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negative40's review
3.0
I picked this up from the library due to the cool cover and the words "Japanese Steampunk." It really was a pretty cool book. Nice story, some decent twists, and ultimately a great book in the genre. There was some quite wooden prose, but I chalk that up to debut novel pitfalls.
However, there was this one thing about the book that was rather glaring was its Japanese-ness. I know precious little about Japanese culture, but even I could tell that this felt like culture as interpreted by a guy that had seen Kill Bill a few times and watched a bit of anime. (Which, from the criticism I've read, may not be far from the truth.) Sure, it's not really Japan but some fictional island, so maybe you can fudge it a bit. However, everything felt very Western with a dash of "ain't this cool" exoticism. I imagine the words "Japanese steampunk" helped him sell the book, but I think the author should have either done the research and made this truly Japanese in flavor or just made it vaguely Asian. He tries to do both and it comes across as lazy. It's unfortunate, because other than that it's a great book.
However, there was this one thing about the book that was rather glaring was its Japanese-ness. I know precious little about Japanese culture, but even I could tell that this felt like culture as interpreted by a guy that had seen Kill Bill a few times and watched a bit of anime. (Which, from the criticism I've read, may not be far from the truth.) Sure, it's not really Japan but some fictional island, so maybe you can fudge it a bit. However, everything felt very Western with a dash of "ain't this cool" exoticism. I imagine the words "Japanese steampunk" helped him sell the book, but I think the author should have either done the research and made this truly Japanese in flavor or just made it vaguely Asian. He tries to do both and it comes across as lazy. It's unfortunate, because other than that it's a great book.
armstrong029's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
librosydragones's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lara16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
ihateprozac's review against another edition
4.0
Stormdancer tells the story of Yukiko, a young girl living in an alternate steampunk version of feudal Japan. The nation is ruled by a shogun and a guild of religious zealots, and everybody’s livelihood depends on the production of a scarce and deadly fuel named Chi. The production of Chi is destroying the environment, seeing Japan’s skies choked by red fog and its soils choked by the deadly blood lotus plant. Set against this backdrop, protagonist Yukiko and her father are tasked by the shogun with capturing a mythical and presumed-extinct creature named the Arashitora: a thunder tiger, or griffin.
I’m utter trash for Jay Kristoff, so you know I had to pick up this series to see where he started. But I won’t lie, the start of this is rough. The world building is clunky and inelegant, and you’ll find yourself frantically flipping back and forth to the glossary just to make it through the first few chapters. I’ve got a fairly decent understanding of Japanese language and culture, having studied it in school for several years, but even I found the first 100 pages of this book tough to get through.
Eventually the book hits that sweet spot where either the world-building is done or you’ve just become so immersed in the world that your confusion abates, and it’s smooth sailing from there. You’ll know it when you see it, so just stick in there and get past the initial hurdle - it’s worth it, I promise.
Because once I was hooked, I was hooked. I felt as if I’d genuinely been transported to this oppressive steampunk version of Japan, struggling to breathe the toxic red smog and fighting for survival. I formed such strong bonds with these characters that I cried twice, and am literally still thinking about one of the heartbreaking scenes a week later!
And Yukiko is such a likeable and yet deeply flawed protagonist. Her character growth from the start to the end of the novel is astounding, and she's no Mary Sue by any stretch of the imagination. Yukiko is impulsive, strong, selfish, manipulative, selfless, and everything in between - and Kristoff makes no bones about it. This is a young girl trying to survive in a terrible situation, and she's not always going to make the best choices.
The world Kristoff has created here is so tragic and so beautiful. We’ve got samurai, oppressive governments, war, demons, magical abilities, steampunk technology, and mythical creatures - all set in feudal Japan! In spite of how difficult it is to get into this world initially, and though I think the book is perhaps 100 pages too long, it’s such an incredible breath of fresh air from the typically European and Anglo fantasy I’ve been reading.
Overall: While this book suffers from clunky world-building and pacing issues, it’s such a remarkable breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. Stormdancer is such an odd blend of steampunk and Japanese mythology that almost shouldn’t work - and yet it totally does. It was a difficult read to get into, but I’m curious enough about the world that I’ll be picking up the next two.
I’m utter trash for Jay Kristoff, so you know I had to pick up this series to see where he started. But I won’t lie, the start of this is rough. The world building is clunky and inelegant, and you’ll find yourself frantically flipping back and forth to the glossary just to make it through the first few chapters. I’ve got a fairly decent understanding of Japanese language and culture, having studied it in school for several years, but even I found the first 100 pages of this book tough to get through.
Eventually the book hits that sweet spot where either the world-building is done or you’ve just become so immersed in the world that your confusion abates, and it’s smooth sailing from there. You’ll know it when you see it, so just stick in there and get past the initial hurdle - it’s worth it, I promise.
Because once I was hooked, I was hooked. I felt as if I’d genuinely been transported to this oppressive steampunk version of Japan, struggling to breathe the toxic red smog and fighting for survival. I formed such strong bonds with these characters that I cried twice, and am literally still thinking about one of the heartbreaking scenes a week later!
And Yukiko is such a likeable and yet deeply flawed protagonist. Her character growth from the start to the end of the novel is astounding, and she's no Mary Sue by any stretch of the imagination. Yukiko is impulsive, strong, selfish, manipulative, selfless, and everything in between - and Kristoff makes no bones about it. This is a young girl trying to survive in a terrible situation, and she's not always going to make the best choices.
The world Kristoff has created here is so tragic and so beautiful. We’ve got samurai, oppressive governments, war, demons, magical abilities, steampunk technology, and mythical creatures - all set in feudal Japan! In spite of how difficult it is to get into this world initially, and though I think the book is perhaps 100 pages too long, it’s such an incredible breath of fresh air from the typically European and Anglo fantasy I’ve been reading.
Overall: While this book suffers from clunky world-building and pacing issues, it’s such a remarkable breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. Stormdancer is such an odd blend of steampunk and Japanese mythology that almost shouldn’t work - and yet it totally does. It was a difficult read to get into, but I’m curious enough about the world that I’ll be picking up the next two.
mrnewbie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
palmkd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is an epic fantasy tale set in a world full of shogun and samurai. Honor is something you might die for, but few stop to question if the persons they honor and trust deserve it.
Yukiko has a special ability to communicate with animals, which would be a death sentence if the wrong people found out. This is a harsh world that's being controlled by the people's dependence on the lotus flower and there's a full blown clockwork driven industry. It's an interesting clash of technology and historical epic fantasy and I'm curious to see where the series goes.
The story has a slow build up overall, but it felt with the journey and I suspect will have an even better payoff with future books.
Yukiko's special ability is very interesting and I especially enjoy meeting the Thunder Tiger and way they work with her ability in the story. The caste system and society is very interesting and the dystopian elements are really well done.
I was not a big fan of the narrator for the UK audiobook (which is different than the US one) but it's the one I had access to when reading this.
Yukiko has a special ability to communicate with animals, which would be a death sentence if the wrong people found out. This is a harsh world that's being controlled by the people's dependence on the lotus flower and there's a full blown clockwork driven industry. It's an interesting clash of technology and historical epic fantasy and I'm curious to see where the series goes.
The story has a slow build up overall, but it felt with the journey and I suspect will have an even better payoff with future books.
Yukiko's special ability is very interesting and I especially enjoy meeting the Thunder Tiger and way they work with her ability in the story. The caste system and society is very interesting and the dystopian elements are really well done.
I was not a big fan of the narrator for the UK audiobook (which is different than the US one) but it's the one I had access to when reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Murder, and Colonisation
julieabe89's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adore this story. It's got everything. Steampunk dystopia, revolution, heartache, and more. I cannot get enough of these characters.