Reviews and Comments

I love this series! While it has the characters splitting off on their own, away from home on an unpredictable adventure, this fourth book still has the same engaging banter as the first three, the same mix of fantasy and in-universe science, and pretty much all the same elements that made me want to follow the story in the first place. I will say, some of the interactions are getting a little bit repetitive; I'm kind of itching to see some growth in certain relationships that isn't actually there. But I still like the book overall enough that it's an easy five stars.

This is not the kind of book I usually read, but I heard it was an unusually realistic view into how life works for major celebrities, and that had me intrigued. I don't know if that's true, but it seems plausible, and it was interesting being mentally transported into that world. But the writing style leaves something to be desired. It felt "flat". Emotional and intense moments came across like a clinical report. And there were some pretty significant plot developments that the book glossed over, only giving brief recaps. Maybe that fits the genre of a celebrity memoir, I'll admit, but I think the story as a whole suffers from not being a bit more like a novel in those moments. Still, it's a good book, and worth a read, just (if you have tastes like mine) don't expect it to be a favorite.

I think of this as a modern fable with some really compelling morals about politics, and for that reason it's been one of my favorite books since I was a kid. Obviously it's not realistic but it holds together well enough that that doesn't bother me.