Sally Strange reviewed Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes
Unrealized Potential of Psychic Cats on a Spaceship
3 stars
Really, the cats should have gotten much more air time.
I will say the relationships were quite well-written. The plot got a bit ridiculous. I mostly ended up wanting to find out when Eva was going to have it out with her father and sister, but she never quite did that. Perhaps it's coming in the sequel? I do plan on reading it. I feel like the book suffered from a lack of focus. Valdes' book "Where Peace is Lost" all took place on one planet, and it benefited from having a limited scope that nonetheless gave readers a window onto a larger galaxy with interplanetary wars, empires, and so on.
The Spanish was fun. I didn't understand most of it but I really enjoyed reading (listening to) sci-fi that reminded me of hanging around with Puerto Rican friends.
Really, the cats should have gotten much more air time.
I will say the relationships were quite well-written. The plot got a bit ridiculous. I mostly ended up wanting to find out when Eva was going to have it out with her father and sister, but she never quite did that. Perhaps it's coming in the sequel? I do plan on reading it. I feel like the book suffered from a lack of focus. Valdes' book "Where Peace is Lost" all took place on one planet, and it benefited from having a limited scope that nonetheless gave readers a window onto a larger galaxy with interplanetary wars, empires, and so on.
The Spanish was fun. I didn't understand most of it but I really enjoyed reading (listening to) sci-fi that reminded me of hanging around with Puerto Rican friends.
