Reviews with content warning for War - Antimatter Blues

I was so disappointed in this sequel. I loved the comedic tone and absurd humour in Mickey7, and found the MC's narration extremely likeable to the point where I was able to gloss over the book's flaws (weak plot, derivative worldbuilding, badly written female characters). Sadly, those elements weren't nearly as strong in this book, and the weaknesses in the writing and narrative were much more apparent.

I think maybe Edward Ashton just isn't very good at writing high stakes. The first book was more of a farce comedy set in a miserable space colony than a gritty colonisation sci-fi. This book tries to make its plotline far more grandiose and meaningful by introducing warring factions and a colony-ending dilemma, but I felt like I was reading a very badly written Halo/Mass Effect combat fanfic.

Every decision that every character makes is stupid. The first book was also full of people making extremely stupid decisions, but their bad decisions were hilarious. In this book, they're just frustrating and extremely unlikeable.

It also doesn't help that Mickey7 is no longer an Expendable, removing the key premise of the entire series and taking much of the tension with it. Instead he's just some mid dude making terrible decisions. And even though he's not dying anymore, we're still being constantly hammered with Ship of Theseus metaphors!

The one good thing I can say about this book is that it's extremely readable and I finished it very quickly. I am grateful for that.

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azrah786's review against another edition

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3.5

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

CW: violence, blood, injury, body horror, death, medical trauma, genocide, war, colonisation, terminal illness
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Kicking off 2 years after the closing events of Mickey7, Antimatter Blues has us returning to the ice planet Niflheim and following (almost) everybody’s favourite and now retired Expendable as he faces a new conundrum.

I’m not going to give too much of the plot away so as not to spoil aspects of book 1 but this book can be classed as a standalone. That being said for the best experience I would recommend checking out Mickey7 before picking this one up as it does continue certain plot points from its predecessor.

Once again the story is easy to follow and Edward Ashton balances all the science and action perfectly with humour. Mickey is one of those easily likeable characters that will have you smiling and facepalming in equal measure and I really enjoyed being back with him and co for a new adventure. The banter between the characters was great.

There is a bit of an expansion to the specific world they live on in terms of what else is there but otherwise I would say this story didn’t add a lot when it came to wider worldbuilding.

The main reason I’d say I enjoyed this a little less than book 1 has to do with the pacing. The middle of the book did drag at times and this made the concluding events seem rushed and wrapped up extremely quickly.

I’d say this continuation was not really needed but it was an highly enjoyable read all the same though and I look forward to reading more from Edward Ashton in the future!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Star

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tessa_talks_books's review

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adventurous funny hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Would help enjoyment of this book if the reader has read the first book in the series.
Very sarcastic (good) tone in the book.
Author personifies the aliens by having them assume the same sarcastic tone as the humans.

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lahars_little_library's review

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adventurous reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Wow. A fantastic sequel to Mickey7! Mickey continues to struggle with questions about his identity, while the colony faces another challenge only he can solve. I love how this sequel deepens the world building of Nefflehim, especially as we gain deeper insight to the inner workings of the creeper civilization. Be sure to check out this book when it's published on 3/15. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this stellar read! Find more reviews on instagram@lahars_little_library

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wearyreader's review

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adventurous challenging funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Mickey is an Expendable. When dangerous tasks need to be completed for human survival and for the advancement of space exploration/colonization sometimes mech doesn’t cut it. But who can? An expendable. They can eat that dangerous plant so we can see exactly what happens when a human ingests alien flora and fauna. We can withstand some radiation in the moment more than other tech but of course we die a gruesome death. But, with Expendables they upload their memories and personalities and ext and then BOOM 3D print out a new body where everything is downloaded. Cloning at its finest.

Usually, this job is a sentence for criminals as no one volunteers for this even if it means in some way you live forever…well, except for Mickey. Mickey is the unglamorous every-day-man. He’s not good enough at anything to be the best and selected for the great jobs and he accidentally got himself into some terrible loan shark situation on his home planet of Midguard. So, signing up with his best friend for a one-way space colonization mission seemed like a good idea. And for a man with no talents, the only job open was Expendable. Heh, at least he’ll live longer than anyone…well via the long road as it’ll only have to cost him dying over and over again to achieve it. Alls fair for love and space exploration.

Here, in Antimatter Blues, we come across Mickey who has dutifully survived (So to speak) the first novel title ‘Mickey 7’ but not as gracefully as any standard space hero. This sequel picks up two years later which is the perfect amount of time for consequences of the first novel to kick in. That’s right, we actually have a sequel that is a result of the first novel. Hizzah! Mickey has retired. That’s right, no more dying on command, and he gets to live his life as anyone should. But, on a space colony, that makes him a freeloader. Cleaning up after rabbits or trimming tomato vines isn’t enough work to justify the resources Mickey needs and his saving grace, a relationship with the locals, isn’t really enough to please the colony’s leader.

When the colony’s future survival in the planet’s upcoming winter is at stake, Mickey has to suit up and test his relationship with the creepers. They have something of his that he really needs back or all the human’s future is non-existent. To bring it back, he will have to make empty promises and go back on his word. Which is a testament of what would you do when you would be responsible for the total destruction of your found family? (Okay, they’re not exactly found family but they are all the family he’s got). This time, it’s a mission he doesn’t have to go in on alone but, that doesn’t make it any easier. Is there a point where the survival of ourselves exceeds the damage it would do? Humanity are monsters and we don’t make sense which this book explored just enough.

“Not sure I’d want to live in a colony that would be willing to go that far.”

Antimatter Blues has everything I could ever want in a Sci-Fi adventure action novel and is a perfect sequel. That’s right, I said it. A perfect sequel. Don’t mind me as I order every edition and cover of this series that I can get my grubby hands on.

If you're looking for science facts and over explanation of alien intentions and so forth, this isn't it. It's meant to be just a good time and it does that exceedingly well. Sit back and enjoy the adventure!

**Also, I’m begging the author/publisher to please release a Speaker plush. This ancillary would love to have the cuddles.***

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