Robyn

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Robyn is Currently Reading

Robyn is currently reading

Shards of Earth (The Final Architecture, #1)

by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: hardcover, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in April 2024

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Robyn said: " Thanking my lucky stars for my local bookstore as I found a beautiful hardcover copy of this in the used section, so talk about a steal! This is my first Tchiakovsky and I certainly wasn't disappointed!

Shards of Earth paints a picture of the far fut Thanking my lucky stars for my local bookstore as I found a beautiful hardcover copy of this in the used section, so talk about a steal! This is my first Tchiakovsky and I certainly wasn't disappointed!

Shards of Earth paints a picture of the far future decades after a war with the horrors that are the Architects, moon-shaped satellites that can literally twist and peel planets like an orange. Along with various alien races, an army made of genetic super soldier women, and humanity as a whole fighting against them, we have Intermediaries, specially modified humans who can psychically connect with the Architects and turn them away from planets and wiping out all life across the galaxy. Idris Tellemmier is one of these Intermediaries (or "Ints") that helps turn the tide of, and effectively end the war. Years later the galaxy is fractured in political turmoil and the looming threat of the Architects returning is back. Idris meanwhile, is hiding out on a ship as a deep space pilot and trying to forget his dark past as a war veteran.

As you can see above, the story is ambitious and I will admit, at times was hard to follow. Everything after the opening battle sequence is an information dump. TONS of alien species, planets, and governing bodies all being word vomited onto you page by page and it was definitely tough to keep everything and everyone straight (thankfully there's a glossary at the back which came in handy!). My personal reading preferences are for authors who can paint a clear picture of what places, people, and things look like and I must say Tchaikovsky kind of struggled with this. I think there was only a handful of times where he even described what color something was, like an alien or someone's hair or something. Because of that, it was a bit hard to picture in my mind's eye and left a lot to interpretation.

Despite that, the story is rock solid. The horrors of Unspace, an area between real space where you can go mad within minutes, was written very well and reminded me a lot of Event Horizon with the way it was described. A looming presence that one can feel and can drive you mad, very Lovecraftian! And the threat of the Architects and the destruction they brought upon planets is described very well too. I will say Tchiakovsky's major strength here is writing the battle scenes. The opening was fantastic and hooked me in and everything started to fall into place with the information dump that was at the beginning towards the end so I'd say the beginning and end were my favorite parts.

All in all, I'd rate this book a solid 4 stars. I do wish there was more descriptions with the various worlds, aliens, etc, as it was hard to picture or imagine where the characters were at or what it looked like and that was the biggest thorn in my side. But the story is promising, the characters are likable, and the enemy is daunting. Can't wait to start Eyes of the Void next! ...more "

Apr 24, 2024 07:33PM · see review

Robyn’s Quotes

“I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in the kindness of human beings. I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and angels.”
― Pearl S. Buck