The Reread That Failed: Review of On the Oceans of Eternity

I will be honest and say that I wanted to complete this novel, but after seven weeks, I have chosen to give up reading it and just get this review done. I forgot how dense this book is and how easy it is to lose track of what’s going on. Last time I read it, I was able to get through the entire thing, but some of the scenes are now no longer my cup of tea.

Who should read this book? I recommend that you haven’t read it before, are at least seventeen years old, and are deeply secure in your beliefs—whether you practice Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or another faith. Stirling’s words are designed to make you think. Some of the conversations in this book will genuinely challenge your worldview, and unless you are strongly anchored in your convictions, you might find yourself questioning them.

There are parts of this book that will make you sick to your stomach, with depictions of human sacrifice, brutal executions, and extreme, sadomasochistic cultures. Yet, at the same time, you will find yourself internally cheering for the good guys to defeat the villains and end the war. While the conclusion will probably shock you, I believe true justice ultimately prevails and leads to a lasting peace.

This is the last book for older audiences that I will review here on the blog, though I may occasionally mention titles I recommend avoiding altogether. Moving forward, my focus will shift entirely to non-fiction works and family-friendly fiction. Furthermore, I will personally own everything I critique. If I find a book in the Swagnilla Ice Marketplace that I want to review, I will purchase it as a regular customer. I will never use my role as curator to review books for free.

Recommended Age: 17+
Category: Sci-Fi, Time-Travel, Historical Fiction
Rating: 2/5

Why did I give this book a two out of five? To start, it simply isn’t very re-readable. At 650 pages spread across thirty-two chapters, it is incredibly dense. The narrative constantly jumps from place to place and time to time with every new chapter, and the author expects you to keep up without providing a timeline. Finally, the content is exceptionally extreme in certain areas—such as when the Tartessians intentionally introduce smallpox to the Native Americans of the western North American coast.

Ultimately, On the Oceans of Eternity proved to be a completely different experience for me this time around, and it marks a turning point for the types of books you will see featured here. Now, I want to hear from you. If you want to share your thoughts on this review, leave a reply in the comments (after you join for free or login if you are already a site member) below, or head over to the Discussion Spaces to talk about the books you are currently enjoying reading.

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