humanpuke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I found this one to be much more tied and related to the Norse mythology of Fenrir and I vaguely remember some details but not completely. I would have gotten much more from the story if I did.
curgoth's review against another edition
5.0
Original 2011 review:
Gorgeous and tragic, as most of Bear's best work is. ATWS takes place before the previous book in the series, chronologically speaking. This adds a lot of depth and meaning to the events of All The Windwracked Stars, giving both the mythological and human reasons for things being as they are. Bear has mentioned that the trilogy (collectively, the Edda of Burdens) can be read in either publishing order, chronological order, or the remaining option. After book two here, I am finding that the published order is more powerful.
The structure of the book follows three protagonists: Mingan the Grey Wolf, Strifbjorn, leader of the Einherjar, and Muire the Waelcyrge. This results in a more intimate feel than the first book had. Bear's characters tend to be defined by their trauma, so the closer the reader feels to them, the more impact the events have.
Finally, I'm loving what Bear has done with Norse myth here; it feels mythic and right, but she's changed enough details that I can't take anything for granted.
This book has bumped The Edda of Burdens up a couple notches in my list of favourite Bear books (The Stratford Man duology still holds the number one spot.)
*****
Audiobook review
I definitely know more Norse myth than I did in 2011 - I picked up on a lot of the Freyja stuff beyond the casual feather cloak and fancy necklace bits. I hadn't realized the first time through how much of a solid take on the Freyja of myth it is; last time, I still wasn't sure if Heythe was the "real" Freyja or someone else faking it. This time around, I am pretty clear on it.
On the other hand, I am a lot less sympathetic to Mingan this time around. His fuckups are understandable, but godsdamnit, kid.
The readers are decent, but have a few pronunciations that irked me - rimed, as in frost-rimed, doesn't rhyme with rimmed, does it?
Gorgeous and tragic, as most of Bear's best work is. ATWS takes place before the previous book in the series, chronologically speaking. This adds a lot of depth and meaning to the events of All The Windwracked Stars, giving both the mythological and human reasons for things being as they are. Bear has mentioned that the trilogy (collectively, the Edda of Burdens) can be read in either publishing order, chronological order, or the remaining option. After book two here, I am finding that the published order is more powerful.
The structure of the book follows three protagonists: Mingan the Grey Wolf, Strifbjorn, leader of the Einherjar, and Muire the Waelcyrge. This results in a more intimate feel than the first book had. Bear's characters tend to be defined by their trauma, so the closer the reader feels to them, the more impact the events have.
Finally, I'm loving what Bear has done with Norse myth here; it feels mythic and right, but she's changed enough details that I can't take anything for granted.
This book has bumped The Edda of Burdens up a couple notches in my list of favourite Bear books (The Stratford Man duology still holds the number one spot.)
*****
Audiobook review
I definitely know more Norse myth than I did in 2011 - I picked up on a lot of the Freyja stuff beyond the casual feather cloak and fancy necklace bits. I hadn't realized the first time through how much of a solid take on the Freyja of myth it is; last time, I still wasn't sure if Heythe was the "real" Freyja or someone else faking it. This time around, I am pretty clear on it.
On the other hand, I am a lot less sympathetic to Mingan this time around. His fuckups are understandable, but godsdamnit, kid.
The readers are decent, but have a few pronunciations that irked me - rimed, as in frost-rimed, doesn't rhyme with rimmed, does it?
ginn's review
3.0
A prequel to All the Windwracked Stars. I think it might be better to read this one first, since while reading the other I was quite confused as to who Muire was and where she was coming from. An interesting, but slow read.
More...