Last Updated on December 20, 2022 by ThoughtsStained
I honestly don’t even know how to write this review, because I loved this book that fucking much. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chamber is a book that, even as a casual sci-fi reader, you hear about. And it seemed to have some of my favorite tropes involved: found family and misfits coming together. only this time, it was in space (as opposed to the fantasy setting I’m used to seeing this trope in). It also had been claimed to be a feel good, fun story to read–and, if I ever needed to find a story that fit that description, it’s during a global pandemic.
Oh, friends. This book delivered so much more than what was promised.
An ARC copy was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Book Info
Publisher: | Release Date: | Pages:
Age Range: | Genre: | Format: | Source:
BLURB
On the Page
Referenced
Minor
Content warnings are written up by me, unless specified. Subject to being an incomplete list, though guided by referencing this list and trying to highlight as many as I can identify.
Review
Likes
- Tropes and Good Feelings Delivered: I can’t describe how much I loved this book. It might be one of my favorite books of all time. It definitely made me feel good. It was so much fun to read. It was a wonderful example of the found family, misfit group trope and made me not only want to read more of it, but include that in one of my future novels.
- Inclusivity Eye-Opener: It was gloriously diverse and so naturally so as to be refreshing; the kind of book that makes reading books with less diversity feel boring, dull and outdated, in comparison. It had a wide range of characters who I adored and just want to read all of their adventures. It showed me how to masterfully pull off multiple POVs, yet making each of them incredibility distinct and purposeful. It did an incredible job with it’s worldbuilding. It gave me comfort, as a writer, that you can have a slower build-up to the climax of a story, yet still write an incredibly enchanting and engaging narrative.
- The Gut-Punch of an Ending:
- And it did something I’m not used to seeing, where it continually set up moments of tension and I’d go, “Okay, now this is the part where it all goes down hill and it loses this fun, adventure feel that I am LIVING for right now and destroys my heart. This is it.” And then, it wouldn’t be. It’d be resolved and we’d continue on our way, learning about a new culture, laughing at new jokes and interactions, becoming enamored by new characters and places all over again. That is, until the end.
Dislikes
- This is left empty on purposes, because there is nothing.
Rating
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was incredible, deserving to be an entirely different tier, all on it’s own. I loved this book and immediately bought the next two–something I never do. I just loved everything about this so much and I’m so excited to continue reading. And you’d better believe I’ll read anything that Chambers writes, going forward, without hesitation.
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ARRRRR!!! Becky Chambers is one of me favourites. And I found out there is going to be a fourth Wayfarers book. I am beyond excited. So glad ye got book two. Just be aware that all three of the books in the series are completely different in terms of tone and scope. Of course I personally adore that.
x The Captain
WAIT, really!? I’m going to definitely be looking into that. And I realized after purchasing the second and third that they are different, and while I was initially disappointed (just because I love the first crew so much), I’m still excited to see what Chambers has written!
I’m so glad you loved it! I was really drawn in by the found family, and by how it was, in it’s own way, a series of mini adventures. A Closed and Common Orbit is very different in structure but still wonderful. I still need to read the last book in the series, but I’m so looking forward to it!
Ooooh, if the sequel has your endorsement, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to completely love it!
I’m glad you liked this book! I read this book a while ago and loved it so much! I somehow still haven’t read the next book, even though I’ve owned it for ages, but I think I’m just worried it won’t live up to the first one (especially as it centres on different characters).
Great review 🙂
Aw, thank you so much, Laura! I feel that. I won’t lie, once I realized it centers on different characters, I was a *bit* disappointment, but I’m still excited to read it and hope it lives up to the hype!!