Play Book Tag discussion

I really liked The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and was looking forward to this sequel. It fell short for me. So 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I did appreciate some very thought provoking ideas, such as putting an AI (artificial intelligence) in a human body, and what that must feel like to the AI; having a bond with an AI that essentially raised you and saved your life; and interesting ideas around gender and parenting. I also found Pepper's backstory very compelling and that is what kept me in this book. But not enough happens in the present timeline of the book to give these questions and ideas a big push forward. Perhaps that happens in the 3rd book? I don't know if I will get to #3.

The third book is about completely different characters. Probably my least favorite of the three, but she does a good job of creating realistic characters.

Each is so different that you really can't compare. I don't see how they can call this a "series". It really is just three stories set in the same universe, but the planets and the people are all different.

Nice review. I appreciated the thought provoking ideas as well. It was just what I was looking for at the time I read it. I've been very attracted to AI stories this year apparently. I loved the characters and the gender bending alien. It sounds like book one has a stronger plot, but I was happy with this book. If sci fi wins for April, I might try to get book one. My library might open up as early as April 1, but I'm not counting on it.