vakardien's review against another edition
5.0
sasodīts, šis gan bija forši!
šī grāmata man prasīja iespējams tieši tikpat daudz laika lasīšanai, cik tās autoram visas apbrīnojami smalkās pasaules radīšanai, taču tas absolūti ir bijis labi pavadīts laiks. bija vajadzīga liela pacietība un rūpība, lai spētu izsekot daudzajiem tēliem, kuri grāmatas sākumā gāzās pāri ar vērienu, bet līdzko autora radītā pasaule ar tās sarežģīto vēsturi bija iepazīta, grāmatas lasīšana kļuva par aizraujošu piedzīvojumu.
šo grāmatu ir vērts ņemt par piemēru tam, ko spēj rakstnieks - radīt, postīt un veidot no jauna, pat izcelt no pelniem aizgājušo, ja nepieciešams, taču bez liela darba neiztikt.
un tas tulkojums! Vilis Kasims ir pastrādājis godam, tik aizraujoša un dzīva valoda, turklāt nepavisam ne vienkāršā pasaulē.
vairāk šeit - http://naktsskapitis.blogspot.com/2018/02/kapnu-pilseta-rdzbenets.html
šī grāmata man prasīja iespējams tieši tikpat daudz laika lasīšanai, cik tās autoram visas apbrīnojami smalkās pasaules radīšanai, taču tas absolūti ir bijis labi pavadīts laiks. bija vajadzīga liela pacietība un rūpība, lai spētu izsekot daudzajiem tēliem, kuri grāmatas sākumā gāzās pāri ar vērienu, bet līdzko autora radītā pasaule ar tās sarežģīto vēsturi bija iepazīta, grāmatas lasīšana kļuva par aizraujošu piedzīvojumu.
šo grāmatu ir vērts ņemt par piemēru tam, ko spēj rakstnieks - radīt, postīt un veidot no jauna, pat izcelt no pelniem aizgājušo, ja nepieciešams, taču bez liela darba neiztikt.
un tas tulkojums! Vilis Kasims ir pastrādājis godam, tik aizraujoša un dzīva valoda, turklāt nepavisam ne vienkāršā pasaulē.
vairāk šeit - http://naktsskapitis.blogspot.com/2018/02/kapnu-pilseta-rdzbenets.html
canadianbookaddict's review against another edition
5.0
When I read the description of this I wasn't sure it would be a book I would like but I gave it a shot. I am so glad I did because boy was it good. Well more than good...It was fantastic. Very well written and I have to say I couldn't put it down.
I highly recommend City of Stairs
I highly recommend City of Stairs
nbhatta's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, this was so good. SO GOOD. What an interesting universe!
moirwyn's review against another edition
5.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2016/06/02/its-that-time-again-mini-reviews/
Every now and then my backlog of read-but-not-reviewed starts getting ridiculous. That’s currently the case, and I want to clean house before the weekend comes so I can cosplay as Hermione Granger while not feeling guilty over the shit I should have done on my blog (stressing over unfinished work would be totally in character for Hermione though). So, time for some mini-reviews!
I’ll start with City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett. This was a damn good book. So much fantasy falls into a Tolkein-like paradigm, and then every now and then you come across something fresh and exciting and different that makes you realize why you fell in love with the genre in the first place.
City of Stairs is the tale of the city of Bulikov, which has been conquered by the Saypuri and had it’s entire history, culture, and identity erased through Orwellian mindfuckery. The Saypuri were originally Bulikov’s slaves, and the people of Bulikov were able to become oppressors because they had the gods on their side. But then the Saypuri discovered the gods’ weaknesses, killed them all (presumably), and the roles were reversed. You’ll note my use of the word “presumably.” That’s important.
When a Saypuri professor studying Bulikov’s past is murdered, secret agent Shara Thivani takes it personally, and begins to probe deep into Bulikov’s secrets. She also uncovers some secrets that her own government has been keeping. It’s a cross between a spy novel and an archaeological treasure hunt, and Shara finds that not all of the gods are as dead as the Saypuri think they are. And because there are so many generations worth of baggage coming from both the Saypuri and the citizens of Bulikov, it’s a political/cultural/anthropological puzzle for Shara to solve, a challenge which she readily accepts. The complexity of those social issues and the way that Robert Jackson Bennett presents them within this fictionalized situation have real-world importance for understanding 21st century America, and that’s how I like my fantasy–dark, magical, and yet despite of (or perhaps because of) the magic completely on the nose in uncomfortable topics that we like to try to avoid.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2016/06/02/its-that-time-again-mini-reviews/
Every now and then my backlog of read-but-not-reviewed starts getting ridiculous. That’s currently the case, and I want to clean house before the weekend comes so I can cosplay as Hermione Granger while not feeling guilty over the shit I should have done on my blog (stressing over unfinished work would be totally in character for Hermione though). So, time for some mini-reviews!
I’ll start with City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett. This was a damn good book. So much fantasy falls into a Tolkein-like paradigm, and then every now and then you come across something fresh and exciting and different that makes you realize why you fell in love with the genre in the first place.
City of Stairs is the tale of the city of Bulikov, which has been conquered by the Saypuri and had it’s entire history, culture, and identity erased through Orwellian mindfuckery. The Saypuri were originally Bulikov’s slaves, and the people of Bulikov were able to become oppressors because they had the gods on their side. But then the Saypuri discovered the gods’ weaknesses, killed them all (presumably), and the roles were reversed. You’ll note my use of the word “presumably.” That’s important.
When a Saypuri professor studying Bulikov’s past is murdered, secret agent Shara Thivani takes it personally, and begins to probe deep into Bulikov’s secrets. She also uncovers some secrets that her own government has been keeping. It’s a cross between a spy novel and an archaeological treasure hunt, and Shara finds that not all of the gods are as dead as the Saypuri think they are. And because there are so many generations worth of baggage coming from both the Saypuri and the citizens of Bulikov, it’s a political/cultural/anthropological puzzle for Shara to solve, a challenge which she readily accepts. The complexity of those social issues and the way that Robert Jackson Bennett presents them within this fictionalized situation have real-world importance for understanding 21st century America, and that’s how I like my fantasy–dark, magical, and yet despite of (or perhaps because of) the magic completely on the nose in uncomfortable topics that we like to try to avoid.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
5.0
What an absolute delight of a book. I can't remember the last time I had such a fun reading experience. And to think I almost passed on it due to the cover (guy in cloak, bright lights big city, yawn). The reason I eventually picked it up was Bennett's American Elsewhere, which I loved. This one is very different, but just as wonderful. The world-building is intriguing, and there is a lovely sense of wonder that I imagine every fantasy writer wants to achieve. The characters are fully realized, even the minor players. And may I just say how fabulous it is that Bennett has not one, but multiple believable female characters who are not sexpot superheroes but extraordinary, intelligent, funny human beings with flaws and strengths and ambitions? And while there is much action and fighting and a bit of blood and gore, there is also a heroine who solves problems and saves the day thanks to her vast academic knowledge and curious mind. For a bibliophile like myself that was very validating.
bramboomen's review against another edition
3.0
This is my summary of the book
Then the gods come back
Epic battle
End
I guess this is just the first book in a series and therefore it needs a lot of buildup and worldbuilding, but to me it seemed like Bennett forgot that it had to be a story too. He just threw everything he got at me, humour, seriousness, horror, politics, magic, science, lore and put it into a ton of mystery. I normally like a book that tries to do different things at once, mashes them up, presenting a new and fresh thing, I just felt that this book overshot the sweet spot by 4 or 5 genres.
This all makes me really want to not like the book, but I'd be lying if it didn't entertain me or made me curious. It just completely failed to hold my attention. Therefore I would place this book in the 'meh, kind of decent' category.
Spoiler
First there are 400 pages of the gods not coming back even though EVERYONE knows they are going to come back.Then the gods come back
Epic battle
End
I guess this is just the first book in a series and therefore it needs a lot of buildup and worldbuilding, but to me it seemed like Bennett forgot that it had to be a story too. He just threw everything he got at me, humour, seriousness, horror, politics, magic, science, lore and put it into a ton of mystery. I normally like a book that tries to do different things at once, mashes them up, presenting a new and fresh thing, I just felt that this book overshot the sweet spot by 4 or 5 genres.
This all makes me really want to not like the book, but I'd be lying if it didn't entertain me or made me curious. It just completely failed to hold my attention. Therefore I would place this book in the 'meh, kind of decent' category.
hcrim1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
saoki's review against another edition
5.0
Great writing, great story and great characters. But you know that already, right? So let me tell you some things I loved in this book:
It's a spy thriller, an adventure and a redemption tale all rolled into one. There's a feeling like a Cold War spy movie, but on a world where compassion is actually present.
The cultures are vivid, their strained relationship is believable and the mythologic past, shown through excerpts from local books, is a inspired nod to classic D&D campaign settings, like Forgotten Realms.
The stylistic choices used to present each characters' outlook through their mental organization are absolutely delightful. Of course Shara thinks in lists.
This is the first time I've read a book that's ostensibly about a god-killing quest, but where that's the least important (or interesting) aspect of the story.
And, of course, there as the themes. A few of my favorite ones here: the dangers of using the tools of the oppressor, the injuries that time won't heal, the sins of the fathers, the consequences of success.
All in all, I understand completely the hype. It's an incredibly good book.
It's a spy thriller, an adventure and a redemption tale all rolled into one. There's a feeling like a Cold War spy movie, but on a world where compassion is actually present.
The cultures are vivid, their strained relationship is believable and the mythologic past, shown through excerpts from local books, is a inspired nod to classic D&D campaign settings, like Forgotten Realms.
The stylistic choices used to present each characters' outlook through their mental organization are absolutely delightful. Of course Shara thinks in lists.
This is the first time I've read a book that's ostensibly about a god-killing quest, but where that's the least important (or interesting) aspect of the story.
And, of course, there as the themes. A few of my favorite ones here: the dangers of using the tools of the oppressor, the injuries that time won't heal, the sins of the fathers, the consequences of success.
All in all, I understand completely the hype. It's an incredibly good book.
stephaniesarah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was excellent. A very interesting, unique, and layered exploration of the divine. Great characters and fantastic world building. The first half was a bit slow, but it really picked up about halfway through.