Too Like the Lightning

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Too Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota, Book 1) by Ada Palmer

Beautifully written, with a vastly rich and complex world. The most unique fourth wall breaks in recent years. And a story concept that puts into perspective the morality and ethics of progress.

The problem: it’s too philosophical for its own good.

I mean it when I say it’s “beautifully written”, it wasn’t long before I found myself sucked in by the writing style alone. I didn’t really care what was happening in the story, I was fascinated by the shear linguistics.

But as I grew accustomed to it as the book went on, I took a step back just to catch myself up on the story, and I realized how minute the story’s presence was. It almost seems as if it takes place in the dead space between the words, like the real story is hidden in subtexts.

As intriguing and idealistic as it is, Too Like the Lightning is more philosophy than science fiction.