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Matthew's Reviews > Leviathan Wakes
Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, #1)
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Welcome to 2020! My first book finished this year (kind of cheating since I started it in 2019)
This book is very epic . . . and it is only the beginning.
Leviathan Wakes is book one of The Expanse series. I have seen it described as a space opera. I was not quite sure the definition of space opera - although I have seen it used many times and even read a book with that title. So, I decided to use the ol' Google machine on my internet device and this is what I came up with:
From Oxford:
"NOUN
informal North American
A novel, film, or television programme set in outer space, typically of a simplistic and melodramatic nature."
This definion is sort of what I was thinking, but I am a bit surprised that it has kind of a negative connotation. So, while it is a novel and series set in space and it is a bit melodramatic, I would not call it a space opera in the negative! It is far from simplistic, with complex relationships and intricate storylines. Overall, a very positive experience.
My only concern with it was that it was a bit long, dragged on at points, and some plot points took longer than I wanted to beginning fleshing out. I am glad I read this one on audio, because I think it may have been difficult to stay interested if it was a physical copy. Now that I am into it, however, I am looking forward to what comes next.
So far, this seems like a book and series that any and every sci-fi fan should try.
This book is very epic . . . and it is only the beginning.
Leviathan Wakes is book one of The Expanse series. I have seen it described as a space opera. I was not quite sure the definition of space opera - although I have seen it used many times and even read a book with that title. So, I decided to use the ol' Google machine on my internet device and this is what I came up with:
From Oxford:
"NOUN
informal North American
A novel, film, or television programme set in outer space, typically of a simplistic and melodramatic nature."
This definion is sort of what I was thinking, but I am a bit surprised that it has kind of a negative connotation. So, while it is a novel and series set in space and it is a bit melodramatic, I would not call it a space opera in the negative! It is far from simplistic, with complex relationships and intricate storylines. Overall, a very positive experience.
My only concern with it was that it was a bit long, dragged on at points, and some plot points took longer than I wanted to beginning fleshing out. I am glad I read this one on audio, because I think it may have been difficult to stay interested if it was a physical copy. Now that I am into it, however, I am looking forward to what comes next.
So far, this seems like a book and series that any and every sci-fi fan should try.
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Terry
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rated it 5 stars
Jan 01, 2020 12:45PM
Glad you liked it Matthew. I did as well. I understand the whole series is pretty good.
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Terry wrote: "Glad you liked it Matthew. I did as well. I understand the whole series is pretty good."I am looking forward to more! I will probably need to do it soon or I might forget some of the plot intricacies.
This series is so worth it and it just gets better and better. Not a bad offering in the whole series and they plan on doing one more as the finale. So there is an end to it. If you liked this book you should check out the television series. Just as good as the books.
Matthew wrote: "Terry wrote: "Glad you liked it Matthew. I did as well. I understand the whole series is pretty good."I am looking forward to more! I will probably need to do it soon or I might forget some of th..."
Definitely a good idea. It was two years ago when I read it, and now I think I’m going to do the audiobook before I try to move on in the series.
Jim wrote: "This series is so worth it and it just gets better and better. Not a bad offering in the whole series and they plan on doing one more as the finale. So there is an end to it. If you liked this book..."That is awesome to hear! And, I didn't even realize that it was a TV series until I started reading the book and someone mentioned it on one of my statuses.
We must be on the same wavelength! I just started downloading these books and am still waiting for book 1 (I have most of the others). I probably won't start it this month since I already have a full plate, but this series will be on my list this year!
Even the worst book in the series is better than a lot of other books out there. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have.
Eileen wrote: "We must be on the same wavelength! I just started downloading these books and am still waiting for book 1 (I have most of the others). I probably won't start it this month since I already have a fu..."Very cool, Eileen! I hope you enjoy it, too! :)
"Welcome to 2020! My first book finished this year (kind of cheating since I started it in 2019)" - I did the same thing! :-)
Robert wrote: "Even the worst book in the series is better than a lot of other books out there. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have."That is great to hear! I am pretty excited to get more into this series!
Kristi wrote: ""Welcome to 2020! My first book finished this year (kind of cheating since I started it in 2019)" - I did the same thing! :-)"Ha! It happens . . . we are so shady! :)
So glad to hear you liked it!
Alana wrote: "So glad to hear you liked it!":D - Yes! And it looks like you enjoyed it as well!
Matthew wrote: "Alana wrote: "So glad to hear you liked it!":D - Yes! And it looks like you enjoyed it as well!"
I wasn't planning on jumping into a book series that is this long any soon but I really really love the show and I wanted to be with the characters again. :P
Alana wrote: "I wasn't planning on jumping into a book series that is this long any soon but I really really love the show and I wanted to be with the characters again. :P"People keep mentioning the TV show and I didn't even know about it until I started reading this. Now I am excited to check it out!
I'm cheating 4 times this year since I'm yet to finish those many from last year, lol.
Girish wrote: "I'm cheating 4 times this year since I'm yet to finish those many from last year, lol."Ha! I won't tell if you don't tell! 😉
There are two books left from 2019 that I need to finish. The first I plan on finishing this month (The Master and Margarita, which is currently at 29% complete. The other one is The Gray House and that one is at 20% and I would need to go back and refresh my memory on that one. It is also twice as long as Master and Margarita, so while I plan on finishing it (it was good enough that I WANT to finish it), it's still going to be some time before I finish it.
Eileen wrote: "There are two books left from 2019 that I need to finish. The first I plan on finishing this month (The Master and Margarita, which is currently at 29% complete. The other one is [boo..."Good luck! You getting me to hunt down an audio copy of An American Tragedy will help me finish my remaining 2019 book (The Once and Future King) sooner than later!
LOL happy to help! I never started The Once and Future King (time got away from me and I read several very long books in the latter part of the year, so The King ended up being too much. So it will end up being a 2020 book for me!
Eileen wrote: "LOL happy to help! I never started The Once and Future King (time got away from me and I read several very long books in the latter part of the year, so The King ended up being too much. So it will..."Once and Future King is good, despite me taking time to read it. I don't think I would be enjoying it as much if I rushed it. It's like I need to absorb every chapter before moving on.
Hey Matthew - I’m glad you liked it! I’ve read up to book 6... and they all are a lot of fun. Books 2, 3, & 4 are self contained stories- and a little less ambitious than the first in terms of scope, but very enjoyable. Books 5 & 6 go together as one big story and work better if you read them consecutively. I hope you have time to get to a few more this year. I know you have a pretty ambitious TBR list 😀
Lena wrote: "Glad you liked it."YES! I am looking forward to more! :)
Gary wrote: "Hey Matthew - I’m glad you liked it! I’ve read up to book 6... and they all are a lot of fun. Books 2, 3, & 4 are self contained stories- and a little less ambitious than the first in terms of scop..."Thanks, Gary! I appreciate the recommendation!
I will likely listen to this series, that will help me fit it in throughout my oppressive TBR! :)
Terrific review Matthew. This sounds interesting, I will follow your progress with the series with a view to maybe reading it too. 😁
Pat wrote: "Terrific review Matthew. This sounds interesting, I will follow your progress with the series with a view to maybe reading it too. 😁"Thanks, Pat! I will happily serve as your "scout" for this one! :)
Matthew - I'm starting to feel like I'm copying you.. And all of my reads this year are picked entirely at random from a jar. I just finished Different Seasons and saw your review on that last week haha
Allison wrote: "Matthew - I'm starting to feel like I'm copying you.. And all of my reads this year are picked entirely at random from a jar. I just finished Different Seasons and saw your review on that last week..."Ha! Nice! Let's just hope if we keep pace like this, the books are always good! 😃
I finished watching season 1 of the expanse and now I can't wait to read the book.
Shahbaz wrote: "I finished watching season 1 of the expanse and now I can't wait to read the book."I was looking at the episode descriptions and it looks like season 1 covers part of Book 1 and the beginning of Season 2 is the rest of it!
Just started this last night. I love it so far!
Kandice wrote: "Just started this last night. I love it so far!"I need to get back to this series!
Matthew wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Just started this last night. I love it so far!"I need to get back to this series!"
Me too! I made it to Persepolis Rising and have it queued up and ready to go, but I have a ton of other books in the way still, lol.
