Scan barcode
randomdreamer's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
yiayiakassi's review
3.0
Soleri is marketed as a combination of Egyptian mythology and King Lear. As others have remarked, the Egyptian connection is strong while the King Lear connection is a bit tenuous. This book has a compelling plot that draws you in and makes you want to keep reading. However, I would say the book often lacks believable motivations for many events or features, and the reader is asked to take a lot at face value. There is also inconsistency in the scene and character building. Some parts are written with such a richness and attention to detail, and likewise some of the characters are very well developed and their actions make sense. But other scenes pass by in a confused frenzy and seem to miss the mark of their intended effect.
Overall, this book isn't bad but it's not amazing either.
Overall, this book isn't bad but it's not amazing either.
wunder's review
1.0
Gave up after 64 pages. Torture, injury, death, and betrayal in every single chapter. Just gross, not interesting. I don't need to read this.
andrewb21's review
2.0
The world has the potential to be interesting, but characters and plot points are all pretty color-by-numbers in the mold of Game of Thrones. Characters often change course with little to no transition or reason.
diesmali's review
3.0
A book that while likely be the first in a series, even if there's no second novel announced yet.
A solid effort that falls a bit shy of being a great read.
In a sun-worshipping empire where the ruling emperor family has withdrawn from the world, the royal and priestly vassals vie for power. Royal family intrigues, mysteries of the emperor uncovered, power struggles and betrayals... and the next generation seeing their own chance to write their names in history.
In the end there was too little continuity in allegiances, which made it hard to take all the changes and betrayals that took place. It needed more balance. Also, there were a couple of secrets I'm sure were meantto make more of an impact than I felt they did. The author needed to set these up more solidly.
But I liked it and will look forward to book #2
A solid effort that falls a bit shy of being a great read.
In a sun-worshipping empire where the ruling emperor family has withdrawn from the world, the royal and priestly vassals vie for power. Royal family intrigues, mysteries of the emperor uncovered, power struggles and betrayals... and the next generation seeing their own chance to write their names in history.
In the end there was too little continuity in allegiances, which made it hard to take all the changes and betrayals that took place. It needed more balance. Also, there were a couple of secrets I'm sure were meantto make more of an impact than I felt they did. The author needed to set these up more solidly.
But I liked it and will look forward to book #2
lourdes_chapters_we_love's review
5.0
4.5*s I Loved this story and all the characters but Kepi and Rend are my top favorite, Can't wait for the next installment.
Review: https://chapterswelove.com/2017/08/29/soleri-by-michael-johnston/
Review: https://chapterswelove.com/2017/08/29/soleri-by-michael-johnston/
grauspitz's review
3.0
A solid fantasy story with a few flaws that keep me from rating it higher. I absolutely loved the world but felt the world-building to be too dense at times. All the characters definitely have their own flaws, to the point where I personally disliked most of them but still wanted to see where they would go. It was slow-paced for a fantasy, but with such a complicated world I shouldn't have expected anything else.
I'm definitely intrigued enough to pick up the next book whenever it comes out!!
I'm definitely intrigued enough to pick up the next book whenever it comes out!!
spikegelato's review
3.0
3.5 out of 5 stars -- see this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
Soleri follows five characters who must negotiate an ever-changing web of deceit and conflict as they each vie for power in the sprawling Soleri empire. The story and setting were reminiscent of Game of Thrones but with tighter pacing and an Egyptian flair.
This marks author Michael Johnston’s first solo novel and it’s certainly an impressive debut — it’s equal parts epic and intimate, as we’re dealing with a small set of characters with political ambitions on a large scale. The writing is clear, concise, and moves the narrative along at a nice pace.
I sped through the first half of this novel before encountering a ~100 page stretch in the second half that really felt stagnate and lost my interest. Johnston employs an unsustainable barrage of fun plot twists in the first half that probably should have been spread more evenly throughout the book. It was not until the final few chapters that I was brought back to what was so good about the novel to begin with — twisty, intriguing family dynamics against the backdrop of an interesting world with a rich history.
Soleri follows five characters who must negotiate an ever-changing web of deceit and conflict as they each vie for power in the sprawling Soleri empire. The story and setting were reminiscent of Game of Thrones but with tighter pacing and an Egyptian flair.
This marks author Michael Johnston’s first solo novel and it’s certainly an impressive debut — it’s equal parts epic and intimate, as we’re dealing with a small set of characters with political ambitions on a large scale. The writing is clear, concise, and moves the narrative along at a nice pace.
I sped through the first half of this novel before encountering a ~100 page stretch in the second half that really felt stagnate and lost my interest. Johnston employs an unsustainable barrage of fun plot twists in the first half that probably should have been spread more evenly throughout the book. It was not until the final few chapters that I was brought back to what was so good about the novel to begin with — twisty, intriguing family dynamics against the backdrop of an interesting world with a rich history.
noreadingdegree's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Slavery, Murder, Gore, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, and Infidelity
blood, physical violence, gore, animal death, mentioning of sexual assault/rape, death by fire (blistering, suffocation), attempted sexual assault of character, trauma from sexual assault/rape, relationship/sexual content with minor (16 is considered marrying age in this society”, mentioning of genital/other body part mutilations, ablesim (villianization of disability, disabilty used as plot point), villainization of indigenous cultures, slut shaming, unclear consent, sexual content, abuse of alcohol, estranged familial relationshipsnoreadingdegree's review against another edition
4.0
LIKES:
-KEPI: Poor girl has been through some trauma! I enjoyed the fact that instead of letting that trauma overcome her life she chooses to take certain steps to ensure her strength and perseverance prevails.
-HATE TO LOVE TROPE: I just love this trope, okay? and I will never not love it!
-EGYPTIAN INFLUENCE: I have always been fascinated w/ Ancient Egyptian culture and any book delving into that has my undivided attention.
-LGBTQIA+ rep: Although it was a minor character, I liked that his sexuality was not viewed as out of the norm and blasphemous (which may be the case to this book's religion, but it was not delved into more).
-THE LAST 50 PAGES: Boy, did this pages hit HARD. Lots of revelations, conflicts, and mysterious unveiled making me want MORE! The last 50 pages were 4.5/5 alone. After starting a new book, I found myself wishing that I was still in this world.
-CONSENT: A character is forced into a marriage and during their wedding night her husband attempts to have sexual relations w/ her and she says, "No, stop". And he immediately stops and they have a discussion about consent.
DISLIKES:
-WORLD BUILDING: I felt that there was not enough of it. I had such a difficult time visualizing this world and the only reason why I was able to is because I knew that it had Egyptian influence. And I won't say that this is necessarily the author's fault. I think my issue is that I am not familiar with such a setting (trying to remedy this!) and therefore couldn't conjure up a visualization even w/ descriptions.
-REN: To be honest, I found Ren completely fucking boring. We are meant to sympathize w/ his character, but I could have cared less. A majority of his story in this book is centered around missing a family he has never met and saving his closest friends. And I think my issue w/ this is that we were only told about these issues. There was little to no exploration of Ren's time in the Priory dealing w/ being taken away from his family or of Ren's friendships developing. Therefore, I had a difficult time connecting with his motivations. Yes, I understood them, but I wasn't compelled or engrossed by them. He is also a Gary Sue. BORING.
-FEMININE/MASCULINE SISTER TROPE: Although, I loved Kepi I disliked the fact that she was viewed as the ugly tomboy sister who loves to fight and her older sister is viewed as the beautiful and graceful one. Why can't Kepi love to fight AND love to wear a dress!?!?@!?@
-CONSENT: Although, there was a moment of proper consent, the same male character that I discussed above attempts the same moves on another character earlier in the book and the consent was not dealt w/ properly. The 2 characters are in a consensual relationship and it is mentioned that the female character wants a sexual relationship w/ this male. HOWEVER, they are in a public spot when he attempts his moves and she says, "No, not now". And instead of immediately stopping, the male character continues to pursue sexual relations. He then states, "I'm nearly through waiting, Merit". She then replies that it won't be much longer. Ek!