shubshub's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
sumna_sova's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hippoponymous's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.25
ashleylm's review against another edition
2.0
Really rather stunned this won a World Fantasy Award. There seem to be a subset of authors that err to the literary (Ford, some Wolfe, Blaylock, Crowley) that can leave me absolutely cold. The tale began with three short stories, essentially, that on their own held very little interest for me. There's too much left unsaid--I don't mind the author withholding some information (and in the Wolfe novels which I do like he does that masterfully), but here I wasn't terribly clear about what the situations were, why things mattered, who wanted what, who worked for who, or who actually worked for who, or even what actual sentences meant in context, and it just got worse at it went along (I stopped entirely around page 100, owing to my life-is-short-but-books-are-almost-infinite-rule).
For my, ideal reading is when the author withholds a few things--what will happen, occasionally a character motivation, maybe there's some stunning misdirection and a surprise twist--but when reading is a battle to try to decipher what should be plain, it's distressing.
A short excerpt, from the start of the third chapter (and a whole new set of characters, places, problems, etc.), and the context is that houseguests are cold and have worn warm clothes, making it difficult for servants to pack for an unexplained journey tomorrow. This immediately follows:
"Messer Lorenzo knew the specific for that disorder, however." In today's English that would read as "Mr. Lorenzo knew the remedy for that problem." To me, this isn't playing fair--it's one thing to use a deliberately archaic word so that we recognize we may have to struggle some to work out it's meaning, it's another thing to use words that have migrated far from their original meaning (and it's no good arguing that the story is set in the past--presumably these characters would be thinking in Italian so it must needs be translated). It's especially frustrating that he's conjured an image of luggage overthrown as warm clothes were rooted out, because that's not what he meant by disorder at all--he specifically intends a metaphor for a medical problem, because he follows with the solution (getting everyone full on mutton and drunk on beer).
So, no. No more for me. Not while Connie Willis is still writing and I haven't yet read everything by Neal Stephenson or Jack Vance.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
For my, ideal reading is when the author withholds a few things--what will happen, occasionally a character motivation, maybe there's some stunning misdirection and a surprise twist--but when reading is a battle to try to decipher what should be plain, it's distressing.
A short excerpt, from the start of the third chapter (and a whole new set of characters, places, problems, etc.), and the context is that houseguests are cold and have worn warm clothes, making it difficult for servants to pack for an unexplained journey tomorrow. This immediately follows:
"Messer Lorenzo knew the specific for that disorder, however." In today's English that would read as "Mr. Lorenzo knew the remedy for that problem." To me, this isn't playing fair--it's one thing to use a deliberately archaic word so that we recognize we may have to struggle some to work out it's meaning, it's another thing to use words that have migrated far from their original meaning (and it's no good arguing that the story is set in the past--presumably these characters would be thinking in Italian so it must needs be translated). It's especially frustrating that he's conjured an image of luggage overthrown as warm clothes were rooted out, because that's not what he meant by disorder at all--he specifically intends a metaphor for a medical problem, because he follows with the solution (getting everyone full on mutton and drunk on beer).
So, no. No more for me. Not while Connie Willis is still writing and I haven't yet read everything by Neal Stephenson or Jack Vance.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
botchbehemoth's review
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 against another edition
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.