ohnoflora's review against another edition
4.0
Bloody and intensely compelling. I first read this book when I was 14 and it blew my mind. I don't think I had ever read anything quite so explicitly violent before that point. (Unless you count the Armoured Bear fight in Northern Lights...)
The elements of the original Icelandic saga are so seamlessly interwoven with Burgess's vision of dystopian London, that it is no more surprising that Odin turns up at a banquet than that there are mutants - half animal, half person - roaming around outside the city walls.
The elements of the original Icelandic saga are so seamlessly interwoven with Burgess's vision of dystopian London, that it is no more surprising that Odin turns up at a banquet than that there are mutants - half animal, half person - roaming around outside the city walls.
stanczakweron's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
miapersson's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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? No
5.0
shiningheart's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
canadianbookworm's review
3.0
This teen novel was recommended on a list recently and since our library had it, I decided to check it out. It is one set at some uncertain dystopian point of time in the city of London (England). Two young teens (14) Siggy and Signy are twin sister and brother, the youngest in the ruling family of Val Volson. King Val is marrying Signy off to Conor, the leader of another fiefdom, hoping the union will bring peace to their area and unite them against the halfmen.
Both of these two fiefdoms are in the old city of London and surrounding them is a land inhabited by halfmen, creatures of mixed human/animal blood. The halfmen are men in varying degrees, some of them able to pass as men in most circumstances. The mixed blood creatures are men mixed with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, and pigs. The ring of land they inhabit serves as a buffer between the fiefdoms and the controlled city of Ragnor. We learn very little of Ragnor in the book.
The action is set in the two fiefdoms and shows the fight for control between the Volsons, Conor, and the halfmen. There is intrigue, betrayal, magic, and science here.
The plot seems to be guided by the old gods: Odin and Loki among others.
The character that I cared most about was not Siggy (who seemed weak to me) or Signy (who seemed self-centered and manipulative) but Cherry, the shapeshifter who played a pivotal role in the plot.
This is the interesting beginning to a series of books that continues with Bloodsong.
Both of these two fiefdoms are in the old city of London and surrounding them is a land inhabited by halfmen, creatures of mixed human/animal blood. The halfmen are men in varying degrees, some of them able to pass as men in most circumstances. The mixed blood creatures are men mixed with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, and pigs. The ring of land they inhabit serves as a buffer between the fiefdoms and the controlled city of Ragnor. We learn very little of Ragnor in the book.
The action is set in the two fiefdoms and shows the fight for control between the Volsons, Conor, and the halfmen. There is intrigue, betrayal, magic, and science here.
The plot seems to be guided by the old gods: Odin and Loki among others.
The character that I cared most about was not Siggy (who seemed weak to me) or Signy (who seemed self-centered and manipulative) but Cherry, the shapeshifter who played a pivotal role in the plot.
This is the interesting beginning to a series of books that continues with Bloodsong.
ahouseman's review
2.0
I'm sorry to say that this book was not quite to my tastes or what I was expecting.
I feel like this book had so much potential which is partially what made it so disappointing.
There were good points, parts of the plot from the Volsung Saga mixed in with a new dystopian universe but as another commenter said, they weren't meshed well.
I think the main thing was that I wasn't made to care. More background was needed to make me fully feel like I wanted the characters to succeed or fail, and learning more about how and why London fell would have been interesting. The ending was also a bit abrupt for a novel which, at times, seemed to drag out. I also have to ask if the author has ever heard a teenager speak. Direct quote- 'It's horned me right up'? Seriously???
Saying that, I think the plot was very good and there were a few characters I really liked and enjoyed hearing about. Also the interpretations of some characters was different from what I had taken from the original which was interesting to consider.
I'm going to read the sequel and see if more world-building is established and what is twisted in the Sigurd legend. Hopefully it'll have more closure than his instalment had to offer.
I feel like this book had so much potential which is partially what made it so disappointing.
There were good points, parts of the plot from the Volsung Saga mixed in with a new dystopian universe but as another commenter said, they weren't meshed well.
I think the main thing was that I wasn't made to care. More background was needed to make me fully feel like I wanted the characters to succeed or fail, and learning more about how and why London fell would have been interesting. The ending was also a bit abrupt for a novel which, at times, seemed to drag out. I also have to ask if the author has ever heard a teenager speak. Direct quote- 'It's horned me right up'? Seriously???
Saying that, I think the plot was very good and there were a few characters I really liked and enjoyed hearing about. Also the interpretations of some characters was different from what I had taken from the original which was interesting to consider.
I'm going to read the sequel and see if more world-building is established and what is twisted in the Sigurd legend. Hopefully it'll have more closure than his instalment had to offer.
grendelsdj's review
3.0
interesting tale. good for sci-fi fans more so than fantasy as it is post-apocalyptic and deals greatly with genetic engineering. enjoyable overall, but the second in the series is plain weird.
More...