avetzan's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed all three of these novellas and would definitely recommend them, though I must say I enjoyed the first one more than the other two by a small margin.
It's not that the latter two are bad, it's just that there's so much more worldbuilding going on in the first novella where we get introduced to it all. We learn the about how the Gameshouse works in the first story, what it can bring to a person's life alongside some risks.
In the second story we see a desperate struggle to avoid some risks that was enjoyable but it doesn't add as much as the first story did.
In the third we see the height of which the gameshouse can go to and how far a certain character is willing to go, but the ending is left intentionally open and I expected more tying up of all the themes, but instead they're just kind of left there.
Those are my only problems with the novellas however, the premise is intriguing, the stories are great, and the performance on the audiobook is great. I'll probably come back to these at some point and I'll enjoy them each again when I do.
It's not that the latter two are bad, it's just that there's so much more worldbuilding going on in the first novella where we get introduced to it all. We learn the about how the Gameshouse works in the first story, what it can bring to a person's life alongside some risks.
In the second story we see a desperate struggle to avoid some risks that was enjoyable but it doesn't add as much as the first story did.
In the third we see the height of which the gameshouse can go to and how far a certain character is willing to go, but the ending is left intentionally open and I expected more tying up of all the themes, but instead they're just kind of left there.
Those are my only problems with the novellas however, the premise is intriguing, the stories are great, and the performance on the audiobook is great. I'll probably come back to these at some point and I'll enjoy them each again when I do.
nodoze's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
caitlinwhetten's review against another edition
4.0
This was so different to a lot of other adult fantasy I've read. This is a bind-up of three novellas that all deal with the Gameshouse -- a place where people basically play large scale versions of chess, hide and seek and Risk.
That concept alone sold this for me to pick up, but the prose in this was what I loved the most. I loved the way North tells her three different stories and how she's able to develop and make me care about characters, describe the various settings and pull in a lot of political maneuvering along with a tension-filled plot.
I don't think the writing of this and how it tells the story will work for everyone. There's enough world-building in this for me, but others may find it vague and unexplored in areas. I got just enough to intrigue me, but also keep a bit of mystery.
I loved all of the stories, but I think the first one was my favorite and I liked that the character in that first one is what ties the other two together. I'm so glad I came across this and took a chance on it.
That concept alone sold this for me to pick up, but the prose in this was what I loved the most. I loved the way North tells her three different stories and how she's able to develop and make me care about characters, describe the various settings and pull in a lot of political maneuvering along with a tension-filled plot.
I don't think the writing of this and how it tells the story will work for everyone. There's enough world-building in this for me, but others may find it vague and unexplored in areas. I got just enough to intrigue me, but also keep a bit of mystery.
I loved all of the stories, but I think the first one was my favorite and I liked that the character in that first one is what ties the other two together. I'm so glad I came across this and took a chance on it.
sonofthunder's review against another edition
3.0
Now this book was published just this year so a bit of a change from my recent readings of books from years long gone! But I heard it recommended (somewhere?) and it sounded interesting and so I gave it a try. Sadly, it was not quite as much to my liking as I would have hoped. It was fascinatingly written and the prose was quite pretty, so no complaints in the writing department. (Well, except for the odd habit of using open hyphens to indicate speech instead of using quotation marks like...one should? This may be just my problem, so I will try to disregard, but it did make the characters feel even more removed and alien...which possibly was the intention?) Anyways, this book may resonate more with those who like the idea that there is a grand conspiracy to rule the world and that there are shadowy Illuminati-like figures moving pieces around the world and shaping the world per their own whims and desires. For me, I found the book profoundly depressing and I didn't really like any of the characters. The author is very much aware of the fact that the main characters are somewhat inhuman and unfeeling...she even addresses this in several places. But even the self-awareness of the author doesn't make me actually like the characters any better. Despite several moments where connections to humanity were introduced (indeed, those were the best parts of the book! The Chinese policeman who would not kill...the Thai woman who craved the company of another human being...those snippets were lovely....), I still just could not like these characters who we followed. Indeed, it was kind of interesting reading that most of history happened due to the playing of great games by great players...moving pieces around the world to further their own selfish ends. Cool? Well, at times. But this book was a cold read, with little depth or warmth. I think the author was aware of that, as even the ambivalent ending indicated. But while well written, this was a book that I can't say I particularly enjoyed.
booksnacks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 A collection of 3 novellas, The Gameshouse blew away my expectations right out of the gate, but that joy slowly petered out.
The first novella was dripping with tension, wonder, mystery, and atmosphere. Set in Venice in the 1600s, we see a complex game play out and the protagonist was a delight to read from. The side characters were interesting, her motivation was interesting. I just really liked Thene and that time period, very well done. This would have been a 5 star from me if it was on its own.
The second novella was filled with atmosphere and imagery- beautiful but boring. We watch a player literally play hide-and-seek. I like Remy but the action in this novella and into the next one made me begin to lose interest. We continually learn about the Gameshouse as we go, but the tension didn’t hit me in this one like the first.
Okay, the last one. I have mixed feelings. The bulk of the build-up from the previous novellas comes to a head and all those ties that were made begin to pull together. We see a massive battle between the head of the house and a long-time player. It’s on an epic scale, literally world-wide. Cool right? Well... kind of. Tons of action and detail about locations, other players, and machinations on both sides. It’s.. a lot. Cool, but kind of like watching an action film that is juuust a bit out of your knowledge depth. There’s so much happening! The ending was not my favourite and was vague but I love the reoccurring line about the coin. We don’t really get the resolution I thought we might, and the build-up of the mysterious history of the house revealed did not particularly excite me, even though it initially did when first discussed. Maybe I was tired from the action, but it just didn’t hit after this lengthy battle.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. An intriguing plot with great writing. I will definitely read more from this author!
The first novella was dripping with tension, wonder, mystery, and atmosphere. Set in Venice in the 1600s, we see a complex game play out and the protagonist was a delight to read from. The side characters were interesting, her motivation was interesting. I just really liked Thene and that time period, very well done. This would have been a 5 star from me if it was on its own.
The second novella was filled with atmosphere and imagery- beautiful but boring. We watch a player literally play hide-and-seek. I like Remy but the action in this novella and into the next one made me begin to lose interest. We continually learn about the Gameshouse as we go, but the tension didn’t hit me in this one like the first.
Okay, the last one. I have mixed feelings. The bulk of the build-up from the previous novellas comes to a head and all those ties that were made begin to pull together. We see a massive battle between the head of the house and a long-time player. It’s on an epic scale, literally world-wide. Cool right? Well... kind of. Tons of action and detail about locations, other players, and machinations on both sides. It’s.. a lot. Cool, but kind of like watching an action film that is juuust a bit out of your knowledge depth. There’s so much happening! The ending was not my favourite and was vague but I love the reoccurring line about the coin. We don’t really get the resolution I thought we might, and the build-up of the mysterious history of the house revealed did not particularly excite me, even though it initially did when first discussed. Maybe I was tired from the action, but it just didn’t hit after this lengthy battle.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. An intriguing plot with great writing. I will definitely read more from this author!
twistedriver's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hawaiianabyss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bluechew's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Enjoyable and challenging that doesn’t end as well as it starts
chukg's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collected version of three related novels. It took me some time to get into them -- I read one at a time with breaks in between. I liked the general idea, but it felt a bit distant...like huge events were happening, but we mostly only saw tiny parts of them. Well written too but I never really identified with the protagonists until the very end of the third book.
cheyenneb's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5