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brekaboujie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This started off extremely promisingly - I was really interested in the setting and era, and it was all very mysterious and half familiar. The way different things are unveiled as you go through was clever and complex, which made it quite satisfying. I found the fact that I am currently living in the burning age and the way they describe it really interesting and it was a good connection that lured me in. But it also was a very hopeless and dreary book, just a horrendously realistic future that I am very much not looking forward to. From about halfway the pacing lost me as well and overall was a bit of a meh end, apart from that final mystery which was a good reveal. I don't think it would have been made better to have a pacey and exciting plot - I think the hopelessness was very purposeful but it did make it a hard read after getting through the initial novelty and excitement.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Torture
Just generally quite gory - it's a brutal war. Also one of the characters is kept as a prisoner which is quite unpleasant.ellen_is_reading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this. Beautiful letter to earth and how we take care of it or do not. Examination of the consequences of our current age. Political twists and personal intrigues. Complicated futures and what could become of us all.
However, quite slow and dense. The descriptions are lovely but sometimes hard to follow, and the politics mean it is a slow, drawn out read ( like the war)
However, quite slow and dense. The descriptions are lovely but sometimes hard to follow, and the politics mean it is a slow, drawn out read ( like the war)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Excrement and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
aardwyrm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.0
A lot of the prose is very evocative and the worldbuilding is lovely both in the fantastical and sociopolitical realms. That gets the book a pass. But it's a complete failure in terms of both plot and character. The story lurches along at an erratic, stuttering pace, with things happening more or less at random. The main character is a blank space, the J. Alfred Prufrock of the apocalypse. I am not a purist when it comes to reactive protagonists; sometimes that's the story you're telling. But Ven doesn't seek or react, doesn't seem to want or believe anything. It preserves a sort of artificial suspense, since his absolute lack of a character means anything he does (to serve whatever the plot needs next, with no other apparent motives) is unpredictable. George (sp? I had an audiobook) is almost interesting as an antagonist sometimes, but the story seems convinced he is a supernaturally charismatic mastermind and not a creepy little libertarian dudebro. The great secret reveals all fall flat because the characters are all cardboard cutouts being marched along zigzagging little tracks. (Also, Ven and George's only actual interests seem to be in each other, and the most natural read of the book is about two ineffective philosophy majors who have the hots for each other and do a war about it.)
There's a tradition of apocalyptic novels in particular that are all about ideas. This is not something to strive for, but fine. (There is also a tradition of litfic writers deciding to tackle spec fic stories and doing it with amateurish foolishness.) But as a novel of ideas, it fails, too. The good side asks nothing of people but that they live comfortable middle class lives with some roommates and a largely vegetarian diet. The bad side cackles and makes speeches about how they want to destroy all of nature because their dad was a bad parent. I am barely paraphrasing. If you want a war of philosophies, a villain who seems to know he is a satire of alt right wannabe demagogues isn't exactly a bold statement. Nothing bold or interesting ever happens with the questions of gender, society, religion, and roles within it; it's all just sorta thrown at the wall.And the conclusion "this character is complex because they did a war crime and are sad about it" never really works, does it? Certainly not twice.
There's a good book in here, I think. A complete rewrite to focus on the world (multiple POVs would be good here) and a ruthless editor to take out all the badly written extended action scenes that go nowhere and the pointless tense changes would do it.
There's a tradition of apocalyptic novels in particular that are all about ideas. This is not something to strive for, but fine. (There is also a tradition of litfic writers deciding to tackle spec fic stories and doing it with amateurish foolishness.) But as a novel of ideas, it fails, too. The good side asks nothing of people but that they live comfortable middle class lives with some roommates and a largely vegetarian diet. The bad side cackles and makes speeches about how they want to destroy all of nature because their dad was a bad parent. I am barely paraphrasing. If you want a war of philosophies, a villain who seems to know he is a satire of alt right wannabe demagogues isn't exactly a bold statement. Nothing bold or interesting ever happens with the questions of gender, society, religion, and roles within it; it's all just sorta thrown at the wall.
There's a good book in here, I think. A complete rewrite to focus on the world (multiple POVs would be good here) and a ruthless editor to take out all the badly written extended action scenes that go nowhere and the pointless tense changes would do it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Classism
sherbertwells's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
In a post-climate crisis future, a former holy man and scribe searches for a spy that threatens to reawaken environmental gods. Basically a version of A Canticle for Leibowitz where blowing things up solves problems, which kind of destroys the point.
“The kakuy never slept, warns the pious Medj of the south. The wind and the ocean never cease, and the earth is patient. Tread lightly, my bretheren. Do not shake the world too particularly when you pass.
No one I met in Vien had ever seen the kakuy.
Some said they weren’t even real” (40)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Toxic friendship, and War
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content and Transphobia
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