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simonlorden 's review for:
Ardulum: First Don
by J.S. Fields
This book was May 2018's Sapphic Book Club read hosted by @sapphicbookclub.
Note: I wrote this review in January 2018, I'm just reposting it for the book club.
**
I received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Read on my blog.
Ardulum is truly a sci-fi story - not just humans vaguely in space, but many developed alien species. For me, the strongest aspect of the book was worldbuilding, especially the different aliens. I loved how they didn't have the same binary gender system as humans do - one species for example has three genders, and another one has only one gender where all members use the same nonbinary pronoun. (According to the author bio, she is nonbinary and uses she/her pronouns, so it's even #ownvoices for that aspect!) I also loved other unique aspects of the cultures other than gender, for example all members of a species sharing the same name.
A unique and surprisingly clever part was the quote before every single chapter - from a radio broadcast, from a protest, from an in-world document... I feel like these quotes helped make the world feel real, show that it goes on even outside our protagonists.
Unfortunately, there were also some parts where all the foreign words and the explanation of the Ardulans' powers (all that talk of cellulose and chemical bonds) went over my head and I found it difficult to visualise what was happening, but I suppose that's my own personal problem.
I also had some complicated feelings about the metamorphosis in one of the species - I understand that they are alien beings and thus work differently, but it was still strange to see a character who was referred to as "child" for 80% of the book suddenly act and be treated like an adult while basically no time passed for anyone else.
Overall, I'd say that I loved the creative worldbuilding and the myths surrounding the vanishing planet of Ardulum. The plot felt boring at times and there were parts that were confusing or vaguely uncomfortable to read, but there wasn't really anything I hated about this book.
The book ended in a place with a lot of open questions, so I am curious to see what the sequel makes of this!
(That being said, if you see it being labelled "Lesbian" on Goodreads and go in with those expectations, you may be disappointed because there really isn't a mention of the main character's sexuality in this first book.)
My rating: ★★★★☆
Note: I wrote this review in January 2018, I'm just reposting it for the book club.
**
I received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Read on my blog.
Ardulum is truly a sci-fi story - not just humans vaguely in space, but many developed alien species. For me, the strongest aspect of the book was worldbuilding, especially the different aliens. I loved how they didn't have the same binary gender system as humans do - one species for example has three genders, and another one has only one gender where all members use the same nonbinary pronoun. (According to the author bio, she is nonbinary and uses she/her pronouns, so it's even #ownvoices for that aspect!) I also loved other unique aspects of the cultures other than gender, for example all members of a species sharing the same name.
A unique and surprisingly clever part was the quote before every single chapter - from a radio broadcast, from a protest, from an in-world document... I feel like these quotes helped make the world feel real, show that it goes on even outside our protagonists.
Unfortunately, there were also some parts where all the foreign words and the explanation of the Ardulans' powers (all that talk of cellulose and chemical bonds) went over my head and I found it difficult to visualise what was happening, but I suppose that's my own personal problem.
I also had some complicated feelings about the metamorphosis in one of the species - I understand that they are alien beings and thus work differently, but it was still strange to see a character who was referred to as "child" for 80% of the book suddenly act and be treated like an adult while basically no time passed for anyone else.
Overall, I'd say that I loved the creative worldbuilding and the myths surrounding the vanishing planet of Ardulum. The plot felt boring at times and there were parts that were confusing or vaguely uncomfortable to read, but there wasn't really anything I hated about this book.
The book ended in a place with a lot of open questions, so I am curious to see what the sequel makes of this!
(That being said, if you see it being labelled "Lesbian" on Goodreads and go in with those expectations, you may be disappointed because there really isn't a mention of the main character's sexuality in this first book.)
My rating: ★★★★☆