altruest's review against another edition
4.0
update 10/12/19: The previous review was TOO BLUNT, sorryyyyyy. I gave the book 4 stars, it can't have been that bad lol first review under the spoiler tag
Spoiler
To be blunt, neither of the main characters in this book were even redeemable enough to care what happens to them in book two. The meeting of the two characters was entirely too underwhelming, a deus ex machina meeting that seemed way too easy for all the lead up to that point. I found myself skimming over the exposition hoping that something would happen to tie everything together, but never found one. The ending was very abrupt as well.thistlechaser's review against another edition
5.0
Don't judge a book by its cover. For me, it's usually in the opposite way: I fall for a cool cover hiding a horrible book. In the case of Beasts of Tabat, it's the opposite: That cover is just awful! And what does it tell you about the story? Nothing!
There was so so so much good about this story. Set in some other world, the planet was populated by every mythical creature you can think of, as well as by humans. Every non-human, non-animal mythical creature was classified as a Beast, and other than some free ones deep in wild areas, they were all slaves to humans. Many of these Beasts were thinking creatures, many were as intelligent if not more so than humans. As humans tend to do to slaves, Beasts were generally not treated very well, and in many cases, were abused. (Seriously disturbingly, when an intelligent Beast couldn't be tamed or otherwise rebelled, it was "dulled" -- lobotomized. Though it hadn't been described in detail at all, a scene about that being done to a Beast bothered me so much!)
As interesting as they were, the Beasts were just background information, part of the wonderful worldbuilding of this story (though in coming books are going to be a major part of the plot). This book centered around Bella and Teo. Bella is a gladiator, the star of the most popular "penny-wides" (graphic novel-type of book, read by adults and kids alike). In a city where seasons are represented by gladiator, Bella has extended winter an unnaturally long time because she just keeps winning. Teo is a "shifter" (were-animal, a Beast), but unable to shift. His village thinks him unlucky for being unable to change into his animal shape, so send him off to the city to work for the church. Teo, a big fan of penny-wides, seeks out Bella, and the two eventually cross paths.
There was nothing at all I disliked about this book (well, other than the cover...). The worldbuilding was deliciously good. I loved the characters, major and minor. I LOVED the idea of Beasts. I believed every single character's motivations.
Happily the second book should be coming out soon-ish, and the series is intended to be four books long.
There was so so so much good about this story. Set in some other world, the planet was populated by every mythical creature you can think of, as well as by humans. Every non-human, non-animal mythical creature was classified as a Beast, and other than some free ones deep in wild areas, they were all slaves to humans. Many of these Beasts were thinking creatures, many were as intelligent if not more so than humans. As humans tend to do to slaves, Beasts were generally not treated very well, and in many cases, were abused. (Seriously disturbingly, when an intelligent Beast couldn't be tamed or otherwise rebelled, it was "dulled" -- lobotomized. Though it hadn't been described in detail at all, a scene about that being done to a Beast bothered me so much!)
As interesting as they were, the Beasts were just background information, part of the wonderful worldbuilding of this story (though in coming books are going to be a major part of the plot). This book centered around Bella and Teo. Bella is a gladiator, the star of the most popular "penny-wides" (graphic novel-type of book, read by adults and kids alike). In a city where seasons are represented by gladiator, Bella has extended winter an unnaturally long time because she just keeps winning. Teo is a "shifter" (were-animal, a Beast), but unable to shift. His village thinks him unlucky for being unable to change into his animal shape, so send him off to the city to work for the church. Teo, a big fan of penny-wides, seeks out Bella, and the two eventually cross paths.
There was nothing at all I disliked about this book (well, other than the cover...). The worldbuilding was deliciously good. I loved the characters, major and minor. I LOVED the idea of Beasts. I believed every single character's motivations.
Happily the second book should be coming out soon-ish, and the series is intended to be four books long.
hectaizani's review against another edition
3.0
Cliffhanger ending. Write faster, Cat, write faster.
edebell's review against another edition
5.0
I am reviewing Beasts of Tabat after reading both the first and second books of the Tabat Quartet, which can be read in either order. I find this experimental series format fascinating - the ability to read a story from different perspectives and get a different experience either way. I think if I were starting fresh, I would read them in the published order, but both work.
Rambo’s world and characters are utterly immersive. She makes even the most simple moments deeply engaging, which fascinates me as I’m reading. With a dark tone to the overall story, she writes emotions, including pain, in a very naked and raw way. And the story and world are just unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s wonderful to read something so fresh.
CW on violence:
I will definitely be reading books 3 and 4.
Rambo’s world and characters are utterly immersive. She makes even the most simple moments deeply engaging, which fascinates me as I’m reading. With a dark tone to the overall story, she writes emotions, including pain, in a very naked and raw way. And the story and world are just unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s wonderful to read something so fresh.
CW on violence:
Spoiler
The end of Beasts of Tabat takes a very dark and violent turn. It was more violence, though brief, than I enjoy, but it was not glamorized, and I am assuming it will be central to the story.I will definitely be reading books 3 and 4.
yoyology's review against another edition
5.0
Highly original fantasy with steampunk elements, reminiscent of Vonda McIntyre and with nods to Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper.
kristi_asleep_dreaming's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that was a cliffhanger. This book does not have an ending.
muccamukk's review
2.0
I'm trying to figure out why I disliked this book as much as I did.
It didn't really have a plot, so much as a series of events, and I kept waiting for there to be a twist to retroactively shape it into a plot; it never happened. There was a twist, but it felt more like another event in the series than any kind of structural element. The twist was followed by a chapter of graphic torture and then a cliffhanger ending, which didn't endear me to the book, but I like Master and Commander books, and they're notorious for lack of plot and abrupt endings.
I think it was mostly that the book was remarkably free of kindness. Both point of view characters were extremely self-centred so even when they were nice it was to further their own ends, and they responded to screwing up other people's lives by running away and trying not to think about it. The secondary characters were either as bad or worse, and I just wasn't up for an entire novel of mean. Not my thing.
The world building was interesting, though horrifying, and I liked having an older bisexual heroine (even if there were some Tragic Queer elements), but that's all I got on this one. Won't bother with the next.
It didn't really have a plot, so much as a series of events, and I kept waiting for there to be a twist to retroactively shape it into a plot; it never happened. There was a twist, but it felt more like another event in the series than any kind of structural element. The twist was followed by a chapter of graphic torture and then a cliffhanger ending, which didn't endear me to the book, but I like Master and Commander books, and they're notorious for lack of plot and abrupt endings.
I think it was mostly that the book was remarkably free of kindness. Both point of view characters were extremely self-centred so even when they were nice it was to further their own ends, and they responded to screwing up other people's lives by running away and trying not to think about it. The secondary characters were either as bad or worse, and I just wasn't up for an entire novel of mean. Not my thing.
The world building was interesting, though horrifying, and I liked having an older bisexual heroine (even if there were some Tragic Queer elements), but that's all I got on this one. Won't bother with the next.
graculus's review
3.0
Beasts of Tabat is one of those books where I don't quite know how to explain why it didn't completely work for me, though I'll try and collect my thoughts on the matter as I write this review.
The book is set in a fantasy world, centered on the city of Tabat which is currently ruled by a Duke and whose ancestors promised the people elections at a particular date, which is fast approaching. This city is also affected by the outcome of a gladiatorial combat, in which both Winter and Spring are represented, which determines how long Winter will last and one of the point of view characters of Beasts of Tabat (Bella Kanto) is the current reigning champion, which means Winter lasts far longer than it should. This is also a world populated by both humans and Beasts, creatures like minotaurs and oracular pigs, whose status is significantly less than that of humans.
Our other point of view character is teenage boy Teo, who comes from a family of Shifters (people who can change from human to animal form) but who doesn't have that power himself. In some ways this is quite lucky for him, as he's been promised to the clergy in Tabat in payment for their healing his sister and Shifters are despised and hated, to the point of being burned to death if discovered. Teo is taken to Tabat but evades his fate and lives on the street for a while, before ending up working for Bella Kanto's landlady for starters.
I think the problem I had with Beasts of Tabat is that it's so obviously the first book of a series, with both Bella and Teo ending the book literally in massive amounts of danger but the attention given to the world-building (which is impressive) far outstrips my ability to care all that much about either of them. I think it doesn't help that the author has made the stylistic choice to write Bella's point of view in first person and Teo's in third, which I found a little annoying at times - particularly so since Bella spends 95% of this book utterly sure of herself (with good reason at times) and only at the very end do things spin out of control for her, partly because of that sureness and her unwillingness to see when she's being used.
Meanwhile, the main villain Teo encounters appears to be doing the right thing (attempting to gain equality for Beasts) but using dubious methods and, while it's quite possible that more will be resolved in the second book (Hearts of Tabat, which is not yet published), I have plenty of other things that will take my attention before I might get around to reading that one, if I ever do.
The book is set in a fantasy world, centered on the city of Tabat which is currently ruled by a Duke and whose ancestors promised the people elections at a particular date, which is fast approaching. This city is also affected by the outcome of a gladiatorial combat, in which both Winter and Spring are represented, which determines how long Winter will last and one of the point of view characters of Beasts of Tabat (Bella Kanto) is the current reigning champion, which means Winter lasts far longer than it should. This is also a world populated by both humans and Beasts, creatures like minotaurs and oracular pigs, whose status is significantly less than that of humans.
Our other point of view character is teenage boy Teo, who comes from a family of Shifters (people who can change from human to animal form) but who doesn't have that power himself. In some ways this is quite lucky for him, as he's been promised to the clergy in Tabat in payment for their healing his sister and Shifters are despised and hated, to the point of being burned to death if discovered. Teo is taken to Tabat but evades his fate and lives on the street for a while, before ending up working for Bella Kanto's landlady for starters.
I think the problem I had with Beasts of Tabat is that it's so obviously the first book of a series, with both Bella and Teo ending the book literally in massive amounts of danger but the attention given to the world-building (which is impressive) far outstrips my ability to care all that much about either of them. I think it doesn't help that the author has made the stylistic choice to write Bella's point of view in first person and Teo's in third, which I found a little annoying at times - particularly so since Bella spends 95% of this book utterly sure of herself (with good reason at times) and only at the very end do things spin out of control for her, partly because of that sureness and her unwillingness to see when she's being used.
Meanwhile, the main villain Teo encounters appears to be doing the right thing (attempting to gain equality for Beasts) but using dubious methods and, while it's quite possible that more will be resolved in the second book (Hearts of Tabat, which is not yet published), I have plenty of other things that will take my attention before I might get around to reading that one, if I ever do.
bibliotropic's review
4.0
This was my first time reading Cat Rambo’s work, and from this introduction, I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be reading more in the future. Most of my exposure to Rambo was in name only, hers being a name I at least recognized as one that I should read, should probably have already read.
So when offered a copy of Beasts of Tabat, I saw my chance and reached for it. I wasn’t disappointed.
Teo is a Shifter, someone who appears Human but who can change his appearance to that of an animal. In theory, anyway. Teo, for all his attempts, hasn’t managed that transformation, much to his shame. And when his parents trade him to the Temples in exchange for a cure for his sister’s illness, Teo takes it upon himself to rebel and run away, figuring he’ll make his own way in the world rather than be a bargaining chip. Running alongside Teo’s story is that of Tabat’s premier Gladiator, Bella Kanto, who is best known for being the one to delay spring’s arrival every year in a ritual tournament. Citizens of Tabat are understandably annoyed at a delayed spring for 2 decades running, and plots are under way to bring her down.
Honestly, I found Teo’s portion of the story much less interesting than Bella’s, though Teo’s parts were more engaging. From Teo’s perspective we see much of Tabat and its customs revealed, since he’s from a smaller village and has come to a big city and is forced to adapt. He’s a good medium for transferring a lot of that knowledge to readers, and for giving them a bit of a foothold on a world that is very well established and well built but that may not be too familiar to those who, like myself, haven’t read any of Rambo’s short stories set in the same world. But it felt as though more care was given to Bella’s parts of the story. Perhaps it was because her parts were written in first person while Teo’s were in third, perhaps it was because she was a mature woman and he was a teen, perhaps a mix of these and other things. But I found myself much more eager to read Bella’s story than Teo’s as the book went on.
Bella herself was a fascinating character, someone who was scarred by her past and who had made it her goal to put it behind her and rise above what it was assumed she would always be. She had high standards for herself and never failed to live up to them, even when it was pointed out that many people would benefit greatly if she stopped being so rigorous and exacting. More than once it felt as though she was using her public persona as a mask, a shield to keep her more private self locked inside, and it was almost as though she was striving to live up to herself, the image that others had of her. She was arrogant, but it was an arrogance that she’d earned. I disagree with many of the things she did, for she was a very selfish person at heart, but her flaws only made her more interesting to read about, and I think the entire novel could have been about her, from her viewpoint, and I would have loved it.
Beasts of Tabat was a comfortable length, neither particularly short nor dragging on too long, though it did take quite a while to get going. A good half of Teo’s chapters were largely setup to get him to meet Bella Kanto in the first place, to get entangled in a large rebellion, and much of the action of Bella’s chapters didn’t really kick up until the end. Hers seemed more like a character study. So while you may pick up this book expecting numerous high-action scenes, especially when you know there’s a gladiator in the mix, be warned that it’s a bit of a slow burn, taking its time in setting up small and subtle pins all over the place before rolling the ball that will knock them all down. But it is worth it, as the story that Rambo sets up is beautiful and intricate and with far more to it than you first expect.
This was a fantastic introduction to Rambo’s writing, and I can say without a shred of doubt that her worldbuilding is outstanding, wrought with care and full of fine detail that makes it all pop on the pages and come alive for the reader. From an omnipresent fish tea to a powerful woman’s strong sexuality to the way certain Beasts are treated by Humans, there’s a rich tapestry of a world here, one that feels full and complete and with so much potential for an infinite number of stories, which is something I always feel is the hallmark of a well-built secondary world. If the whole world feels like it revolves around the main characters, then the world isn’t very whole. If, as it does in Beasts of Tabat, the world expands beyond the characters, that the characters are shaped by the world rather than the reverse, then it’s a sign of a good and strong world, and that’s the kind that yields the best stories.
Whether you’re a fan of what Rambo has written in the past, or if, like me, you’re new-come to her work, there’s plenty here to entertain. It’s a world that will enthrall, with characters in the middle of real lives that go askew, believable and flawed and full of tremendous possibility, and the ending is such a cliffhanger that I really want to read the second book. Right now. (Is there a time machine I can use to go into the future and get it?) Rambo’s voice is strong and she addresses much that tends to get sensationalized in fantasy, only in a way that makes it all approachable and comprehensible and brings it down to a very human level of realism. Highly recommended, especially for the Bella Kanto parts!
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
So when offered a copy of Beasts of Tabat, I saw my chance and reached for it. I wasn’t disappointed.
Teo is a Shifter, someone who appears Human but who can change his appearance to that of an animal. In theory, anyway. Teo, for all his attempts, hasn’t managed that transformation, much to his shame. And when his parents trade him to the Temples in exchange for a cure for his sister’s illness, Teo takes it upon himself to rebel and run away, figuring he’ll make his own way in the world rather than be a bargaining chip. Running alongside Teo’s story is that of Tabat’s premier Gladiator, Bella Kanto, who is best known for being the one to delay spring’s arrival every year in a ritual tournament. Citizens of Tabat are understandably annoyed at a delayed spring for 2 decades running, and plots are under way to bring her down.
Honestly, I found Teo’s portion of the story much less interesting than Bella’s, though Teo’s parts were more engaging. From Teo’s perspective we see much of Tabat and its customs revealed, since he’s from a smaller village and has come to a big city and is forced to adapt. He’s a good medium for transferring a lot of that knowledge to readers, and for giving them a bit of a foothold on a world that is very well established and well built but that may not be too familiar to those who, like myself, haven’t read any of Rambo’s short stories set in the same world. But it felt as though more care was given to Bella’s parts of the story. Perhaps it was because her parts were written in first person while Teo’s were in third, perhaps it was because she was a mature woman and he was a teen, perhaps a mix of these and other things. But I found myself much more eager to read Bella’s story than Teo’s as the book went on.
Bella herself was a fascinating character, someone who was scarred by her past and who had made it her goal to put it behind her and rise above what it was assumed she would always be. She had high standards for herself and never failed to live up to them, even when it was pointed out that many people would benefit greatly if she stopped being so rigorous and exacting. More than once it felt as though she was using her public persona as a mask, a shield to keep her more private self locked inside, and it was almost as though she was striving to live up to herself, the image that others had of her. She was arrogant, but it was an arrogance that she’d earned. I disagree with many of the things she did, for she was a very selfish person at heart, but her flaws only made her more interesting to read about, and I think the entire novel could have been about her, from her viewpoint, and I would have loved it.
Beasts of Tabat was a comfortable length, neither particularly short nor dragging on too long, though it did take quite a while to get going. A good half of Teo’s chapters were largely setup to get him to meet Bella Kanto in the first place, to get entangled in a large rebellion, and much of the action of Bella’s chapters didn’t really kick up until the end. Hers seemed more like a character study. So while you may pick up this book expecting numerous high-action scenes, especially when you know there’s a gladiator in the mix, be warned that it’s a bit of a slow burn, taking its time in setting up small and subtle pins all over the place before rolling the ball that will knock them all down. But it is worth it, as the story that Rambo sets up is beautiful and intricate and with far more to it than you first expect.
This was a fantastic introduction to Rambo’s writing, and I can say without a shred of doubt that her worldbuilding is outstanding, wrought with care and full of fine detail that makes it all pop on the pages and come alive for the reader. From an omnipresent fish tea to a powerful woman’s strong sexuality to the way certain Beasts are treated by Humans, there’s a rich tapestry of a world here, one that feels full and complete and with so much potential for an infinite number of stories, which is something I always feel is the hallmark of a well-built secondary world. If the whole world feels like it revolves around the main characters, then the world isn’t very whole. If, as it does in Beasts of Tabat, the world expands beyond the characters, that the characters are shaped by the world rather than the reverse, then it’s a sign of a good and strong world, and that’s the kind that yields the best stories.
Whether you’re a fan of what Rambo has written in the past, or if, like me, you’re new-come to her work, there’s plenty here to entertain. It’s a world that will enthrall, with characters in the middle of real lives that go askew, believable and flawed and full of tremendous possibility, and the ending is such a cliffhanger that I really want to read the second book. Right now. (Is there a time machine I can use to go into the future and get it?) Rambo’s voice is strong and she addresses much that tends to get sensationalized in fantasy, only in a way that makes it all approachable and comprehensible and brings it down to a very human level of realism. Highly recommended, especially for the Bella Kanto parts!
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
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