Victories Greater Than Death

While I loved the queer romance and the sci-fi idea, the content of the book fell short; info-dumps, abrupt starting-and-stopping of scenes, and things feeling like they could've slown down a bit at times yet sped up at others left the book harder to get through than I would've hoped. It's always a shame, because most often when I read novels I struggle to get through, the idea is really, really cool, but it's the writing, editing, and/or pacing that keeps the book from reaching a 4 or 5 star potential (or even 3 star potential). For this book, that was what I noticed. Better pacing and more time to get to know the characters before abrupt battle-like scenes, as well as less info-dumping (sometimes it's needed, I get it, but too much is TOO MUCH) could've made a painfully average novel more enticing and stellar.

I am in love with this story. I will be singing its praises to anyone who will listen. Victories Greater than Death is a cozy scifi, hopepunk adventure about found family, learning your identity, and the harmful legacies we inherit. It is full of brilliantly realized queer representation (including bi, pan, trans, nonbinary, and polyamorous). It is smart, funny, and sweet. It made me cry and feel safe. I absolutely cannot say enough about how good this novel is.

A modern teenage girl is whisked away into an adventure between the stars meeting a huge variety of fascinating characters and creatures.

I couldn't help imagining this as a brightly coloured animation - perhaps something like Titan AE. Ms Ander's writing is just so vivid and lively. Taken as an adventure this is excellent, but there is a strong moral to the story (not preachy, but there) about the importance of working in unity as a team for the better of all, while respecting diversity.

Being different is great - so long as we respect each other.

I really enjoyed this story and can't wait for the sequel!

Tina knows that she is destined for the stars, she just wishes they would hurry up and come and pick her up. When they do she is put into a huge war between the Compassion and the Royal Fleet. Along with a few other earthlings who are the brightest young adults on Earth.

I had to suspend some of my disbelief on the “new cadets” being smarter and more able than the regular crew of the starships. The story held my interest after I surrendered to that fact. The story was definitely different from other space operas that I have read. I will look forward to more in the series and seeing how the “cadets” develop into their skills.

Overall an enjoyable read. Keeping in mind it's YA it just wasn't what I was hoping for.

The cast was pretty fun, but kind of shallow in some ways. We got a ton of details on this aspect or another and next to none on others.

If YA was my genre I'd likely be at least moderately excited for the next installment.

Tina is actually a being from another planet that is being hidden and raised here until it is her time to try to save the world.

Of course it activates when she is a teenager.... because if YA fiction has anything to do with it, we're going to need an army of teenage girls with ennui to save us. And of course she takes her BFF forever with her and she falls in love with the hottest person on the ship. The premise is so old at this point.

What this book does that bumped it up a few stars for me is that it has a cool look at representation. I wouldn't expect anything less from Charlie Jane Anders, of course. I loved that being who you were was just an accepted part of the story, never given too much attention as being “weird.”

Other than that, I might just have to stick to adult fantasy/sci-fi for a bit.

I really liked All the Birds in the Sky, so I was excited to read Charlie Jane Anders's YA debut, but unfortunately it ended up being a huge disappointment to me. Everything about it, from the writing style to the dialogue to the character interactions, was strangely childish, far below the actual ages of the characters. The action often jumped around like a drunken grasshopper. Things happened just to happen, without moving the story or character arcs forward. There was plenty of diversity, but it seemed mostly one-dimensional and felt shallow and perfunctory to me, like filling a quota, a la '80s and '90s kids' shows. Definitely won't be picking up the sequel.

There are battles on land and in space. There is pain, injuries, betrayals, and death. You never know what Anders has on tap next. The issues are wide and complex. The debate as to what beings will accept and won't accept. There are self-esteem issues on every level. The concept of war and what it means to all sides involved is at the forefront of Victories Greater Than Death.

I got this book from my library. I love my local library and you should check out yours too. Request LGBTQ+ books and they will stock them! #ebooksforall

Check out the rest of my review at Phoebe's Randoms. Link in bio.