Tag Archives: the final architecture series

books, Reviews, science fiction, Space opera

Lords of Uncreation (The Final Architecture 3) by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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Stars: 4.5 out of 5

This is a fitting conclusion to an epic trilogy. I must say that Mr. Tchaikovsky created a truly unique world. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with concepts of real and unreal (or similar) that are so well integrated into the story. This world feels lived in. It has an inner logic and it works. 

Things have gotten from bad to worse since the end of the previous book. You would think that a treat of truly galactic proportions would unite people, right? You couldn’t be more wrong. Humanity fractures and splinters, because each faction has its own idea of how exactly humanity will be saved, one which leaves them in power over the rescued remnants, of course. And none of those ideas include taking the war to the slavemasters of the Architects. 

I even understand why. Fighting something so unimaginable and unreachable is daunting, to say the least. It’s much easier for the human psyche to find a smaller enemy and concentrate on them. Hence Hugh and the Parthenon are at each other throats again. And the Boyarin want their Arcs back. The galaxy is a mess even without Architects popping up at random solar systems to turn inhabited planets into tragic art. 

And the crew of the Vulture God is still stuck in the middle of it all. Though I’m not sure if they are a crew anymore since only Oli and Kit are technically on the ship itself. Idris and Kris are on the Eye, where Idris is killing himself, trying to find the mysterious Masters who send the Architects out into the real. Solace is also there with the Partheny Ints, but it seems like everyone has their own agenda now. Until all hell breaks lose, that is. 

If I had one complaint about this book it’s that the first 30% of it or so drags. I understand that all the pieces had to be put on the board and set in motion, but it made for a rather boring read. However, once the attack on the Eye happens, things pick up. And after Anku brings the hammer down on the whole system, the action doesn’t let down until the end. 

All in all, I liked how things got wrapped up in this book. And the fate that befell the Lords of Uncreation was a fine example of poetic justice. I was a bit surprised bout Oli, but it makes sense and is in tune with her character. Solace had a huge crisis of faith in this book, and I’m happy with the choice she made. Also, she is a badass. The only non-Int to stand in the middle of creation, face a very alien and overwhelming force, and not give ground. “Pret at combattre” indeed. 

I am also happy with Idris’s arc. It felt at times like he was drifting through the story as a passenger more than an architect of the events, and he would make a lousy action hero, but he saved the world in the end. And now Kris might even save the Ints from indentured servitude, but either way, unspace is a lot more welcoming for them from now on. And I like the concept of Saint Idris.

PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

books, Reviews, science fiction, Soft Science Fiction

Eyes of the Void (The Final Architecture 2) by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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Stars: 4.5 out of 5

You would think that when different factions and races that make up intelligent life in the galaxy discover that the Architects are back, they would put aside their petty squabbles and unite in the face of an overwhelming enemy, right? Well, you would be wrong.

The Architects are back and this time they are destroying inhabited worlds regardless of the species who live on them, whereas before they only concentrated on human worlds. Heck, even the Hegemony isn’t protected by their Originator relics anymore. But instead of uniting and fighting together, humanity is shattering and descending into an inner conflicts. HUGH and the Partheni are at each other’s throats and the smallest spark can ignite a powder keg of mutual destruction…

It’s interesting to see that all the characters in this book struggled with their loyalties to their respective factions versus their own moral code and what they thought was the right thing to do. Idris defected to the Partheni at the end of the last book because he hoped that they could engineer Ints without subjecting people to the horrible programs that HUGH had put in place. Programs that have over 80% mortality. And the surviving Ints are broken beyond repair, and are no better than slaves. But when a war between HUGH and Partheni seems eminent, he struggles with this decision. Is he a traitor for abandoning the Colonies? Of course, soon that consideration becomes rather irrelevant, at least to him.

Solace and Olli have their own doubts and crisis of faith moments as well, but ultimately, I love that their first loyalty is to their found family on Vulture God as well as humanity as a whole instead of a particular faction their originated from. 

We also learn a lot more about the universe, the structure of Unspace and its relation to our real space, oh and a little bit about the foreboding presence that stalks whoever enters Unspace. 

I was also impressed with the few planets described in this book. The destruction of Arc Pallator by the Architects after they removed the Originator ruins was epic. Especially considering that our characters were smack in the middle of it, running in said ruins. That was an amazing and heartpouding sequence of events.  And Criccieth’s Hell is truly a hellish world. 

My only complaint about this book is that the characters seem a lot more passive than in the first book – things happen to them, and they just react to that instead of being a driving force behind the story. This is especially true of Idris, who spends the whole book being a magic McGuffin that everyone tries to kidnap.

This small complaint notwithstanding, I enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to the last book in the series.

books, Reviews, science fiction

Shards of Earth (The Final Architecture 1) by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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Stars: 5 out of 5

I love discovering a new series that I thoroughly enjoy and knowing that there are still at least two more books I can look forward to. Strangely enough, the only book by Tchaikovsky I have read before this one was One Day This all will be Yours, which is a novella about the consequences of time travel and a time war. And I had loved it as well, but I hadn’t tried his scifi series until I found this one on my TBR list. Well, Mr. Tchaikovsky, I’m a convert now. You write it – I will read it!

The premise of this book is interesting. Sixty years ago, humanity stood united with other alien species, locked in a desperate battle with an alien treat that destroyed entire planets in a matter of hours. They were desperate, they were on the brink of extinction, and all they could do was evacuate as many people as possible before the Architect showed up and destroyed yet another planet. Then an Intermediary, a specially modified human, managed to make contact with the vast consciousness of the Architect, and the Architect just… left. None has been seen since.

It’s been 60 years, and none of the desperate unity remains. humanity is squabbling for power and dominance. The war’s heroes are now humanity’s pariahs, mistrusted and hated by regular humanity. Who aren’t much fond of other alien species as well. Tempers are high, and the known galaxy is on the brink of yet another bloody war, until the crew of a small salvage freighter uncovers proof that the Architects might be back. Now the whole galaxy is after them, and not everyone’s intentions are friendly.

Most of the time, characters are what makes or breaks a book for me. I had been known to read stories with wobbly worldbuilding and giant plot holes because I was in love with the characters. I’ve also been known to walk away from a wonderfully constructed story with a lot of thought put into the structure of the world because the characters were one-dimensional or I simply couldn’t connect with any of them.

Fortunately, it’s not the case here. I LOVED the crew of the Vulture God! Idris was damaged and confused a lot of times, but loyal to his friends, and with a strong sense of what is right and wrong. And willing to die for humanity when that was needed. Solace was wonderful as this grizzled soldier who started caring about the crew of the Vulture despite herself. She could also relate to what Idris was going through because she experienced the war with the Architect first hand as well.  And I am still so  so salty about Rollo. That particular death really packed an emotional punch. 

This book answered some questions, but left a lot for the following books. Even though the wreak was a hoax, the Architects are back, and they will continue exterminating inhabited planets. Not because they want to, but because they have no choice. So all sentient life in the galaxy is in danger. Everyone would have to band together if they want to survive what’s coming. And the crew of the Vulture God will be right in the middle of it. And I will be along for the ride.

PS: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.