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A review by clacksee
Space Unicorn Blues by T.J. Berry
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is not funny.
But it’s unicorns! In space! How can it not be funny?
Gary’s an asexual human/unicorn halfbreed, who murdered the woman he loved. Jenny held Gary captive for two years and tortured him to force him to power the ship she stole from him. Ricky is a liar and a cheater and a ruthless profiteer. Jim is a cantankerous old git.
Can they work together long enough to get the job done?
This book has so much heart. The characters are so achingly layered, so genuine in their flaws. None of it is whitewashed. There’s growth and development and endless striving for atonement but the wrongs are still real; they’re not diminished or forgotten.
A marvellously diverse cast set against a fantastic-yet-all-too believable world.
Comparisons? I'm not sure where to start. There are definitely shades of McMaster-Bujold's Vorkosigan saga to it. I suppose, much like Ethan of Athos, it looks (on the surface) like a story that should be hilarious. And while both have their moments, they're both so much more than that.
But it’s unicorns! In space! How can it not be funny?
Gary’s an asexual human/unicorn halfbreed, who murdered the woman he loved. Jenny held Gary captive for two years and tortured him to force him to power the ship she stole from him. Ricky is a liar and a cheater and a ruthless profiteer. Jim is a cantankerous old git.
Can they work together long enough to get the job done?
This book has so much heart. The characters are so achingly layered, so genuine in their flaws. None of it is whitewashed. There’s growth and development and endless striving for atonement but the wrongs are still real; they’re not diminished or forgotten.
A marvellously diverse cast set against a fantastic-yet-all-too believable world.
Comparisons? I'm not sure where to start. There are definitely shades of McMaster-Bujold's Vorkosigan saga to it. I suppose, much like Ethan of Athos, it looks (on the surface) like a story that should be hilarious. And while both have their moments, they're both so much more than that.