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boutincm's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jodiev's review against another edition
4.0
I usually only write reviews for books that have a strong impact on me, be it positive or negative. Although I love Catherynne Valente's writing, this particular book had me going both ways.
Part One, I loved. It drew me in with its prose and magic that all good fairy tales should embody. Part two, on the other hand, had me wanting to throw the book as far as I could. Being that it was on my Kindle, I thought that a bad idea.
Time had passed with no background of what had happened during that time. Characters were introduced as if the reader knew who and what they were. Despite that, I felt drawn to them, but still thoroughly confused.
The third part introduces Ivan, a prominent name in Russian lore, whether he be a fool or a prince. In this case I think that although he was apparently handsome and charming as a prince should always be, he was also quite the fool.
At this point, I went in search of my book of Russian fairy tales to acquaint myself with the tales that this book was based on. I found both tales of Koschei as well as different variations of Ivan. This was very helpful, and I dove back into the book with better understanding. A few things stood out for me. It seem s that in many fairy tales, things happen in three's. There were several instances of this in "Deathless". Three sisters, three birds, three tasks, three wars (not sure about that one) and three lives.
There was war in Leningrad. There was war in Koschei's world. A war in which Viy was winning. There is no war in Viy's world. There, those who have surrendered to death can 'live' anew in peace and suffer no more. Marya finds love with both Ivan and Koschei, but there is not happiness. In both worlds there is destruction and a different type of suffering. There is famine in Leningrad and feasts in Koschei's world. In both there are chains, both real and figurative.
Finishing "Deathless", Catherynne writes of her husband telling her the story of Marya Morevna. I went back to my book of Russian fairy tales and sure enough, there was one about her. Reading that, I could see the mirroring of lore and novel.
I am always in awe of Valente's writing. Her words are lyrical and knowledge immense. I might have only given it three stars if it were not for this, as it was confusing. If it had not been for that, I would have given it five. A book is good if it leaves the reader thinking about it for some time. A book is great if the reader is not only thinking about, but striving to know more.
Part One, I loved. It drew me in with its prose and magic that all good fairy tales should embody. Part two, on the other hand, had me wanting to throw the book as far as I could. Being that it was on my Kindle, I thought that a bad idea.
Time had passed with no background of what had happened during that time. Characters were introduced as if the reader knew who and what they were. Despite that, I felt drawn to them, but still thoroughly confused.
The third part introduces Ivan, a prominent name in Russian lore, whether he be a fool or a prince. In this case I think that although he was apparently handsome and charming as a prince should always be, he was also quite the fool.
At this point, I went in search of my book of Russian fairy tales to acquaint myself with the tales that this book was based on. I found both tales of Koschei as well as different variations of Ivan. This was very helpful, and I dove back into the book with better understanding. A few things stood out for me. It seem s that in many fairy tales, things happen in three's. There were several instances of this in "Deathless". Three sisters, three birds, three tasks, three wars (not sure about that one) and three lives.
There was war in Leningrad. There was war in Koschei's world. A war in which Viy was winning. There is no war in Viy's world. There, those who have surrendered to death can 'live' anew in peace and suffer no more. Marya finds love with both Ivan and Koschei, but there is not happiness. In both worlds there is destruction and a different type of suffering. There is famine in Leningrad and feasts in Koschei's world. In both there are chains, both real and figurative.
Finishing "Deathless", Catherynne writes of her husband telling her the story of Marya Morevna. I went back to my book of Russian fairy tales and sure enough, there was one about her. Reading that, I could see the mirroring of lore and novel.
I am always in awe of Valente's writing. Her words are lyrical and knowledge immense. I might have only given it three stars if it were not for this, as it was confusing. If it had not been for that, I would have given it five. A book is good if it leaves the reader thinking about it for some time. A book is great if the reader is not only thinking about, but striving to know more.
paneerakbari's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Readers ought to be forwarned that Valente's voice is a poet's and her hand is a novelist's. Her theme and intent tend to appear beside or behind with you quite noticing, and Deathless is certainly no different in that respect.
This is the story of revolution with nothing positive or divine outside of itself, of a life burned up for someone else's sake, and the world turning on into the soil of its own death.
There is magic and darkness and pain.
It is starkly Slavic, and those old forms are given wings in Valente's characteristic style.
This is the story of revolution with nothing positive or divine outside of itself, of a life burned up for someone else's sake, and the world turning on into the soil of its own death.
There is magic and darkness and pain.
It is starkly Slavic, and those old forms are given wings in Valente's characteristic style.
witchy36's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
kaygo2490's review against another edition
4.0
Magical, beautiful and very difficult to understand at times.
All I'm saying is...
There better be a sequel.
All I'm saying is...
There better be a sequel.
dorianjane's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
leeshajoy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, and War
the_alexeli's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book so much, but it felt like such a tangled mess. The plot in the book jumped in such sporadic and dramatic ways, it was hard to get a good momentum while reading. Everytime I would finally get in the groove of reading, the story would brake harshly and make a drastic turn. It ended up making such little sense. Which sucked, because I started out REALLY enjoying the magical story, and I like her writing style. Well..at least parts of it, and I know that makes no sense. I liked her sentences, but not always her paragraphs and chapters, if that makes sense.
Besides the haphazard plot, there wasn't much in it for me when it came to characterization, either. I felt just meh about almost every character, save for the ones I thoroughly hated, like Ivan.
In a whole, this story was just very one dimensional for me. It didn't have much depth to it, even if it did have some meaning.
Besides the haphazard plot, there wasn't much in it for me when it came to characterization, either. I felt just meh about almost every character, save for the ones I thoroughly hated, like Ivan.
In a whole, this story was just very one dimensional for me. It didn't have much depth to it, even if it did have some meaning.
mlareads's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.75
unique world building and pretty writing can only carry a story so far unfortunately