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estewanii's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Redefines the post-modern era, a story of humanity's struggle with peace and harmony, and their hunger for power and hubris. Ultimately, if we had been given a new slate in life, how would we live? Think? And would the history of our ruin repeat itself?
It's not a kind book; it's weary, cynical, and violent. But all the same it cherishes and preaches the good of people and their place in the world. A wonderful read.
It's not a kind book; it's weary, cynical, and violent. But all the same it cherishes and preaches the good of people and their place in the world. A wonderful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Slavery, Torture, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Deadnaming and Panic attacks/disorders
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: Alcohol, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Gaslighting, Child death, Toxic friendship, and War
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: Violence, Death, War, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Religious bigotry, Murder, Mental illness, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Confinement, and Blood
Minor: Transphobia and Sexual content
sorryiambooked's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Was really unsure how to rate this one .. I think 3.5 is more what I would rate it. I really enjoyed this one, but didn't love it. If you enjoy eco-fiction/eco-thriller types books and are okay with a slower paced read, I think this is still worth a read! It's just definitely not for everyone.
I went into this book not really knowing what I was going to get plot-wise. The blurb is short and mostly vague. The problem is that I wasn't sure where the plot was going most of the time which led to me being slightly getting lost a couple times.
While I love North's writing and her creation of this different type of dystopia and the characters, I thought it was maybe a tad long? A lot happens seems to happen in the first 25-30% of the book, slowed in the middle, and then picked up around the 70% mark.
I did love North's underlying message of the importance of taking care of our home, Earth, and not putting profit and power above that or others' health and safety.
Part dystopia, part commentary on our current world, part tale of espionage .. and it all comes together to work quite well.
I went into this book not really knowing what I was going to get plot-wise. The blurb is short and mostly vague. The problem is that I wasn't sure where the plot was going most of the time which led to me being slightly getting lost a couple times.
While I love North's writing and her creation of this different type of dystopia and the characters, I thought it was maybe a tad long? A lot happens seems to happen in the first 25-30% of the book, slowed in the middle, and then picked up around the 70% mark.
I did love North's underlying message of the importance of taking care of our home, Earth, and not putting profit and power above that or others' health and safety.
Part dystopia, part commentary on our current world, part tale of espionage .. and it all comes together to work quite well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Physical abuse, and War
Minor: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Violence
laurareads87's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was my first book by Claire North + it won’t be my last. Notes from the Burning Age is set after human-caused environmental catastrophe and grapples with the question of whether humans are destined to repeat themselves. The story follows a single POV, that of Ven, a member of the Temple dedicated to kakuy (a kind of land/place/animal spirit who are believed to have been awakened from sleep by humans’ destructive actions). His job is first to sift through remnants of writings from the ‘burning age,’ sorting them as safe or heretical, ensuring anything deemed to dangerous is not made available. He ultimately ends up entangled in the political manoeuvrings of various groups with different attitudes towards the kakuy, the ‘heretical’ knowledge, and how human societies should live. A compelling blend of spy thriller, environmentalist dystopia, and character-driven story about ethical commitment and faith which includes a diverse cast of characters, and very well written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Blood, and Torture
Minor: Sexism and Misogyny
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