Eyes of the Void
Delightful
Clever
Intense

Eyes of the Void

From the author of the thrilling science-fiction epic Children of Time, which won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award. Eyes of the Void is the second high-octane instalment in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture space opera trilogy. ‘One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction’ – Christopher Paolini What waits in the shadows as we fight our greatest foe? After one great battle, the Architects disappeared. Yet humanity’s fragile peace is brief. For, forty years later, the galaxy’s greatest alien enemy has returned. This time, the artefacts that preserved entire worlds from destruction are ineffective. And no planet is safe. The Human Colony worlds are in turmoil as they face extinction. Some believe alliances with other species can save them. Others insist humanity must fight alone. But no one has the firepower or technology to ensure victory, as the Architects loom ever closer. Idris spent decades running from the last war’s horrors. Yet as an Intermediary, altered to navigate deep space, he’s one of humanity’s only weapons. He’s therefore forced back into action. With a handful of allies, Idris must find something – anything – to stop the Architects’ pitiless advance. But to do so, he must return to the nightmare of unspace, where his mind was broken and remade. What he discovers there will change everything. Praise for Adrian Tchaikovsky: ‘[Adrian] writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas’ – Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go ‘Brilliant science fiction’ – James McAvoy on Children of Time ‘Full of sparkling, speculative invention’ – Stephen Baxter, author of the Xeelee Sequence on The Doors of Eden
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Naomi J.
Naomi J.@naomij
3 stars
Apr 29, 2024

After the first book in the series had such incredible, addictive worldbuilding and a fun plot, this sequel was all (rambly) worldbuilding and the vestiges of very dull plot. I did not care about the human politicking. And the technique of taking Idris to three different places where he could sit still and have very rambly thoughts about the architects was… not great. I’m not sure we learned anything interesting about the overarching plot by the end of the book, except maybe one or two little details that could have waited till the last book. I wonder if this should have been a two-book series. I’m still curious enough about the answers to book one’s questions that I’m willing to read on to book 3. But the answers had better be worth it!

This review contains a spoiler
Photo of Alice Hyman
Alice Hyman@booksforscee
3 stars
Oct 14, 2022

Idris got really really annoying in this one. Like in the first book I enjoyed the representation of the nasty side of anxiety and how difficult it is to communicate verbally sometimes - and the frustration that you get from it - Tchaikovsky did an amazing job at making you feel that sort of helpless frustration and irritation. But in this one I just felt Idris was just listening to his ego. Like his main character complex had completely gone to his dead. Okay so now thats out of the way we can get onto the actually cool characters - like Ollie. Ollie deserves a whole series to herself. Like her character is very private but what we do see is so heartbreaking as well as just epic. The found family is strong with this series and I love it. This is a really great sequel for Shards of Earth and definitely doesn’t suffer from second book syndrome. The story progressed really naturally and stakes were definitely raised. I now can’t wait for book 3 !

Photo of Martin Heuer
Martin Heuer@maddin
3 stars
Sep 21, 2023
Photo of Riley Rose
Riley Rose@rileyrose
5 stars
Apr 30, 2023
+7
Photo of Mike Engel
Mike Engel@vegemike
4.5 stars
Jan 19, 2023
+3
Photo of Nicholas Zachariou
Nicholas Zachariou@nixzach
4.5 stars
Aug 25, 2022
Photo of Amira BEN
Amira BEN@amirasreading
3 stars
Aug 12, 2022
Photo of Sandy
Sandy@pdxhonzuki
2.5 stars
Jun 1, 2022
Photo of nathan gonzalez
nathan gonzalez@nathangonzalez
5 stars
Aug 12, 2022
Photo of Dan Towne
Dan Towne@dantowne
4 stars
Aug 3, 2022

This book appears on the shelf Historical fiction

Brooklyn
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Murder at Queen's Landing
Murder at Queen's Landing by Andrea Penrose
The Shadow of the Wind
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
A Gentleman in Moscow
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Dear Mrs. Bird
Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce

This book appears on the shelf Read 2013

The Tiger's Wife
The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht
Sons and Lovers
Sons and Lovers by General Press
We Need to Talk About Kevin
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
Anthem
Anthem by Ayn Rand
Major Pettigrew's last stand
Major Pettigrew's last stand by Helen Simonson
Roses are red
Roses are red by James Patterson

This book appears on the shelf

Enlightenment Now
Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker
A Tale for the Time Being
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
James McBride
The Color of Water
The Color of Water by James McBride
The Rosie Project
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Sea of Rust
Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill
Rules of Civility
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles