mixed feelings - the book definitely picked up in the end

pros:
- its gripping, good tight plot not too predictable, good solid writing and worldbuilding
- characters were pretty well developed, all with backstory - esp. liked Jez and Silo
- the ending was excellent - i felt of the crew's camaraderie and there was plenty of drama
- also some character growth evident, enough to make Frey bearable 

cons:
- i just couldn't get behind Frey, not after he didn't seem to feel any guilt for the killing of all those ppl.
- there was also just a general miasma of misogyny. There were exceptions, sure, with Jez and Trinica isn't a shrinking violet, but she was defined by a man and her tragic backstory is rape, like so many women in fantasy and sci fi. Also, Alamacia (?) being won over by Frey after he left her for two years and then having sex with him... yeah no. Feminine women were whores and/or abused by men, unfeminine women are the only ones who get anywhere. The constant mentions of sex and whoring just soured the whole thing.
- also, it was completely unsympathetic towards Hawkins' evident PTSD and the constant mocking of Pinn's "stupidity" wasn't funny. It often felt like there wasn't any actual friendly ribbing, just malice. for in-team jokes to be funny, it's got to be supported by friendship and that wasn't there
- oh its also homophobic, with Crake being accused of being gay as a joke
- whilst there's a clear focus on the crew all pulling together and Frey valuing them, there's a sense of 'he valued them despite their faults' without any real attempt to *accept* them as they are.


i know this was probably trying to be gritty and real and show character redemption. and maybe i could've gotten behind it, if only it wasn't for all the misogyny. its a fantasy world for christ's sakes. I know the characters' opinions aren't that of the authors but you get to a point where when there's no consequences or corrections of the characters' behaviour that it seems like the author condones it.