peapod_boston's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book. An amazing setting, engaging protagonist, and over-brimming with cool ideas. But it didn't quite engage me, and I am not sure why. Don't get me wrong; I liked it--just not as much as I thought I would. Definitely got stronger as I got deeper into it, though. So I am curious to read more.
stayshomeandreads's review against another edition
3.5
Prose was great, setting was super interesting, but the plot was very hard to follow. You definitely need to have an understanding of Norse mythology to understand this book. I wish it had just a little bit more exposition to really explore the unique world Bear created. All of the characters were really interesting and I loved how it played on the themes of guilt and vengeance. The bizarre sex scenes also soured me on it a bit.
ryan_pardue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tarana's review against another edition
4.0
Not my kind of fantasy or perhaps the story just got to me. It was unrelievingly grim. I did push through 1/3 of the book and decided not to waste my time any longer and abandoned it. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators DID do a great job, which is why I got through 1/3 of the book.
woolfardis's review against another edition
1.0
An interesting start though the Valkyrie concept had me confused: many names and words to learn about before you leap in to this world. Possibly for another time. (Yes, but Kindle.)
clyssandre's review against another edition
3.0
All the Windwracked Stars left me with mix feelings. I did enjoy its world, story and characters, but on the other hand I really struggled through it. It felt long and slow, all the way up to the end.
What caught me in the first pages was Kasimir, the beautiful valraven you can see on the book cover. I found him an original creature, partly horse, partly deer, partly bird, with two head, one male and one female. He is the wisdom in this book, a model of faithfulness and supportiveness, and he's telepathic (which is cool). I really wanted to know more about him. Unfortunately, the novel doesn't focus too much on him and his people and this was a bit disappointing to me.
On the contrary, the story revolves mainly around the character of Muire, the last Waelcyrge, burned with guild and shame after she run away from the battlefield and thus became the only survivor of her Kind. Muire's personal conflicts were interesting (and understandable), but I couldn't really connect with her. She seemed cold and distant, and her feelings somewhat muffled. Therefore I found it hard to sympathize with her. I didn't exactly understand her attitude toward the Wolf and Cahey. Sometimes it felt like she hated/loved them both, even though it didn't feel like it was supposed to be the case. I just got confused.
Every single page I turned, I hoped to learn more about the world, about this dying Valdyrgard and the city of Eiledon, and the people in it, and how precisely it went all so bad. Even though the book does provide some explanation, it's really scarce and not enough to quench my thirst on that aspect.
On the one hand, there is certainly something mesmerizing about how Elizabeth Bear describes Valdyrgard world. It's very visual, poetic, and really brings you to a magical world. There are some very original elements to it. On the other hand, I got bored in it.
The story lacked of intensity for me. I didn't feel a climax anywhere in the book. It was slow and slightly melancholic the whole way. I got interested in the book, but I didn't get excited. I got interested in Muire and all the other creatures, especially the Valraven and the Moreaux, but I didn't particularly connect with them. I was not surprised at the end. I didn't feel there was any element of suspense, surprise or unexpected twists. The end was rather predictable.
I guess that was the issue for me. Everything was nice: Eilendor, the mix of magic and technology, the peculiar topography of Eilendon and its strange mixed population, but everything was always too slow and quiet for me.
What caught me in the first pages was Kasimir, the beautiful valraven you can see on the book cover. I found him an original creature, partly horse, partly deer, partly bird, with two head, one male and one female. He is the wisdom in this book, a model of faithfulness and supportiveness, and he's telepathic (which is cool). I really wanted to know more about him. Unfortunately, the novel doesn't focus too much on him and his people and this was a bit disappointing to me.
On the contrary, the story revolves mainly around the character of Muire, the last Waelcyrge, burned with guild and shame after she run away from the battlefield and thus became the only survivor of her Kind. Muire's personal conflicts were interesting (and understandable), but I couldn't really connect with her. She seemed cold and distant, and her feelings somewhat muffled. Therefore I found it hard to sympathize with her. I didn't exactly understand her attitude toward the Wolf and Cahey. Sometimes it felt like she hated/loved them both, even though it didn't feel like it was supposed to be the case. I just got confused.
Every single page I turned, I hoped to learn more about the world, about this dying Valdyrgard and the city of Eiledon, and the people in it, and how precisely it went all so bad. Even though the book does provide some explanation, it's really scarce and not enough to quench my thirst on that aspect.
On the one hand, there is certainly something mesmerizing about how Elizabeth Bear describes Valdyrgard world. It's very visual, poetic, and really brings you to a magical world. There are some very original elements to it. On the other hand, I got bored in it.
The story lacked of intensity for me. I didn't feel a climax anywhere in the book. It was slow and slightly melancholic the whole way. I got interested in the book, but I didn't get excited. I got interested in Muire and all the other creatures, especially the Valraven and the Moreaux, but I didn't particularly connect with them. I was not surprised at the end. I didn't feel there was any element of suspense, surprise or unexpected twists. The end was rather predictable.
I guess that was the issue for me. Everything was nice: Eilendor, the mix of magic and technology, the peculiar topography of Eilendon and its strange mixed population, but everything was always too slow and quiet for me.
missmegreads's review against another edition
1.0
Was in my Top 5 Worst Books of 2009. You can find my review here http://megwrites.dreamwidth.org/118075.html.
Not going to lie, you probably literally could not pay me to pick up another Elizabeth Bear book (or indeed, even projects that she's involved with) in my life. The author has personally and publicly been so utterly obnoxious and hurtful to other human beings that I can't even read the books of hers I previously liked without being so disgusted that I put it down.
Not going to lie, you probably literally could not pay me to pick up another Elizabeth Bear book (or indeed, even projects that she's involved with) in my life. The author has personally and publicly been so utterly obnoxious and hurtful to other human beings that I can't even read the books of hers I previously liked without being so disgusted that I put it down.
sarahbotreads's review against another edition
4.0
Here's how it usually goes: I read an Elizabeth Bear book, I love it. Lather, rinse, repeat. All the Windwracked Stars is no exception. Norse mythology and futuristic technomancy is a killer combination.
curgoth's review against another edition
5.0
Original Review:
This book starts with the end of the world, and goes from there. The thing I love most about Bear's writing is, I think, that all her characters seem like people I know - or people I would know, if my friends and I were post-human vikings. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
Audio re-read:
Nine years later, still like it. Bear does character so very well. She also writes from "how are these characters broken" as the key to understanding characters. This time through, I found that method to be a little more jagged and raw than the first time through - the amount of damage at the heart of all the characters was a little more than I felt was strictly necessary. Still good, but Bear has written better stuff.
This book starts with the end of the world, and goes from there. The thing I love most about Bear's writing is, I think, that all her characters seem like people I know - or people I would know, if my friends and I were post-human vikings. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
Audio re-read:
Nine years later, still like it. Bear does character so very well. She also writes from "how are these characters broken" as the key to understanding characters. This time through, I found that method to be a little more jagged and raw than the first time through - the amount of damage at the heart of all the characters was a little more than I felt was strictly necessary. Still good, but Bear has written better stuff.