swajoed's review against another edition
5.0
A little slow at times, but DAMN is this writer a great storyteller
He has weaved a world in way I haven’t seen other authors do it - through the folktales of the world itself. Ridiculously impressive.
He has weaved a world in way I haven’t seen other authors do it - through the folktales of the world itself. Ridiculously impressive.
llmacrae's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic book in the Yarnsworld series! It felt like a direct sequel to Where The Waters Turn Black (although every book in the Yarnsworld is a standalone), it was lovely to return to Kaimana and her Taniwha.
This book went in some unexpected ways, keeping my interest throughout. My heart was pulled several times and I let out audible gasps at various points within both the main story and the folk tales that sandwich the chapters (again, this is one of my favourite elements of the Yarnsworld books)
The crescent atoll is a fantastic part of the series, and it’s lovely to have some more water-based fantasy story, where the environment (which is still filled with gods) is such an important part of the world. It’s pretty much a character all on its own.
This story really delves into the lore of the atoll, of gods, and the people who worship them. Consequences have always played a significant role in the Yarnsworld books (something I absolutely adore), and this this book is no different. The idea of ascending to godhood is a major part of the story, and it’s not always wanted, nor a clear path.
Freedom is an incredibly important theme of this story, because it’s important to Kaimana. The greed of people and their petty squabbles is also showcased in a very real way. Just because it’s a fantasy story with magic, gods, and monsters, it doesn’t make it any less relatable.
Everyone wants to be free to make their own choices, to change the world, and to do good.
As with the previous books, Patrick’s writing is outstanding, with vivid detail, excellent dialogue, and so much intrigue that it’s difficult to put the books down. Whether it’s driving emotion, an exciting action sequence, or describing some new kind of magic, the writing is immersive and a joy to read.
I listened to the audio, and again, Derek did a stellar job of bringing the atoll to life.
All in all, another fabulous addition to the Yarnsworld books!
This book went in some unexpected ways, keeping my interest throughout. My heart was pulled several times and I let out audible gasps at various points within both the main story and the folk tales that sandwich the chapters (again, this is one of my favourite elements of the Yarnsworld books)
The crescent atoll is a fantastic part of the series, and it’s lovely to have some more water-based fantasy story, where the environment (which is still filled with gods) is such an important part of the world. It’s pretty much a character all on its own.
This story really delves into the lore of the atoll, of gods, and the people who worship them. Consequences have always played a significant role in the Yarnsworld books (something I absolutely adore), and this this book is no different. The idea of ascending to godhood is a major part of the story, and it’s not always wanted, nor a clear path.
Freedom is an incredibly important theme of this story, because it’s important to Kaimana. The greed of people and their petty squabbles is also showcased in a very real way. Just because it’s a fantasy story with magic, gods, and monsters, it doesn’t make it any less relatable.
Everyone wants to be free to make their own choices, to change the world, and to do good.
As with the previous books, Patrick’s writing is outstanding, with vivid detail, excellent dialogue, and so much intrigue that it’s difficult to put the books down. Whether it’s driving emotion, an exciting action sequence, or describing some new kind of magic, the writing is immersive and a joy to read.
I listened to the audio, and again, Derek did a stellar job of bringing the atoll to life.
All in all, another fabulous addition to the Yarnsworld books!
teacupandsaucer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
dharmlost's review against another edition
5.0
I backed this book on Kickstarter on a whim, completely unaware that it was part of a series. It sounded interesting, and somehow I completely spaced out that there were more stories than this one, and yet? I absolutely loved and adored this book. I loved it enough that even when I found out there was more to the story that I should probably be aware of? I could not put the book down and stop reading it. And I want / plan to get the other books, to know where the story started.
barb4ry1's review against another edition
5.0
I missed Kaimana and Rakau, my favorite Yarnsworld's duo. The title alone suggests exciting things to happen, but nothing prepared me for the atrocities committed by Benedict Patrick. I thought he was one of the good guys. Now, I'm not so sure. At all.
Kaimana and Rakau enjoy their friendship and warm waters of the atoll. Sometimes they help islanders to chase off annoying taniwha (monsters). Sometimes they help taniwha to deal with petty and cruel humans who see them as a trophy. Or food.
But they mostly keep to themselves.
Things change, dramatically, when they discover the mouldering corpse of Mataio, the god of taniwha, on a beach. Normally, god's killer should reach godhood immediately after the kill. But it doesn't happen. And Kaimana doesn't like the implications.
To make matters worse, ancient demon schemes to destroy the Atoll and its gods. His overpowered pawn, a spider-faced figure shadows Kaimana’s movements. To say the pawn is deeply troubled is a HUGE understatement.
Bad things happen, but the less you know, the better. How bad, you may ask? Well, punch-you-in-the-gut and shake you for a few days bad. Starting with dark in-world tales (Old Spider and the Grand Mother story's ending will slice you like a razor), and finishing with characters' fates, it is, for the most part, the darkest Yarnsworld novel. You were warned.
I admire Kaimana - she stood against her family, and then her god, for friendship and still lived to tell the tale. She's memorable and relatable, even if she lacks a longterm agenda. Her arc strongly intertwines with the arc of a new character - Sinitalela. A despicable individual you'll learn to hate. She's ruthless and overpowered. Her arc (and it's a SPOILER) focuses on a road to redemption she doesn't deserve.
To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl shook me for days. I would love it to have a different ending and to force Benedict Patrick to rethink his daring choices, but, alas, it's too late for that. A great, surprisingly dark book that opens plenty of exciting possibilities for future developments of Yarnsworld's stories.
Kaimana and Rakau enjoy their friendship and warm waters of the atoll. Sometimes they help islanders to chase off annoying taniwha (monsters). Sometimes they help taniwha to deal with petty and cruel humans who see them as a trophy. Or food.
But they mostly keep to themselves.
Things change, dramatically, when they discover the mouldering corpse of Mataio, the god of taniwha, on a beach. Normally, god's killer should reach godhood immediately after the kill. But it doesn't happen. And Kaimana doesn't like the implications.
To make matters worse, ancient demon schemes to destroy the Atoll and its gods. His overpowered pawn, a spider-faced figure shadows Kaimana’s movements. To say the pawn is deeply troubled is a HUGE understatement.
Bad things happen, but the less you know, the better. How bad, you may ask? Well, punch-you-in-the-gut and shake you for a few days bad. Starting with dark in-world tales (Old Spider and the Grand Mother story's ending will slice you like a razor), and finishing with characters' fates, it is, for the most part, the darkest Yarnsworld novel. You were warned.
I admire Kaimana - she stood against her family, and then her god, for friendship and still lived to tell the tale. She's memorable and relatable, even if she lacks a longterm agenda. Her arc strongly intertwines with the arc of a new character - Sinitalela. A despicable individual you'll learn to hate. She's ruthless and overpowered. Her arc (and it's a SPOILER) focuses on a road to redemption she doesn't deserve.
To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl shook me for days. I would love it to have a different ending and to force Benedict Patrick to rethink his daring choices, but, alas, it's too late for that. A great, surprisingly dark book that opens plenty of exciting possibilities for future developments of Yarnsworld's stories.
badmc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Atoll islands and their gods demand much of their people, especially if they become a topic of stories. Kaimana has to face rising demands od her time, and her life, when an old threat comes to the islands.
This was an interesting take on change and I enjoyed being back to the setting. It felt convoluted at times, and I missed more Kaimana-Rakau times.
This was an interesting take on change and I enjoyed being back to the setting. It felt convoluted at times, and I missed more Kaimana-Rakau times.
inkslinger's review against another edition
5.0
ARC provided by Benedict Patrick via Storytellers On Tour. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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11-19: 'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' takes place in Benedict Patrick's Yarnsworld universe and is referred to as a folktale, though it actually aligns more closely with Māori mythology.
I'm going to be very honest here.. it's not an OwnVoices story and that alone made me hesitant to read it because these types of tales specifically, are often incredible misrepresentations of the cultures being used in the settings. As a Polynesian woman, the Māori friends I have made over the years have thought just like my own people do. We see ourselves as brothers and sisters of the same origin.. despite the distance between our lands. We are all Polynesian.
Our beliefs.. our mythology.. our rituals are both different and still similar. One of the more interesting aspects of our cultural storytelling is the versatility. There can be many versions of a story without any being considered right or wrong.. and largely that's probably due to the fact most of our oldest tales have survived through a tradition of oral history.. but there's also a tendency to blend us all together, and that does happen a little here in my opinion. For once, it just wasn't a bad thing.
Kaimana is our main character, the Taniwha Girl who has defied the gods and won the freedom to spend her days roaming contentedly around the Crescent Atoll with her friend Rakau. Her tale, already becoming widely spread amongst the people of the islands, has also caught the attention of more powerful beings. Some of the islanders even pray to her and the gods aren't thrilled.
While the legend of the Taniwha Girl grows, made more real by the monster at her side, an ancient demon's plan for revenge is slowly advancing.. and a pawn follows her every movement. Ultimately, a choice is coming. One she cannot hide from. She'll either have to allow fate to play out for those who call the Crescent Atoll home while she continues to enjoy her solitude.. or she'll have to give everything up to save them. No easy decision.
Patrick does take quite a lot of creative license with the concepts of the gods and goddesses themselves, and in fact.. there are some characters that may exist for aesthetic purposes and seem to be taken more from other Polynesian cultures. But in this case, I'm okay with that.
Taniwha, monsters in the book, are specifically usually water creatures.. and though that's never mentioned here, the author does seem to hold to that theme based on those he includes. The approach the author uses is respectful of the cultures, his creativity unrestrained.. the tale seems to rather grow up and around the basis of the culture.. like a literary version of modern arboreal architecture. Co-existing with it, rather than tearing it down to build something new.
The work is deep, but not dense. Within the story itself, there are smaller tales of mythos about the gods and demons we're encountering. Some of those, such as the story of the Grandmother.. or the human wife of the sea god, are stunning even on their own.
I will say, it's an intensely emotional read. I love that Patrick did what felt right for the story, regardless of how I might feel about those choices as an invested reader. Much of it is deeply painful to experience. I spent so much of the book just.. angry. Angry at some of the characters. Angry at the situation. Angry at the writer for letting me feel so much anger.. and despair. And it was wonderful.
I'm not sure there has ever been another book that hurt me as much as this one did.. and I couldn't be more glad for it. I will absolutely be looking for more of the Yarnsworld titles, especially those involving Kaimana and Rakau. This wasn't just a story, it was an experience and a work of art.
This is easily one of the best titles of the year, not just amongst the indies either.. and if his other work is consistent with what I saw here, Benedict Patrick is a best-selling author just waiting to happen.
PURCHASE LINK: AMAZON
rowena_m_andrews's review against another edition
4.0
I actually binged the previous four books in the Yarnsworld series before this one, so I came to that fresh with all the other stories and the connections in mind. However, I would argue that To Dream and Die a Taniwha Girl could be read as a standalone with equal enjoyment, although there was something especially satisfying at being able to follow the threads through the books, and revisiting Kaimana and Rakau and I would wholeheartedly advise people to check out the entire series.
There was so much I loved about To Dream and Die a Taniwha Girl, and I have to say that Patrick knows how to weave an incredible tale within a relatively short book. In a strange way, I would say that there were simplicity and complexity to this book, on the one hand, the language and the storytelling style are fairly simplistic and give the writing the feel of one those tales that can be read aloud or told from memory around a campfire, and matches perfectly with the folkeloreish (is that a word, it should be a word) nature of the story. This is paired with well-developed characters and a world that has breadth and depth, without ever losing the thread of the main story.
I particularly enjoyed how the story itself was interspersed with smaller tales and myths, which were not only beautiful, fascinating tales in and of themselves and told with the weight and affection of tradition, but which were also a clever way of world-building, giving us more context to the events in the main storyline. I would say, however, that it felt in places that the main story could have been expanded a little more, and perhaps that expansion was prevented by these dips into the mythology. That said, those interludes were some of my favourite parts of the book, and the main plotline is satisfying and well-balanced for all that, and it would certainly lose something without those shorter tales within a tale.
This was an emotional rollercoaster of a book, and arguably the darkest of the series which was a little bit of a shock after coming immediately off the others. Patrick made some bold choices with the path this book took, and it worked beautifully, even if there were moments when I was reading them that I wanted to rail against them. However, the ending and the feeling this book left me with at the end were worth the sometimes unexpected flow of the story, the blows to my emotions, and left me in that wonderful place between satisfaction and wanting more.
This was a fantastic read, and I actually enjoyed the fact that it took a slightly darker path than the others. I would highly recommend To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl to anyone who loves fantasy rife with mythology, fairytales and with that feeling of a story told across the ages. I am incredibly glad I finally dove into Yarnsworld and will be eagerly waiting to see what the author does next.
There was so much I loved about To Dream and Die a Taniwha Girl, and I have to say that Patrick knows how to weave an incredible tale within a relatively short book. In a strange way, I would say that there were simplicity and complexity to this book, on the one hand, the language and the storytelling style are fairly simplistic and give the writing the feel of one those tales that can be read aloud or told from memory around a campfire, and matches perfectly with the folkeloreish (is that a word, it should be a word) nature of the story. This is paired with well-developed characters and a world that has breadth and depth, without ever losing the thread of the main story.
I particularly enjoyed how the story itself was interspersed with smaller tales and myths, which were not only beautiful, fascinating tales in and of themselves and told with the weight and affection of tradition, but which were also a clever way of world-building, giving us more context to the events in the main storyline. I would say, however, that it felt in places that the main story could have been expanded a little more, and perhaps that expansion was prevented by these dips into the mythology. That said, those interludes were some of my favourite parts of the book, and the main plotline is satisfying and well-balanced for all that, and it would certainly lose something without those shorter tales within a tale.
This was an emotional rollercoaster of a book, and arguably the darkest of the series which was a little bit of a shock after coming immediately off the others. Patrick made some bold choices with the path this book took, and it worked beautifully, even if there were moments when I was reading them that I wanted to rail against them. However, the ending and the feeling this book left me with at the end were worth the sometimes unexpected flow of the story, the blows to my emotions, and left me in that wonderful place between satisfaction and wanting more.
This was a fantastic read, and I actually enjoyed the fact that it took a slightly darker path than the others. I would highly recommend To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl to anyone who loves fantasy rife with mythology, fairytales and with that feeling of a story told across the ages. I am incredibly glad I finally dove into Yarnsworld and will be eagerly waiting to see what the author does next.
kartiknarayanan's review against another edition
5.0
You can watch my animated review on Youtube
Or read similar reviews on my blog, Digital Amrit
You can listen to the review on my podcasts available on Apple Spotify Stitcher
This is an unbiased review of an ARC provided by the author.
tl;dr: Benedict Patrick delivers yet again, with a wonderfully weird and touching story, in the Yarnsworld universe.
The Yarnsworld series is challenging to describe in conventional genres. The stories are like fairy tales for adults, that are rich and complex, and not afraid of getting quite dark. The books also share a unique narrative structure. The main story's chapters alternate with myths and legends from the Yarnsworld universe. These semi-related accounts provide context and, add colour to the world-building.
That said, the tales are also wildly different in outlook, themes and story-lines. 'They Mostly Come Out at Night' is a grim retelling of the ugly duckling with the overarching theme of self-sacrifice. 'Where the Waters Turn Black' explores friendship and could easily have been the next Pixar movie (if they had not done Moana). 'Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords' is Seven Samurai-like. It is gritty and is about heroism, redemption and revenge.
'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is the fifth book in the Yarnsworld series, and stars the same characters as 'Where the Waters Turn Black'. Kaimana and Rakau are dealing with the consequences of their actions in the previous book. The islanders have now started praying to Kaimana, aka 'Taniwha Girl', to intervene in cases relating to Taniwha. Incidentally, Rakau, her close companion, is a 'Taniwha,' a Kaiju-like monster. The existing Gods do not look kindly at her potential ascension to Godhood. Which, by the way, she is not interested in at all. At the same time, Kaimana discovers that an agent of the 'Old Spider', a baleful demon, is trying to attain the same Godhood. Her decisions and actions form the rest of the story.
'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is a story that continues the friendship theme from 'Where the Waters Turn Black'. This theme becomes intertwined with that of redemption, as the story progresses. The author does a fantastic job of showcasing these themes by using the relationships between the three primary characters - Kaimana, Rakau and the Old Spider's Agent. While Kaimana and Rakau are familiar to us, the stand-out character is the Agent. She is despicable and does all kinds of horrid things, but we end up feeling sympathetic for her. The Agent's internal conflict - trying to understand what it is to love while being conditioned against it from childhood - is masterfully penned. This conflict forms the foundation on which the story rests.
Benedict Patrick's writing is, as always, magnificent. His stories have a way of sucking the reader in, and 'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is no exception. His breezy writing style, combined with above-average pacing, makes for an engaging read. World-building is also a trademark of his writing. The new big item in this book, from a world-building perspective, concerns the 'Old Spider' and his tales, since 'Where the Waters Turn Black' has already done most the heavy lifting.
Readers familiar with the series will find 'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' not as dark as some of the other entries, except for one portion of the book. It will probably not be as weird or fantastical either, since it follows 'Where the Water Turns Black'. New readers can read this book as a stand-alone, though reading the earlier one would make the experience more enjoyable. This book could also be the perfect way to start this series since it also happens to be most main-stream like of all.
In conclusion, 'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is perfect for readers looking for an engrossing story, set in an extraordinary universe.
If you liked this review, please support me on
Patreon
and/or buy the book through the affiliate links.
Amazon India
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Or read similar reviews on my blog, Digital Amrit
You can listen to the review on my podcasts available on Apple Spotify Stitcher
This is an unbiased review of an ARC provided by the author.
tl;dr: Benedict Patrick delivers yet again, with a wonderfully weird and touching story, in the Yarnsworld universe.
The Yarnsworld series is challenging to describe in conventional genres. The stories are like fairy tales for adults, that are rich and complex, and not afraid of getting quite dark. The books also share a unique narrative structure. The main story's chapters alternate with myths and legends from the Yarnsworld universe. These semi-related accounts provide context and, add colour to the world-building.
That said, the tales are also wildly different in outlook, themes and story-lines. 'They Mostly Come Out at Night' is a grim retelling of the ugly duckling with the overarching theme of self-sacrifice. 'Where the Waters Turn Black' explores friendship and could easily have been the next Pixar movie (if they had not done Moana). 'Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords' is Seven Samurai-like. It is gritty and is about heroism, redemption and revenge.
'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is the fifth book in the Yarnsworld series, and stars the same characters as 'Where the Waters Turn Black'. Kaimana and Rakau are dealing with the consequences of their actions in the previous book. The islanders have now started praying to Kaimana, aka 'Taniwha Girl', to intervene in cases relating to Taniwha. Incidentally, Rakau, her close companion, is a 'Taniwha,' a Kaiju-like monster. The existing Gods do not look kindly at her potential ascension to Godhood. Which, by the way, she is not interested in at all. At the same time, Kaimana discovers that an agent of the 'Old Spider', a baleful demon, is trying to attain the same Godhood. Her decisions and actions form the rest of the story.
'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is a story that continues the friendship theme from 'Where the Waters Turn Black'. This theme becomes intertwined with that of redemption, as the story progresses. The author does a fantastic job of showcasing these themes by using the relationships between the three primary characters - Kaimana, Rakau and the Old Spider's Agent. While Kaimana and Rakau are familiar to us, the stand-out character is the Agent. She is despicable and does all kinds of horrid things, but we end up feeling sympathetic for her. The Agent's internal conflict - trying to understand what it is to love while being conditioned against it from childhood - is masterfully penned. This conflict forms the foundation on which the story rests.
Benedict Patrick's writing is, as always, magnificent. His stories have a way of sucking the reader in, and 'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is no exception. His breezy writing style, combined with above-average pacing, makes for an engaging read. World-building is also a trademark of his writing. The new big item in this book, from a world-building perspective, concerns the 'Old Spider' and his tales, since 'Where the Waters Turn Black' has already done most the heavy lifting.
Readers familiar with the series will find 'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' not as dark as some of the other entries, except for one portion of the book. It will probably not be as weird or fantastical either, since it follows 'Where the Water Turns Black'. New readers can read this book as a stand-alone, though reading the earlier one would make the experience more enjoyable. This book could also be the perfect way to start this series since it also happens to be most main-stream like of all.
In conclusion, 'To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl' is perfect for readers looking for an engrossing story, set in an extraordinary universe.
If you liked this review, please support me on
Patreon
and/or buy the book through the affiliate links.
Amazon India
Amazon UK
Amazon US