mariafernanda993's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
lanica's review against another edition
1.0
I read the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series and loved it. I read it twice and have autographed copies to save. I enjoy epics. I enjoy detail. I enjoy science fiction, computers, virtual reality, anthropology, history, sociology, political intrigue and all the other individual elements of this series. Unfortunetly, I really disliked this book.
I liked the little girl who got messages through her computer, and I liked the sick boy who created a virtual reality that was easier to live in. Other than those two I could care less about any of the characters, and there were a lot of characters. I read the whole book thinking that there should be some sort of connection between them, but it didn't come. I waited for the plot to advance, yet it seemed to seep slowly through the pages and pages of detail.
I read the second book and found that some of these ideas came together, but not quickly or interestingly enough to hold my attention. I didn't read book three or four and don't intend to. This was a great dissapointment to me. I have to really dislike a book to set it aside, and that it was a series from one of my favorite authors was really heartbreaking.
I liked the little girl who got messages through her computer, and I liked the sick boy who created a virtual reality that was easier to live in. Other than those two I could care less about any of the characters, and there were a lot of characters. I read the whole book thinking that there should be some sort of connection between them, but it didn't come. I waited for the plot to advance, yet it seemed to seep slowly through the pages and pages of detail.
I read the second book and found that some of these ideas came together, but not quickly or interestingly enough to hold my attention. I didn't read book three or four and don't intend to. This was a great dissapointment to me. I have to really dislike a book to set it aside, and that it was a series from one of my favorite authors was really heartbreaking.
yak_attak's review against another edition
3.0
Tad's done an odd thing with City of Golden Shadows. An impressive, brave, and singular thing, and I could see it paying off in the books to come, but this book in and of itself is... kinda there. Part world spanning mystery, part prequel, Williams leads us through a very large, diverse case, each with their own perspectives, concerns, plots... and none of them meet up until the very end (if even then). This is 1,000 pages of unexplained setup, and whether you can make to the good stuff presumably in the sequels fully depends on whether that descriptions sounds like an absolute hell or not.
There are individual parts that are extremely well done, chapters or scenes, which hooked me and made me think 'maybe I'm coming around on this' - but it's all individual scenes. Time jumps, actions taken off screen, or other changes disrupt the narrative even within the lines of the particular characters, so even they're fractured a bit. Williams performs this massively ambitious, plodding juggling act, but the payoff is far too little too late.
What comes along the way, if it's paid off, hints at the strengths to come though. With this fantastical VR world, Williams demonstrates how much freedom that gives him to go anywhere, do anything. Probably the best part is just finding out what off the wall scene you'll stumble into next when the world shifts and he has to start over again. World War I. Martian Crocodile Men. Talking Breakfast. It's always unexpected, delightful, and well presented.
I sound mostly down on it. And I am, it's not a great book. But I get the feeling that enough of the cards Tad was holding close to his chest are now on the table, that the next book he will have no such restraint. This is but a glimpse, and I'm still quite excited to find out what's to come.
There are individual parts that are extremely well done, chapters or scenes, which hooked me and made me think 'maybe I'm coming around on this' - but it's all individual scenes. Time jumps, actions taken off screen, or other changes disrupt the narrative even within the lines of the particular characters, so even they're fractured a bit. Williams performs this massively ambitious, plodding juggling act, but the payoff is far too little too late.
What comes along the way, if it's paid off, hints at the strengths to come though. With this fantastical VR world, Williams demonstrates how much freedom that gives him to go anywhere, do anything. Probably the best part is just finding out what off the wall scene you'll stumble into next when the world shifts and he has to start over again. World War I. Martian Crocodile Men. Talking Breakfast. It's always unexpected, delightful, and well presented.
I sound mostly down on it. And I am, it's not a great book. But I get the feeling that enough of the cards Tad was holding close to his chest are now on the table, that the next book he will have no such restraint. This is but a glimpse, and I'm still quite excited to find out what's to come.
Wicked wicked wicked.
squidsuit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Some interesting stuff here but also incredibly meandering and one of the most deeply unsatisfying endings to a story I’ve read in years. I’m unsure if I’ll continue on with the series.
chocolatereader's review against another edition
3.0
I was hoping for so much more at the ending after such a big commitment to get through this large book.
elaine_a's review against another edition
very fragmented- the story didn't flow well and I had no clue what was happening half the time!
ainsleym's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked most of this book! Writing style was easy to read and despite the length and relatively slow pacing I was never bored. Interesting characters and concepts. The last 100 pages fell apart a bit for me. The nature of the writing made it seem like we were receiving exposition/explanation of the book’s main mysteries but it didn’t fully make sense to me. I much preferred the slow unveiling of information previously used in the book. Would’ve been ok with less questions answered with the promise that I’d find out more in the rest of the series. Excited to see where the plot goes and learn more about this world. A little worried by Dread’s “twist” that it might have a fantastical element but hoping that has a sci fi explanation later on.
beardelzebub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25