linwearcamenel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
pbobrit's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting Steampunk(ish) tale, loosely based around The Tempest. It did not suck me in immediately but but after persevering through about the first quarter of the book, it picked up and I was able to get into it. For ans of Steampunk with a twist I'd recommend but this book is not going to suit everyone's taste.
bookgardendc's review against another edition
3.0
There are a lot of meta-narratives and themes throughout this story, and lots of characters who seem only two-thirds drawn, but with writing this beautiful and so many concepts worth considering it ends up being an interesting and enjoyable read.
jenx's review against another edition
5.0
One of my new favorite books of all time. Beautifully written, fantastical and real all at the same time. The narration is absolutely masterful. Highly recommended.
chamblyman's review against another edition
5.0
For fans of the literary fantastic, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Just beware: it is both VERY literary and VERY fantastical. By that, I mean the writing and structure of the story is subtle and complex, sometimes with a dreamy feeling and bits that the reader has to think about to fully figure out. And the story is a full-on explosion of strange landscapes, odd technologies and futuristic social customs that fully immerse the reader in a world that is most definitely not our own. Palmer uses Shakespeare's Tempest as the jumping off point and backbone for the characters and structure, but spins this inspiration off into something wholly original. The last book I found so unique, strange & thrilling was China Mieville's The City And The City. Fans of Mieville or Margaret Atwood's Scifi stuff should dig on this.
robidou's review against another edition
2.0
One of many books I wanted to like more than I did. Steampunk the Tempest? Sounds interesting. Sadly, however, this book was pretty boring and highly bizarre. Images of Bioshock kept creeping into my mind. I just couldn't get into it.
angiediane's review
2.0
Well, this book was incredibly disappointing. I went in excited and prepared to like it. Robots! Steampunk! Zeppelins! Conflict! However, I was sorely disappointed. Yet another book betrayal. Engaging beginning, really good towards the end, but the middle was just a massive miasma of mess. I have read many reviews that rave about the "literariness" of this novel; I was a literature major, and after years of studying so-called literariness, I can recognize its existence but I do not necessarily agree upon its value. All the dream sequences and metaphorical sequences and author appearances and virgin/whore tropes - they did not interest me, they did not retain my attention, they did not garner my sympathy. I didn't care for any of the characters, really (although Caliban was chock full of well-crafted creepiness).
In the end, I was expecting something a bit less ephemeral. All I wanted was a steampunky book full of robot-y goodness! Alas.
In the end, I was expecting something a bit less ephemeral. All I wanted was a steampunky book full of robot-y goodness! Alas.
thomcat's review
1.0
Didn't enjoy this book at all. Not sure what the author's point was, but whatever it was, I missed it.