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kaya_may's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
rachtmh's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-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
4.0
<strong>Fantasy and Romance in the Skies</strong>
This book was a joy to read.
I would like to have given it 5 stars, but the last chapter felt a bit rushed and some times I had trouble keeping up.
Overall the world building of the travelling city was superb, the imagination and creativity was boundless and the relationships were relatable and great to follow.
The travelling city really is a place where imagination runs wild, whether good or bad. I would have maybe enjoyed abit more delving into the structure of the society, the history and creation. These were mentioned in brief but left me wanting more!
I truly loved Reihan, Phillippe and especially cheeky & witty Ellis and having multiple POV definitely made the book.
As I say, I’d love to know more about the Travelling City and its lore, but the story itself was great and I would definitely recommend a read.
This book was a joy to read.
I would like to have given it 5 stars, but the last chapter felt a bit rushed and some times I had trouble keeping up.
Overall the world building of the travelling city was superb, the imagination and creativity was boundless and the relationships were relatable and great to follow.
The travelling city really is a place where imagination runs wild, whether good or bad. I would have maybe enjoyed abit more delving into the structure of the society, the history and creation. These were mentioned in brief but left me wanting more!
I truly loved Reihan, Phillippe and especially cheeky & witty Ellis and having multiple POV definitely made the book.
As I say, I’d love to know more about the Travelling City and its lore, but the story itself was great and I would definitely recommend a read.
harryjordan42's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
It’s a fun book with some interesting concepts, I just wish everything had been explored in more detail. It opened strong, then the plot was pushed aside for the romance in the middle and the romance was pushed aside for the plot at the end.
I did like where the story went, and it raises some interesting questions that I kind of hope will be answered in another book because I’d love to know more about the setting and the political and social landscapes outside of the fairly narrow viewpoints in the book, but I also feel like the most interesting (mentioned) areas were explored (though new areas could be mentioned).
I did find some parts could have been conveyed more clearly, and Phillippe’s changing pronouns confused me in the first instance, but I got used to it.
I did like where the story went, and it raises some interesting questions that I kind of hope will be answered in another book because I’d love to know more about the setting and the political and social landscapes outside of the fairly narrow viewpoints in the book, but I also feel like the most interesting (mentioned) areas were explored (though new areas could be mentioned).
I did find some parts could have been conveyed more clearly, and Phillippe’s changing pronouns confused me in the first instance, but I got used to it.
afantaseaofbooks's review
3.0
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞
⮞
witchycassandra's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Enjoyed the read. Interesting characters, intriguing world building and plot. Believable build-up of the romance.
wasauthor's review
4.0
I received an advance reader copy of The Travelling City for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I read a lot of fantasy books, which sit within a variety of subgenres, yet it's rare that I read a book as fantastical as The Travelling City. This novel is packed full of whimsy and psychedelia, through which the author has crafted an entirely unique vision.
The titular travelling city is a world amidst the clouds. While these clouds enable humanity to manifest their desires into reality, too much exposure causes them to lose their sanity, living in a catatonic state. It tells the story of Reihan, a “seaver”—a person born from a test tube and immune to the clouds’ power—who is tasked to St Leopold’s Asylum for the Mentally Incapacitated. Her path crosses with Phillippe—an escort at the Brothel of Transformative Curiosities—whose brother, a resident at the asylum, has gone missing. They must then embark on a quest to find him. It’s a straightforward plot if you strip the high concept away from the book, and one that builds slowly, taking a while to get moving.
However, stripping the high concept away defeats the purpose of the novel; the concept is integral to the story and themes, and central to the world. The author has created a thriving world unlike any I have read before. The world constantly offers something new and unexpected, ensuring the reader is kept off-balance. It's all held together by a robust form of logic, and at no point did the world challenge my suspension of disbelief. While the story has enough dark elements to firmly classify it as a dark fantasy, the world itself is packed full of breathtaking whimsy and psychedelic imagery.
The Travelling City feels longer than its page count would suggest, and its psychedelic stylings play a large part in this. Not only does the prose paint a picturesque view of the world, it presents it all in a way that feels like a fever dream. It is full of long paragraphs that delve into minutiae, which slows the pacing down, and requires the reader to read the book closely to follow along. It's made slightly more difficult through the use of redundant words that, if removed, would have added extra clarity.
The other element that makes it feel longer than its page count is the use of dialogue, of which it features a heavy amount. Conversations continue for large amounts of time with little description between them, and at times, they can be difficult to follow. Additionally, incorrectly formatted dialogue and tags make it a little more difficult to parse. By presenting these sections and the detailed descriptions separately, it affects the ebb and flow.
Although the book’s conversations can be difficult to follow, the dialogue works incredibly well. The main characters, Reihan and Phillippe have the majority of dialogue, much of it is with each other. It flows naturally, and the characters bounce off each other well. The dialogue for more minor characters works, with them sounding unique to one another, with their own style of speech. A large part of what makes the dialogue work so well is the characters. Reihan and Phillippe are opposites in many ways, but their chemistry sings, creating a wonderfully odd couple. Phillippe is particularly interesting, whose manifestations allow him to change genders. He feels queer in a wonderful way that's accepted by those around him unquestioningly.
As whimsical as the world and the book’s stylings are, the story is peppered with unsettling moments that add a tinge of horror, and an almost bleak presence permeates the story. While serving as a juxtaposition to the book’s lighter elements, the two elements work well together. Some readers might find it a little too dark for their taste, but nothing is presented in explicit detail.
The Travelling City is a wholly unique fantasy story that presents a world unlike anything I’ve read before. While I have issues with the dialogue and prose’s presentation, it remains a thoroughly entertaining book. If you’re a fan of fantasy and intrigued by the prospect of something different, you’ll find a lot to love.
My full review will be available on my website from 30 August, 2023. To read it, and a host of other reviews, click here.
I read a lot of fantasy books, which sit within a variety of subgenres, yet it's rare that I read a book as fantastical as The Travelling City. This novel is packed full of whimsy and psychedelia, through which the author has crafted an entirely unique vision.
The titular travelling city is a world amidst the clouds. While these clouds enable humanity to manifest their desires into reality, too much exposure causes them to lose their sanity, living in a catatonic state. It tells the story of Reihan, a “seaver”—a person born from a test tube and immune to the clouds’ power—who is tasked to St Leopold’s Asylum for the Mentally Incapacitated. Her path crosses with Phillippe—an escort at the Brothel of Transformative Curiosities—whose brother, a resident at the asylum, has gone missing. They must then embark on a quest to find him. It’s a straightforward plot if you strip the high concept away from the book, and one that builds slowly, taking a while to get moving.
However, stripping the high concept away defeats the purpose of the novel; the concept is integral to the story and themes, and central to the world. The author has created a thriving world unlike any I have read before. The world constantly offers something new and unexpected, ensuring the reader is kept off-balance. It's all held together by a robust form of logic, and at no point did the world challenge my suspension of disbelief. While the story has enough dark elements to firmly classify it as a dark fantasy, the world itself is packed full of breathtaking whimsy and psychedelic imagery.
The Travelling City feels longer than its page count would suggest, and its psychedelic stylings play a large part in this. Not only does the prose paint a picturesque view of the world, it presents it all in a way that feels like a fever dream. It is full of long paragraphs that delve into minutiae, which slows the pacing down, and requires the reader to read the book closely to follow along. It's made slightly more difficult through the use of redundant words that, if removed, would have added extra clarity.
The other element that makes it feel longer than its page count is the use of dialogue, of which it features a heavy amount. Conversations continue for large amounts of time with little description between them, and at times, they can be difficult to follow. Additionally, incorrectly formatted dialogue and tags make it a little more difficult to parse. By presenting these sections and the detailed descriptions separately, it affects the ebb and flow.
Although the book’s conversations can be difficult to follow, the dialogue works incredibly well. The main characters, Reihan and Phillippe have the majority of dialogue, much of it is with each other. It flows naturally, and the characters bounce off each other well. The dialogue for more minor characters works, with them sounding unique to one another, with their own style of speech. A large part of what makes the dialogue work so well is the characters. Reihan and Phillippe are opposites in many ways, but their chemistry sings, creating a wonderfully odd couple. Phillippe is particularly interesting, whose manifestations allow him to change genders. He feels queer in a wonderful way that's accepted by those around him unquestioningly.
As whimsical as the world and the book’s stylings are, the story is peppered with unsettling moments that add a tinge of horror, and an almost bleak presence permeates the story. While serving as a juxtaposition to the book’s lighter elements, the two elements work well together. Some readers might find it a little too dark for their taste, but nothing is presented in explicit detail.
The Travelling City is a wholly unique fantasy story that presents a world unlike anything I’ve read before. While I have issues with the dialogue and prose’s presentation, it remains a thoroughly entertaining book. If you’re a fan of fantasy and intrigued by the prospect of something different, you’ll find a lot to love.
My full review will be available on my website from 30 August, 2023. To read it, and a host of other reviews, click here.
katvou's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
maxinevsg's review
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? Yes
3.75
ruthien's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
gracebrayton's review
The writing was very confusing and seemed extremely unedited