annie_lulu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jordandotcom's review against another edition
3.0
idek how but both caleb AND mal were very boring to me
coslyn's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Oh, I wanted to like this one so bad :( Mal and Caleb's relationship definitely is a huge proponent of it, but there are other little things thrown in there too. Still, the characters are great and the world building is excellent and I just wanted this to be better.
mulletgod's review against another edition
4.0
this one got a little slow in the middle but i really enjoyed this peak into the universe.
zozoisgolden's review against another edition
4.0
Can I just say I loved the King in Red & Teo?
After Three Parts Dead, I wondered how the personality of the Deathless Kings would be but he was such an interesting character! I'd love to have another part where we delve into his rise as a Craftman and his role in the God Wars.
All the sacrifice and Tzimet was sometimes hard to keep up with and I'm still confused about how exactly a Concern works But Caleb is an interesting guy even though sometimes he felt dumb as bricks. Like a cross between himbo and emo lol.
After Three Parts Dead, I wondered how the personality of the Deathless Kings would be but he was such an interesting character! I'd love to have another part where we delve into his rise as a Craftman and his role in the God Wars.
Spoiler
Everything else rocked too. Sometimes the worldbuilding felt a little too complicated.All the sacrifice and Tzimet was sometimes hard to keep up with and I'm still confused about how exactly a Concern works
mrsbluejay's review against another edition
5.0
So far I liked this part of the Craft Sequence best.
To me it seems like Two Serpents Rise is a love declaration to the real world, in particular the parts of it created by humans, despite all their nastiness and problems.
I enjoy reading Gladstone's characters, even if I don't like them. None of the main characters in this book (Caleb, Mal, Temoc and the King in Red) are in any way likeable to me, and I don't think they are meant to be. They're all at least very grey, if not outright evil in my opinion. I haven't found it possible to empathize with any of the above mentioned characters for more than a few pages at a time and I think it's safe to say that there's excellent storytelling behind this.
For me, this is a story about failure. In German, there's a proverb 'vom Regen in die Traufe' (literally 'from the rain into the eaves', meaning 'from the frying pan into the fire') that really fits the bill here. Even though the ending seemed to foreshadow a positive development, for me it's hard to believe that's really what's going to happen at this point.
To me it seems like Two Serpents Rise is a love declaration to the real world, in particular the parts of it created by humans, despite all their nastiness and problems.
I enjoy reading Gladstone's characters, even if I don't like them. None of the main characters in this book (Caleb, Mal, Temoc and the King in Red) are in any way likeable to me, and I don't think they are meant to be. They're all at least very grey, if not outright evil in my opinion. I haven't found it possible to empathize with any of the above mentioned characters for more than a few pages at a time and I think it's safe to say that there's excellent storytelling behind this.
For me, this is a story about failure. In German, there's a proverb 'vom Regen in die Traufe' (literally 'from the rain into the eaves', meaning 'from the frying pan into the fire') that really fits the bill here. Even though the ending seemed to foreshadow a positive development, for me it's hard to believe that's really what's going to happen at this point.
neens_m's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Death
tmikerx's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. It's everything Three Parts Dead was, and so much more. I love the world Max Gladstone has created, and the fully developed characters are a marvel in their complexity. Even the characters in the background have real personalities that shine through, and instead of being filler characters, actually add to the story. You might not like some of the characters, but you respect them because you feel like you know them as you read the story.
And the world. There's so much history lurking beneath the surface, and each glimpse Max gives us is like a treat. The magic is absolutely fantastic, yet it's made to seem so commonplace, which creates this strange atmosphere that I can't think of any other book that even comes close to it.
I highly recommend this book and it's predecessor. I can't wait for the next one.
And the world. There's so much history lurking beneath the surface, and each glimpse Max gives us is like a treat. The magic is absolutely fantastic, yet it's made to seem so commonplace, which creates this strange atmosphere that I can't think of any other book that even comes close to it.
I highly recommend this book and it's predecessor. I can't wait for the next one.
distgenius's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
3.5
kblincoln's review against another edition
5.0
** I read an Advance Uncorrected Proof
Max Gladstone took the world from his first book, "Three Parts Dead" and upped the ante with a seamlessly woven story where each character, each personality trait, and each clue falls into place beautifully at the end.
I love it when that happens. When the character's main attributes are what make them succeed or fail where others would never make a difference. I love that especially when those attributes are ones that seem to be negative at first.
Caleb lives in the city of Dresediel Lex; a city built on the ashes of a former Quechal city of pyramids and sacrifice by a Deathless King. After the King broke all the former Quechal gods, his more bureaucratic bonds of contract and magic (Craft) bring water to the city.
But someone is messing around with the city's water supply, and its Caleb who is sent to investigate. Is it the intriguing Craftswoman he finds at the water's edge? Is it Caleb's father, the last remaining high priest of the Quechal and outlaw?
Caleb hates his father's legacy of sacrifice, and risks his own job to pursue the Craftswoman deeper into the mystery of who is trying to take down Dresediel Lex, and in doing so will change the foundation of the city itself.
Gladstone can give China Mieville a run for his money when it comes to creating language-rich descriptions of half-science fiction/half fantasy cities where you can almost smell the Muerte Coffee and feel the rasping wind of giant flying serpents caress your face. Caleb, his friend Teo, and even the Deathless King himself are fully formed characters, that unlike (at least for me) in Mieville's books you end up hanging your reader's heart on and flinching at every emotional wringer Gladstone puts them through.
And as I said above, the way the book weaves the story makes Caleb's issues with his father's religion, as well as his attraction to the Craftswoman vital components of the story.
I highly recommend this stand-alone sequel even if you've never read Three Parts Dead. If you do read the first book, you'll smile at the references to Alt Coulumb, but its not necessary.
This Book's Snack Rating: like Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for a sturdy-crunch plot with creamy Quechal imagery and addictive bite of fully-formed characters
Max Gladstone took the world from his first book, "Three Parts Dead" and upped the ante with a seamlessly woven story where each character, each personality trait, and each clue falls into place beautifully at the end.
I love it when that happens. When the character's main attributes are what make them succeed or fail where others would never make a difference. I love that especially when those attributes are ones that seem to be negative at first.
Caleb lives in the city of Dresediel Lex; a city built on the ashes of a former Quechal city of pyramids and sacrifice by a Deathless King. After the King broke all the former Quechal gods, his more bureaucratic bonds of contract and magic (Craft) bring water to the city.
But someone is messing around with the city's water supply, and its Caleb who is sent to investigate. Is it the intriguing Craftswoman he finds at the water's edge? Is it Caleb's father, the last remaining high priest of the Quechal and outlaw?
Caleb hates his father's legacy of sacrifice, and risks his own job to pursue the Craftswoman deeper into the mystery of who is trying to take down Dresediel Lex, and in doing so will change the foundation of the city itself.
Gladstone can give China Mieville a run for his money when it comes to creating language-rich descriptions of half-science fiction/half fantasy cities where you can almost smell the Muerte Coffee and feel the rasping wind of giant flying serpents caress your face. Caleb, his friend Teo, and even the Deathless King himself are fully formed characters, that unlike (at least for me) in Mieville's books you end up hanging your reader's heart on and flinching at every emotional wringer Gladstone puts them through.
And as I said above, the way the book weaves the story makes Caleb's issues with his father's religion, as well as his attraction to the Craftswoman vital components of the story.
I highly recommend this stand-alone sequel even if you've never read Three Parts Dead. If you do read the first book, you'll smile at the references to Alt Coulumb, but its not necessary.
This Book's Snack Rating: like Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for a sturdy-crunch plot with creamy Quechal imagery and addictive bite of fully-formed characters