tokujoe's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
carterna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky and I love how he develops complex world and intriguing characters.
I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with this fascinating fantasy novel and the well plotted world.
Adrian Tchaikovsky is a master storyteller and delivered a great story that i strongly recommend as it's well plotted and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with this fascinating fantasy novel and the well plotted world.
Adrian Tchaikovsky is a master storyteller and delivered a great story that i strongly recommend as it's well plotted and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
screamdogreads's review against another edition
4.0
Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of the staples of the sci-fi/fantasy scene, and as someone who doesn't really read the genre, I'd never experienced one of his books before. So, it took me a little while to wrap my head around this one. It's certainly a strange novel, and it's one that doesn't really hold your hand. You're dropped into the middle of an insanely well crafted world, and you're expected just to figure it all out.
This book is nothing short of amazing, but you really need to take it for what it is. It's an epic fantasy, with a huge cast of characters, each providing their own viewpoint, and not many of them are likeable, at all. In fact, most of them are quite unpleasant, yet insanely fun to read about. The city itself is fantastically crafted, and while there's a dusting of magic here too, it really takes a back seat to the totalitarian regime that overtakes most of the novel.
As a whole, this is a sophisticated and complex story, one that's strange and maybe a little bit warped. On the surface this seemed like a book that really, I wouldn't grasp, and yet I found myself absolutely loving it. There's such a creative and unique story here, one that's most definitely worth a read.
This book is nothing short of amazing, but you really need to take it for what it is. It's an epic fantasy, with a huge cast of characters, each providing their own viewpoint, and not many of them are likeable, at all. In fact, most of them are quite unpleasant, yet insanely fun to read about. The city itself is fantastically crafted, and while there's a dusting of magic here too, it really takes a back seat to the totalitarian regime that overtakes most of the novel.
As a whole, this is a sophisticated and complex story, one that's strange and maybe a little bit warped. On the surface this seemed like a book that really, I wouldn't grasp, and yet I found myself absolutely loving it. There's such a creative and unique story here, one that's most definitely worth a read.
pnasrat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
brewtifulfiction's review against another edition
5.0
This story is epic.
And I mean that for its size, the amount of characters it contains and for the varied changes in setting within the world that Adrian has built.
I was drawn in by the synopsis, extremely mysterious.
Now you know a story is good for me when I haven't been put off by the sheer volume of what it contains.
I'd say this is a story that is just as much about the city itself (Ilmar) as well those that inhabit this treacherous place. Ilmar became a character of sorts too.
Tchaikovsky has done a fantastic job of detailing everything. I was fully transported into this different setting.
Not a tale to be read quickly.
Slow and steady.
I read this over several days. Sometimes going back over pages to make sure that I'd remembered certain things correctly.
It's one of those books that I'm finding hard to review as I feel like I'd also need to go into a lot of detail to convey all of the brilliance that this novel contains.
Complicated in the best of ways.
Creative, complex and calculated is how I'd describe this novel.
This was my first experience with a book by this author and it definitely won't be my last.
And I mean that for its size, the amount of characters it contains and for the varied changes in setting within the world that Adrian has built.
I was drawn in by the synopsis, extremely mysterious.
Now you know a story is good for me when I haven't been put off by the sheer volume of what it contains.
I'd say this is a story that is just as much about the city itself (Ilmar) as well those that inhabit this treacherous place. Ilmar became a character of sorts too.
Tchaikovsky has done a fantastic job of detailing everything. I was fully transported into this different setting.
Not a tale to be read quickly.
Slow and steady.
I read this over several days. Sometimes going back over pages to make sure that I'd remembered certain things correctly.
It's one of those books that I'm finding hard to review as I feel like I'd also need to go into a lot of detail to convey all of the brilliance that this novel contains.
Complicated in the best of ways.
Creative, complex and calculated is how I'd describe this novel.
This was my first experience with a book by this author and it definitely won't be my last.
booksforscee's review against another edition
3.0
A magical reality, a city that not always was a city. Worlds within worlds. A revolution. This book doesn’t warm itself to you. It’s a top down view of a revolution. Main characters bedamned. No one has plot armour. This book isnt about anyone but the city itself, which I suppose I should have understood given the title.
The city of Illmare has had a reputation long before the Palleseens invaded. Before the city itself even grew to this gross height and mass. This city has had a reputation from when it was a forest and a town around to. To now this sprawling mass of alleyways, districts, ruins and palaces. Whose to way what happens on the other side of those trees. When the moon is bright and travellers are abroad. To some this is an escape from life under Palleseen occupation. For the Palleseens it is an affront to their view of the world. Something out of order waiting to be put right. This book is about a city full of fate, magic, and ghosts beginning to shake off the controlling hands of the occupiers. It’s about different factions working with and against each other. Both good and awful people. It’s about worlds and even universes beyond the city itself. Because at it’s core this city is only a waypoint. But for some it’s their last chance.
Huge thanks to @headofzeus for including me in this blog tour !
The city of Illmare has had a reputation long before the Palleseens invaded. Before the city itself even grew to this gross height and mass. This city has had a reputation from when it was a forest and a town around to. To now this sprawling mass of alleyways, districts, ruins and palaces. Whose to way what happens on the other side of those trees. When the moon is bright and travellers are abroad. To some this is an escape from life under Palleseen occupation. For the Palleseens it is an affront to their view of the world. Something out of order waiting to be put right. This book is about a city full of fate, magic, and ghosts beginning to shake off the controlling hands of the occupiers. It’s about different factions working with and against each other. Both good and awful people. It’s about worlds and even universes beyond the city itself. Because at it’s core this city is only a waypoint. But for some it’s their last chance.
Huge thanks to @headofzeus for including me in this blog tour !
tychostation's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75