botchbehemoth's review against another edition
5.0
Going in, I expected sort of a dry history lesson with fantasy elements, judging by the length and blurb maybe it would be a little political story confined to a single setting. Instead, I got T.H. White's Best Served Cold. Vampire murder mystery! Wizard heist! Spies and conspiracy! Ford deftly slots more excitement and tragedy and beautiful character moments into just 400 pages than a lot of authors would manage to convey in 4,000. It feels like a magic trick. What a tremendous book.
yak_attak's review against another edition
4.0
Three chapters in to Ford's inimitable Dragon Waiting, I was all but convinced this was going to be a best of all timer - Three chapters, three distinct sections introducing unique, remarkable characters in vividly painted historical detail. Action, Intrigue, Culture, this had it all...but unfortunately shortly after I was left a little wanting. Why? Honestly I think Ford's just too damn smart for me.
After our cast meets up and travels to England they get embroiled in an alternate history War of the Roses, but influenced by the auspices of the Byzantine empire. And it's clear Ford's in complete command of real history, of his alternate history, and how the complex changes he proposes would cascade through the world and create strange and new possibilities.... It's just I can't necessarily follow it. Paired with an extremely well done style, but one that's sparse in giving context, you do have to have a solid grasp of your own on the context and characters to get the most out of this.
I think though that with some time, research, understanding and patience, this book can and will easily meet the promise it set forth in its opening pages... just give me another chance first.
After our cast meets up and travels to England they get embroiled in an alternate history War of the Roses, but influenced by the auspices of the Byzantine empire. And it's clear Ford's in complete command of real history, of his alternate history, and how the complex changes he proposes would cascade through the world and create strange and new possibilities.... It's just I can't necessarily follow it. Paired with an extremely well done style, but one that's sparse in giving context, you do have to have a solid grasp of your own on the context and characters to get the most out of this.
I think though that with some time, research, understanding and patience, this book can and will easily meet the promise it set forth in its opening pages... just give me another chance first.
h_berry0410's review
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
obviousninja's review against another edition
Impressive prose and world, but I honestly lost interest when it became all about the King and their politics at the end. There's a little too much assumption from the author that we can remember every seed and intrigue hes mentioned in this incredibly detailed historical fiction.
rxh05d's review
4.0
I think I need to read this again to really appreciate it. Unfortunately, it's due back to the library today.
lindleyashline's review against another edition
2.0
Boring in a way that that period in history (mixed with fantasy elements, no less!) shouldn't be, deliberately obscure and gratuitously violent. Did not finish.
davidgillette's review against another edition
5.0
I had forgotten how amazing this book is. When I read it in high school, I missed a lot—it is very much improved by having stronger preconceptions about the history it plays with.
paulgtr234's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting read. John M. Ford reminds me somewhat of Neal Stephenson but maybe a little less didactic. For a complex alt history tale this felt like a well-paced read. As others who have reviewed this book, there were parts of the novel that wandered a bit - but it is well worth the journey.
I find it interesting that this book was written well before some current trends - strong female leads, LGBTQ characters both appear to be well represented in the Dr. Ricci and Dimi characters. This book can be said to have been well ahead of its time- perhaps even timeless in the classic sense.
This book is going onto my re-read shelf.
I find it interesting that this book was written well before some current trends - strong female leads, LGBTQ characters both appear to be well represented in the Dr. Ricci and Dimi characters. This book can be said to have been well ahead of its time- perhaps even timeless in the classic sense.
This book is going onto my re-read shelf.
archmageofthearchive's review against another edition
5.0
It feels awesome to provide the 1100th Goodreads rating for this book. I wish it had more ratings and I hope Tor’s rerelease will help facilitate that. Because it’s kinda weird that people will commit to reading (and rereading) all of something like the Wheel of Time (which has its virtues) but they pass by a novel like this. Granted, this is a more challenging novel—lots more gaps that the reader has to fill in if they want to follow the story, and the characters aren’t out archetypes that you want to be best friends with—but it’s worthwhile. I was constantly reminded, in different and sometimes obscure ways, of both Gene Wolfe and Guy Gavriel Kay.