploration of relationships and family. I wish the ending had been drawn out a bit more, but I had such a great time with this book!
January 16, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Like the prior volume, Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis is a feast for the senses. For me, the best part of the book were the descriptions of alien creatures and settings within the space whale— the throttle fish with human eyes, canoes made of bone, and so on. It's quite often grotesque ("the third anus") and always mesmerizing.
The gender dynamics are worth note. Leadership is matrilineal, with men functioning primarily as sperm donors and eye candy. At the beginning of the book, Doka has assumed the title of Matris, leader of the ship, but he's constantly at odds with the Senate because of his gender. This set-up reminds me of Ruth Bader Ginsberg's impact on 1970s laws about purchasing beer in Oklahoma. Stay with me for a sec. In the 70s, women could purchase beer at age 18, but men had to wait until 21. RBG, being the razer-sharp ACLU lawyer she was, shepherded the case to the Supreme Court because she believed that a case where men saw gender discrimination would be an effective hook for a court of all male Supreme Court justices. And it was! The law was overturned, and Craig v. Boren is still used as precedent today. All that to say, I hope that everyone reading this sees the ridiculousness of leadership linked to a particular gender.
Hopefully I've indicated the book is well worth reading, because it is. On the downside, the plot itself felt rather episodic and disjointed, in part because we rarely see the build-up of tension that cause dramatic actions from many of the characters, like Baradonna's disproportionate response in the Senate or Doka and Seske's relationship. It gives the book a sense of jumping from point to point instead of a dramatic arc. There are also some complex social structures at play, a bit like joined polycules, and I didn't feel like I knew nearly enough as a reader to understand why characters were upset or empathize with them when taboos occurred. I'd rate the book 3.5, rounded to 4.
A quick note on the ending without spoilers. Given I'm reading this at the beginning of 2021 with a second impeachment for Trump underway and catastrophic climate change edging ever closer, I found the ending's solution to resolve political and environmental issues an incredibly tragic and clever commentary on what a mess we're in now and the likelihood of it resolving well. As the first novel does, this provides an immersive yet alien experience with characters struggling with some of the same issues we do.
Like the prior volume, Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis is a feast for the senses. For me, the best part of the book were the descriptions of alien creatures and settings within the space whale— the throttle fish with human eyes, canoes made of bone, and so on. It's quite often grotesque ("the third anus") and always mesmerizing.
The gender dynamics are worth note. Leadership is matrilineal, with men functioning primarily as sperm donors and eye candy. At the beginning of the book, Doka has assumed the title of Matris, leader of the ship, but he's constantly at odds with the Senate because of his gender. This set-up reminds me of Ruth Bader Ginsberg's impact on 1970s laws about purchasing beer in Oklahoma. Stay with me for a sec. In the 70s, women could purchase beer at age 18, but men had to wait until 21. RBG, being the razer-sharp ACLU lawyer she was, shepherded the case to the Supreme Court because she believed that a case where men saw gender discrimination would be an effective hook for a court of all male Supreme Court justices. And it was! The law was overturned, and Craig v. Boren is still used as precedent today. All that to say, I hope that everyone reading this sees the ridiculousness of leadership linked to a particular gender.
Hopefully I've indicated the book is well worth reading, because it is. On the downside, the plot itself felt rather episodic and disjointed, in part because we rarely see the build-up of tension that cause dramatic actions from many of the characters, like Baradonna's disproportionate response in the Senate or Doka and Seske's relationship. It gives the book a sense of jumping from point to point instead of a dramatic arc. There are also some complex social structures at play, a bit like joined polycules, and I didn't feel like I knew nearly enough as a reader to understand why characters were upset or empathize with them when taboos occurred. I'd rate the book 3.5, rounded to 4.
A quick note on the ending without spoilers. Given I'm reading this at the beginning of 2021 with a second impeachment for Trump underway and catastrophic climate change edging ever closer, I found the ending's solution to resolve political and environmental issues an incredibly tragic and clever commentary on what a mess we're in now and the likelihood of it resolving well. As the first novel does, this provides an immersive yet alien experience with characters struggling with some of the same issues we do.
March 19, 2021
This had the same flaws as the first book but was missing some of the strengths. The alternating narrators had voices that sounded the same (more so than in Book 1, because in that one Adalla used some working-class slang), the relationship between Seske and Doka was inexplicable (what makes her keep shifting from liking him to not and back, other than a need to advance the plot?), and it's hard to get into the story of a man trying to gain power in a matriarchy, although I liked Doka himself. And I think it's odd that nobody ever questions how Sisterkin was treated - she's just seen as evil, but I see her as having been cheated out of a loving family.
The best part of Book 1 was the descriptions of life inside the Zenzee. It was fascinating imagining people walking around inside a beast's organs. There was a bit less of that in this book, as we no longer had Adalla's perspective as a heart-worker and bone-worker. Losing her perspective also meant we lost the window into the lower classes, and the insight on how well-intended rulers had gaps in their knowledge of their community. Oddly, the author seemed to get better at noting how much time had passed, as if she'd read my review of the first book :)
Ultimately I found the plot of this less engaging, as it seemed to shift so many times that it's hard to say what the book was about.
The best part of Book 1 was the descriptions of life inside the Zenzee. It was fascinating imagining people walking around inside a beast's organs. There was a bit less of that in this book, as we no longer had Adalla's perspective as a heart-worker and bone-worker. Losing her perspective also meant we lost the window into the lower classes, and the insight on how well-intended rulers had gaps in their knowledge of their community. Oddly, the author seemed to get better at noting how much time had passed, as if she'd read my review of the first book :)
Ultimately I found the plot of this less engaging, as it seemed to shift so many times that it's hard to say what the book was about.
August 23, 2022
Not a bad book, and I liked some elements, but overall it didn't do it for me. Partially just focused on things I was less interested in, including a very manipulative character, but I also have some critiques. I think the book suffers for how big a time span it tries to cover. There are big time jumps, so we end up with just a few moments among multiple years. For me, focusing on the end of that, where the crux of the story happens, would have worked better and allowed more space to get to know the new/newer characters better. As it was, I didn't feel attached to anyone but Seske, Doka, and Adalla (all carry-overs from the first book), and I found myself not caring much what happened to the characters or understanding their reactions. Overall: I wish Drayden had given this book more focus, and I wasn't personally that interested in some of the topics she covered.
Rep: Black, racial and cultural diversity, language, different marriage/romance structures, poly, M/M, W/W, Trans*, gender discussion
cw: body horror, pregnancy horror, spores, grief, PTSD, nightmares, forced abortion, eugenics
Rep: Black, racial and cultural diversity, language, different marriage/romance structures, poly, M/M, W/W, Trans*, gender discussion
cw: body horror, pregnancy horror, spores, grief, PTSD, nightmares, forced abortion, eugenics
March 13, 2021
3.5/5. So this book was a wild ride. Definitely liked it more than book 1 and begrudgingly started to like Doka. The ending was definitely chef's kiss. While I don't feel like the author redeemed all the glaring issues with book one, they were not as distracting this book as they were book 1. The characters are better fleshed out this book as well though their motivations still seem a bit shallow. Regardless of the choices I did not like from the author, I didn't enjoy the resolution in the end and the ultimate overarching theme: Humans are the parasite.
March 14, 2021
Wow what a weird book!
Symbiosis is the second book in this series and this time it follows Doka and Seske as they continue to cope with life onboard the creatures known as the Zenzee. This book really dives deeper into the exploration of the ethics behind controlling and exploiting other sentient beings. With Doka as the new Matris, we get to see the political maneuvers used to run such a society. And in a society that has been built through a matriachy, Doka deals with the challenges of this gender role reversal and highlights questions on equality.
Seske is struggling to cope with the trauma of what happened to her in the events in the first book. She is now married and in a family unit with Doka, Adalla and a few new characters, which isn't without its difficulties. I found Seske to be quite different from Escaping Exodus and was not as drawn to her or the progression of her storyline. Several times the story is very rushed which caused key details to be skipped and confused the understanding.
The expansion of the world and introduction of a new community added an interesting dynamic. I appreciated the imaginative world building and questions it raised about social inequalities, gender hierarchies and the ethics of exploitation. If you are a lover of science fiction, this book is definitely for you.
Thank you to Harper Voyagerus for the copy to review.
Symbiosis is the second book in this series and this time it follows Doka and Seske as they continue to cope with life onboard the creatures known as the Zenzee. This book really dives deeper into the exploration of the ethics behind controlling and exploiting other sentient beings. With Doka as the new Matris, we get to see the political maneuvers used to run such a society. And in a society that has been built through a matriachy, Doka deals with the challenges of this gender role reversal and highlights questions on equality.
Seske is struggling to cope with the trauma of what happened to her in the events in the first book. She is now married and in a family unit with Doka, Adalla and a few new characters, which isn't without its difficulties. I found Seske to be quite different from Escaping Exodus and was not as drawn to her or the progression of her storyline. Several times the story is very rushed which caused key details to be skipped and confused the understanding.
The expansion of the world and introduction of a new community added an interesting dynamic. I appreciated the imaginative world building and questions it raised about social inequalities, gender hierarchies and the ethics of exploitation. If you are a lover of science fiction, this book is definitely for you.
Thank you to Harper Voyagerus for the copy to review.
March 1, 2022
Okay, so I enjoyed this one a lot more than I did the first book because although there are a lot of things that make me frustrated about the world things were moving in a directions that I could get behind, and then... things changed and I was frustrated and angry, but I still enjoyed the book for the most part. I liked the ending I just wish it was a little longer so we could really absorb what was going on a little better.
I will probably re-read this duology someday and I think I'll enjoy it more on a second read because I think the world and the overall setup was fascinating and had a lot of interesting pieces to it that might be more enjoyable now that I know what to expect.
I will probably re-read this duology someday and I think I'll enjoy it more on a second read because I think the world and the overall setup was fascinating and had a lot of interesting pieces to it that might be more enjoyable now that I know what to expect.
November 26, 2022
I was slightly less enamoured with this book than the first, but I'm a mood reader and I had a drastic change of mood part way through. It continues to build on the interesting world that the author created in book one, and the social justice themes remain intriguing for me. There were some things I liked less than others, but overall it was an engaging, strange world and I won't soon forget it.
December 5, 2023
I have to admit, I didn't like this one as much as the first one. I think the relationship politics were a little too complicated. It made much of this book confusing. Which also led to a disconnect with the characters. I do still think the duology is worth the read though.
August 3, 2021
One thing is for certain--I can't be faulted for consistency. I had thoughts on this novel, and went to go and see what I thought of the prior novel. Voila, they are almost identical:
In this second installment (concluding installment?), the world continues to be fascinating and novel. The atmosphere continues to be creepy and squicky. Seske continues to scream and lash out, although it's been a few years and she's not longer the unreliable narrator child queen she was in Escaping Exodus. And, of course, the Gender Commentary in a world where men are dying out continues to be very IN YOUR FACE.
Zero spoiler background for the series as a whole: humanity fled Earth due to some sort of unknown calamity. After years of spaceships, they came across giant floating space whales (Zenzee) who have oxygenated insides, and are large enough to essentially "host" human clans. For eons, they've lived on a Zenzee until its body can no longer host their needs, and then had an "Exodus" ceremony where the vast majority of the society is put into stasis until a new space whale can be hunted down and colonized for comfort. The entire infrastructure of their society is disassembled and reassembled each time, with a lot of attendant ceremony. Everything is sticky and humid and gooey--they are literally living inside a giant space whale. It's technologically advanced (obviously) but at the same time very old fashioned--superstition and tradition dominate, both to keep ties to the Earth That Was and to maintain cohesion.
So, to set the scene for this book (and spoilers for Escaping Exodus herein): this book flips between the perspectives of Doku, the man who Seske married in the prior book, and Seske herself. Their marriage has been annulled but the Senate was convinced to give Doku, emotional frail man that he is, the power of Matris (head) that would otherwise have been Seske. Seske has no interest in being Matris anymore, after the trauma she underwent years earlier as their Zenzee's temporary egg womb (the Zenzee are, again, the giant space whales inside of which which all the Earth refugees have made their homes). In the years since, the society has decided to stop being so rapacious when it comes to plundering their Zenzee's body and is trying to live in harmony with her. No more induced fever to maintain a warm environment--everyone is just a little cold these days. No more carving out bone for fancy houses for the high class made by a class of vat-grown worker girls who are turned into mush after they're finished--everyone lives in houses made of composted dirt bricks (or something).
And look, not everyone is happy with that development. It's being spearheaded by frail emotional MAN Doku, without the support of the (all female) Senate, who has already shocked the community by setting up a heart-throuple consisting of two men and a woman (this was allowed because the other man is a transgender man who refused to give up his matrilineal names at his coming-of-trans ceremony) (so he is begrudgingly given the barest semblances of female power alongside all the side eyeing of men) (as I said, it's not subtle). Why can't they just, like, be a little better about ruining their Zenzees and retain some of the creature comforts they used to have?
There are a lot of messages in this book, and the main one might actually be that humans are terrible and plunder every environment that they're given. As long as we're on top, and not troubled, and the things that we're controlling aren't too sentient (i.e., sentient enough to fight back in a way that we understand) then everything is fine and we can continue to gorge ourselves on resources without worrying too much about it.
This book lost and found me in turns, with parts that rung true and parts that seemed out of left field. Entire plot points were just dropped (was no one held accountable for the grisettes? Is the fact that their lives mattered so little another Message on how we as a society treat those who labor to make our lives easier?) but not in service of tightening up the remaining plot--we just added more points to keep the same number of balls in the air (throttle fish???). Despite Seske and Adalla's status as the story's OTP, I never felt like their relationship was as fundamental as Drayden wants it to be--maybe because Adalla is always running offscreen to deal with the heart .
The setting is super cool for these books, and I would have happily read an entire book on just the way the various beastworkers have to manage their various organs. I just wish the main emotional plot had been as interesting.
I think this was four stars for the world building and generalized atmosphere, and knocked down one star for the combination of Very Unsubtle Gender Commentary and lots of screaming/lashing out.
In this second installment (concluding installment?), the world continues to be fascinating and novel. The atmosphere continues to be creepy and squicky. Seske continues to scream and lash out, although it's been a few years and she's not longer the unreliable narrator child queen she was in Escaping Exodus. And, of course, the Gender Commentary in a world where men are dying out continues to be very IN YOUR FACE.
Zero spoiler background for the series as a whole: humanity fled Earth due to some sort of unknown calamity. After years of spaceships, they came across giant floating space whales (Zenzee) who have oxygenated insides, and are large enough to essentially "host" human clans. For eons, they've lived on a Zenzee until its body can no longer host their needs, and then had an "Exodus" ceremony where the vast majority of the society is put into stasis until a new space whale can be hunted down and colonized for comfort. The entire infrastructure of their society is disassembled and reassembled each time, with a lot of attendant ceremony. Everything is sticky and humid and gooey--they are literally living inside a giant space whale. It's technologically advanced (obviously) but at the same time very old fashioned--superstition and tradition dominate, both to keep ties to the Earth That Was and to maintain cohesion.
So, to set the scene for this book (and spoilers for Escaping Exodus herein): this book flips between the perspectives of Doku, the man who Seske married in the prior book, and Seske herself. Their marriage has been annulled but the Senate was convinced to give Doku, emotional frail man that he is, the power of Matris (head) that would otherwise have been Seske. Seske has no interest in being Matris anymore, after the trauma she underwent years earlier as their Zenzee's temporary egg womb (the Zenzee are, again, the giant space whales inside of which which all the Earth refugees have made their homes). In the years since, the society has decided to stop being so rapacious when it comes to plundering their Zenzee's body and is trying to live in harmony with her. No more induced fever to maintain a warm environment--everyone is just a little cold these days. No more carving out bone for fancy houses for the high class made by a class of vat-grown worker girls who are turned into mush after they're finished--everyone lives in houses made of composted dirt bricks (or something).
And look, not everyone is happy with that development. It's being spearheaded by frail emotional MAN Doku, without the support of the (all female) Senate, who has already shocked the community by setting up a heart-throuple consisting of two men and a woman (this was allowed because the other man is a transgender man who refused to give up his matrilineal names at his coming-of-trans ceremony) (so he is begrudgingly given the barest semblances of female power alongside all the side eyeing of men) (as I said, it's not subtle). Why can't they just, like, be a little better about ruining their Zenzees and retain some of the creature comforts they used to have?
There are a lot of messages in this book, and the main one might actually be that humans are terrible and plunder every environment that they're given. As long as we're on top, and not troubled, and the things that we're controlling aren't too sentient (i.e., sentient enough to fight back in a way that we understand) then everything is fine and we can continue to gorge ourselves on resources without worrying too much about it.
This book lost and found me in turns, with parts that rung true and parts that seemed out of left field. Entire plot points were just dropped (was no one held accountable for the grisettes? Is the fact that their lives mattered so little another Message on how we as a society treat those who labor to make our lives easier?) but not in service of tightening up the remaining plot--we just added more points to keep the same number of balls in the air (throttle fish???). Despite Seske and Adalla's status as the story's OTP, I never felt like their relationship was as fundamental as Drayden wants it to be--maybe because Adalla is always running offscreen to deal with the heart .
The setting is super cool for these books, and I would have happily read an entire book on just the way the various beastworkers have to manage their various organs. I just wish the main emotional plot had been as interesting.
April 9, 2022
More of the incredibly interesting world from the first book, with some additional levels of intrigued. Like the first book it also seems like at the very end it wraps up way too quickly, but still a satisfying and thought-provoking ending. So much of both books deal with how we relate to one another and what we owe ourselves, and everyone else.
November 21, 2022
I had a bit of a sequel feel to this book. The inspiration of the original wears off and the themes and storyline become too forced.
The main character is too special, too unique and too much of a hero for my taste. The narrative develops in shocks and with little preparation.
I am not a fan. it just didn't speak to me as Exodus did.
The main character is too special, too unique and too much of a hero for my taste. The narrative develops in shocks and with little preparation.
I am not a fan. it just didn't speak to me as Exodus did.
January 5, 2022
I enjoyed Escaping Exodus, the first in this series, but this installment is a letdown. There's a lot more political intrigue than sci-fi, and when we do get interesting sci-fi elements like mutant creatures and weird alien/human interaction, it's barely explained. The political intrigue at least kept me reading, but the last 20 pages or so just splutters, dropping this review from three stars to two.
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