Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Notes from the Burning Age by Claire North

3 reviews

estewanii's review against another edition

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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.

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sherbertwells's review against another edition

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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)


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sorryiambooked's review against another edition

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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. 

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