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Moon Rising
(Luna #3)
by
The continuing saga of the Moon's Five Dragons, already under option from CBS, a fast-paced, intricately plotted space opera pitched as Game of Thrones meets The Expanse
A hundred years in the future, a war wages between the Five Dragons—five families that control the Moon’s leading industrial companies. Each clan does everything in their power to claw their way to the top ...more
A hundred years in the future, a war wages between the Five Dragons—five families that control the Moon’s leading industrial companies. Each clan does everything in their power to claw their way to the top ...more
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Start your review of Moon Rising (Luna #3)
Ian McDonald is one hell of a writer. I've been following his career rather closely and I've loved the kinds of intricate people-centric webs he weaves. They always appear rather rambling and exploratory but more than that, they're deeply about the characters.
Fascinating doesn't begin to describe them. And these three popular Luna novels give us the full run of the five families on the Moon and the gory feud that culminated in mass death in the first book and ending with a fully brilliant realiz ...more
Fascinating doesn't begin to describe them. And these three popular Luna novels give us the full run of the five families on the Moon and the gory feud that culminated in mass death in the first book and ending with a fully brilliant realiz ...more
What an ending!
This is one of my most awaited books for 2019, as I absolutely adore New Moon and Wolf Moon. I already sang praises on the characters and the writing in my previous reviews, in this final review I will focus on the worldbuilding aspect.
I have to admit I was a bit surprised that the author actually expanded the world by adding new settings, new characters, and even new subplots. As with the previous books, the pacing is fast, details might be missed, yet everything came up nicely ...more
This is one of my most awaited books for 2019, as I absolutely adore New Moon and Wolf Moon. I already sang praises on the characters and the writing in my previous reviews, in this final review I will focus on the worldbuilding aspect.
I have to admit I was a bit surprised that the author actually expanded the world by adding new settings, new characters, and even new subplots. As with the previous books, the pacing is fast, details might be missed, yet everything came up nicely ...more
Ahoy me mateys! Grab yer grog! Here be book 3 of the seventh installment of the 3 Bells trilogy showcase. While I try to post no spoilers, ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
luna: moon rising (Ian McDonald)
Whew! It was certainly a rush down to the wire to finish this trilogy and write me review in time. This review is going to be super short because of a) the time crunch and b) I can't explain much without massive spoilers. I did think this book was much stronger th ...more
luna: moon rising (Ian McDonald)
Whew! It was certainly a rush down to the wire to finish this trilogy and write me review in time. This review is going to be super short because of a) the time crunch and b) I can't explain much without massive spoilers. I did think this book was much stronger th ...more
Four stars for the novel
Four and half stars for the trilogy
Really, this is a very good trilogy, brilliant in some aspects, as usual in Ian McDonald's novels. I enjoyed it a lot. However, I have read (or reread) the three novels in a row and for now -and for some time I think- I have enough of Cortas and McKenzies.
For me, highly recommended. ...more
Four and half stars for the trilogy
Really, this is a very good trilogy, brilliant in some aspects, as usual in Ian McDonald's novels. I enjoyed it a lot. However, I have read (or reread) the three novels in a row and for now -and for some time I think- I have enough of Cortas and McKenzies.
For me, highly recommended. ...more
A telenovela themed
Dune-esque
trilogy set on a colonized Moon comes to an end.
Full disclosure, I'm a fanboi for this author. I also have a recent fetish for all science fiction set on the Moon.
This book was the conclusion of the series. It was well written and richly detailed. The near-future world building was exceptionally good. Of the three (3) books in the series it was the most Dune-like , whereas the middle book in the trilogy (my review) had more of an old fashioned cyberpunk feel ...more
Full disclosure, I'm a fanboi for this author. I also have a recent fetish for all science fiction set on the Moon.
This book was the conclusion of the series. It was well written and richly detailed. The near-future world building was exceptionally good. Of the three (3) books in the series it was the most Dune-like , whereas the middle book in the trilogy (my review) had more of an old fashioned cyberpunk feel ...more
This trilogy got weaker with each book. The final novel was just boring and repetitive. Many of the characters really had no point in the story at all - Robson, Wagner, Lucasinho, Luna - they're all in the story, they all had large parts of the book dedicated to them, but what was the point? It was tedious and dull.
I'm really tired of reading about Wagner's dual light/dark sides, of Robson climbing all over the city, of Ariel's endless internal dialogs about fashion, of the extraneous descripti ...more
I'm really tired of reading about Wagner's dual light/dark sides, of Robson climbing all over the city, of Ariel's endless internal dialogs about fashion, of the extraneous descripti ...more
Apr 22, 2019
Lata
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
scifi-fantasy,
x2019-read
Oh man! The Mackenzies may " pay back three times", but damn, don't get ever on the Corta's bad side!
This hasn't been the easiest series to get into, and I remember struggling mightily in book one to keep track of everyone and the different motives, and once the violent overthrow of the Cortas began, the deaths were numerous and often horrible, which continued into book two. This book has its share of sudden, violent death, but the Cortas are in a different place at the story's open, with Lucasi ...more
This hasn't been the easiest series to get into, and I remember struggling mightily in book one to keep track of everyone and the different motives, and once the violent overthrow of the Cortas began, the deaths were numerous and often horrible, which continued into book two. This book has its share of sudden, violent death, but the Cortas are in a different place at the story's open, with Lucasi ...more
These books are epic on the scale of Game of Thrones, gory on the scale of Stephen King, clever on the scale of Kaz Brekker, and diverse to boot. I recommend this series every chance I get.
But that isn't to say the books aren't without their flaws. There are definitely some things I would have liked tightened up. The primary one being the amount of reading between the lines that's needed to fully grasp these books. I happened to read this with buddies, who were wonderfully patient with me, a ...more
But that isn't to say the books aren't without their flaws. There are definitely some things I would have liked tightened up. The primary one being the amount of reading between the lines that's needed to fully grasp these books. I happened to read this with buddies, who were wonderfully patient with me, a ...more
A great book that finishes a great trilogy. Really, I have no doubts now that a tv-series, if it ever reaches that far, would be a great and popular show, enjoyed by many diverse and different people.
The annotations of these books often screams "Game of Thrones" meets "The Expanse" or something similar. While I can find vague similarities with both of these shows, the treachery, politics, absolute ruthlessness and even a few villains brings me up a whole different sci-fi mammooth - the legendar ...more
The annotations of these books often screams "Game of Thrones" meets "The Expanse" or something similar. While I can find vague similarities with both of these shows, the treachery, politics, absolute ruthlessness and even a few villains brings me up a whole different sci-fi mammooth - the legendar ...more
Well if you made it here to the end, then you know what to expect, and that's exactly what Moon Rising delivers: complicated, political, violent, and full of the expected unexpected.
One thing of exceptional note is the writing. In this final book in particular McDonald shows his mastery of language and structure. Many passages are poems in the guise of narrative, adding an extra experiential layer to the story.
She is never comfortable now. She has no comfort on this world. This chuckle of water, ...more
One thing of exceptional note is the writing. In this final book in particular McDonald shows his mastery of language and structure. Many passages are poems in the guise of narrative, adding an extra experiential layer to the story.
She is never comfortable now. She has no comfort on this world. This chuckle of water, ...more
Satisfying ending of the trilogy. 4.5 stars. Probably not perfect but I’m a sucker for happy endings!
I can't believe that I have to wait until March 2019 for this book!
...more
3.5 stars
I maybe should have read this soon after book 2 as I had a lot of remembering to do, and not always successful. :I
I maybe should have read this soon after book 2 as I had a lot of remembering to do, and not always successful. :I
Phenomenal. The third act is absolute bonkers. Never before has the "Game of Thrones in space" comparison hit the mark as much as this one did.
Moon Rising was one of my most anticipated novels of 2019, and when my publisher offered me the chance to read a pre-proof copy of the third and final installment of Ian McDonald's trilogy, I dived right in. Knowing it would be a dense and fantastic read, but afraid my expectations wouldn't be met. They were. They were met in spades.
The prose is gorgeou ...more
Moon Rising was one of my most anticipated novels of 2019, and when my publisher offered me the chance to read a pre-proof copy of the third and final installment of Ian McDonald's trilogy, I dived right in. Knowing it would be a dense and fantastic read, but afraid my expectations wouldn't be met. They were. They were met in spades.
The prose is gorgeou ...more
I loved the first two books of this series very much but found the third rather impenetrable, possibly because there are a great many characters and, despite the useful brief synopsis at the beginning, I found it difficult to remember all that has happened to them. I would definitely recommend reading this hot on the heels of book 2. Now the focus is on the future of the moon as the remaining dragons (chiefs of the key familes) scramble for influence, and control of the dominant Corta family. 3.
...more
While the first two books were gripping and enjoyable, the third fell apart under the weight of its lore,
It is an unenjoyable slog through lengthy and often unbelievable prose about characters who've ceased being people and become magnified caricatures.
The first two books created a fascinating future with dynasties battling for control of the moon, and the third throws all of that away for a constant barrage of mystical, pointless proceedings that bloom into existence and die immediately afte ...more
It is an unenjoyable slog through lengthy and often unbelievable prose about characters who've ceased being people and become magnified caricatures.
The first two books created a fascinating future with dynasties battling for control of the moon, and the third throws all of that away for a constant barrage of mystical, pointless proceedings that bloom into existence and die immediately afte ...more
I did not enjoy this book as much as the other two in the series, but Ian McDonald's writing is as gorgeous as ever, and his Byzantine Game of Thrones meets the 80's primetime soap Dynasty view of the Moon is as outrageous as ever. The story continues, and I will chomp at the bit for the next installment.
...more
I missed something here. Did Marina make it back to the moon or what?
This series is a wild ride especially with the whole Game of Thrones thing.
This series is a wild ride especially with the whole Game of Thrones thing.
I read the novel courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It's rare that cover copy is as accurate as in the case of McDonald's Luna trilogy; I was promised A Game of Thrones on the moon, and I got pretty much that, except with an ending. Moon Rising brings a few excellent plot developments and character beats and a good conclusion to the story, but there was something about the style - the narrative choices of what was and wasn't shown, the omissions and descriptions - that kept ...more
It's rare that cover copy is as accurate as in the case of McDonald's Luna trilogy; I was promised A Game of Thrones on the moon, and I got pretty much that, except with an ending. Moon Rising brings a few excellent plot developments and character beats and a good conclusion to the story, but there was something about the style - the narrative choices of what was and wasn't shown, the omissions and descriptions - that kept ...more
Overwhelming. Disappointing. Incoherent. And not especially well edited - especially in the first third of the book - there were missed words, misspellings and even the wrong name. I think the book just got away from the author. There's a lot here. And the world and the characters are interesting and fascinating. But also ugly. And violent in a quite uncomfortable way. I was hoping for a different book. I think this series is still worth reading, including this book. But not I was hoping for.
...more
Great conclusion to a soap opera set on the moon! It’s much more than a soap opera but Ian himself stated he was kind of inspired to write a Dallas set in space. Thankfully no It was all a dream with Bobby in the shower.
Nov 05, 2017
Ophelia
marked it as to-read
what??? I had no earthly idea this was happening and I'm crying a little rn
...more
"It is time for me to take the blade." - Lucas Corta
Finally. I've been waiting for the finale to this saga for four years. And the result? Slightly disappointing.
I'm probably being harsh, there's no way it could have lived up to my expectations. It's no secret I think that this series is the greatest piece of science fiction since sliced cyber-bread, and I recommend it to anyone who sits still long enough. In particular I recommend it to people who think GoT is overrated (my personal viewpoint), ...more
I admit, my expectations for *Luna: Moon Rising* were high. Maybe they were too high. Whatever the case, the novel failed to meet them.
I came across the first book in the series, *Luna: New Moon*, by chance. I hadn't been much of a sci-fi reader before that, but McDonald painted such a vivid, compelling picture of the nearish-future and the families struggling for control of the moon that I was completely absorbed. I wanted to spend time with his well-drawn characters in their surprising, danger ...more
I came across the first book in the series, *Luna: New Moon*, by chance. I hadn't been much of a sci-fi reader before that, but McDonald painted such a vivid, compelling picture of the nearish-future and the families struggling for control of the moon that I was completely absorbed. I wanted to spend time with his well-drawn characters in their surprising, danger ...more
This probably deserves 3.5 stars, but I'll throw in the extra half for pulling off the tricky task of closing out a trilogy. On its own, Moon Rising struggles to get going and takes a rather laborious route to get to the final third when all the shit goes down, but that final third is a lot of fun. And while neither of the second two books in this trilogy quite live up to Luna: New Moon, which I would still rate as one of the most entertaining books I read this decade, Moon Rising does a satisfa
...more
Let me try to find words for this book, this whole trilogy. Ian McDonalds „LUNA“-series is inaccessible, even repulsive at times. Its highly complex story wrestles with you. Its grim, sharp-edged world does not want you in it. And the character’s soulless business (driven by a very own sense of ethics) doesn’t want any spectators. Or witnesses.
° ° °
But if you let yourself in for these novels, you’ll discover ingeniously plotted and stunningly realized Sci-Fi. Pt. 3 is a near perfect (and surpris ...more
° ° °
But if you let yourself in for these novels, you’ll discover ingeniously plotted and stunningly realized Sci-Fi. Pt. 3 is a near perfect (and surpris ...more
108th book for 2019.
A disappointing ending for what should have been a excellent trilogy. The first book was great and then, it just went down hill. Lots of characters are mentioned here, without much purpose. I strongly get the idea that McDonald had a lot of passion for this project but lost interest, or simply didn't know how to conclude things. Too bad.
2-stars. ...more
A disappointing ending for what should have been a excellent trilogy. The first book was great and then, it just went down hill. Lots of characters are mentioned here, without much purpose. I strongly get the idea that McDonald had a lot of passion for this project but lost interest, or simply didn't know how to conclude things. Too bad.
2-stars. ...more
If you've been following the Hotlist for a while, you are aware that every single Ian McDonald adult novel I've read since creating this blog has ended up in my Top 10 for that year. Hence, I was pretty excited when I learned that he was taking a break from his foray into the YA market to return to the more hardcore science fiction works that made him an award-winning author. And yet, although Luna: New Moon was another quality read, it wasn't quite as captivating as books such as River of Gods,
...more
"That old Sun proverb: even the gods cannot help a woman who will not take an opportunity."
Luna: Moon Rising follows in the footsteps of its predecessors. There are too many characters, too many political machinations, and a lot of sex and violence. This is one of my favorite series, so I think it's fair to say all of that is good with me! The four remaining Dragons and new Eagle of the Moon continue to struggle over control of the moon, while also working on a deal with the terrestrials to
May 19, 2020
Paul Spence
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction
Ian McDonald's Luna trilogy has been a favourite of mine and it reaches its conclusion with the final book Moon Rising. The series is epic on the scale of Game of Thrones and clever on the scale of Kaz Brekker, and diverse to boot. I recommend this series every chance I get.
But that isn't to say the books aren't without their flaws. There are definitely some things I would have liked tightened up. The primary one being the amount of reading between the lines that's needed to fully grasp these bo ...more
But that isn't to say the books aren't without their flaws. There are definitely some things I would have liked tightened up. The primary one being the amount of reading between the lines that's needed to fully grasp these bo ...more
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Ian Neil McDonald was born in 1960 in Manchester, England, to an Irish mother and a Scottish father. He moved with his family to Northern Ireland in 1965. He used to live in a house built in the back garden of C. S. Lewis’s childhood home but has since moved to central Belfast, where he now lives, exploring interests like cats, contemplative religion, bonsai, bicycles, and comic-book collecting. H
...more
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Luna
(4 books)
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“The true legends are the broken ones: fragments of histories, tellings, embellishments, edits and re-edits. Truth abhors a narrative.”
—
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“You’ve heard the talk; that he’s a wastrel, a playboy. But he is kind and he is brave. Much braver and kinder than me. He took the Moonrun. I never did that. He saved Kojo Asamoah’s life. He went back, in vacuum, to save him. Everyone forgets that about him. The Asamoahs didn’t.”
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