kilkilshah's review against another edition
2.0
This was a really disappointing end to the trilogy. It was the easiest of the three books to read but the least interesting. It lacked everything the other two books had. The first two books made the era come alive and had really interesting exchanges between characters related to the events of the time. For example, the part in the second book where all the foreigners in Canton get together and try to figure how to handle Commissioner Lin was one of the best passages I have read. In addition the characters were developed and the events that transpired had a flow to them. I really enjoyed the research and vivid detail the author went into on things such as dress and food.
Flood of Fire relies heavily on coincidences. All the characters seem to come together in a very artificial and forced way. In addition for a work of historical fiction this had very little history and a lot of soap opera storylines.
I am probably being too harsh on this review but the first two books set a really high bar through which I am judging this book. Unfortunately Flood of Fire did not meet the bar.
Flood of Fire relies heavily on coincidences. All the characters seem to come together in a very artificial and forced way. In addition for a work of historical fiction this had very little history and a lot of soap opera storylines.
I am probably being too harsh on this review but the first two books set a really high bar through which I am judging this book. Unfortunately Flood of Fire did not meet the bar.
aleber's review against another edition
4.0
I will read this man's book if only for his endings.
Flood of Fire was a fantastic ending to the Irbis trilogy. So many ends to tie up - he did so perfectly, packing a punch but not feeling rushed.
His insight into the true events of the Ibris and the first Opium War was incredibly enlightening. Would read again, but the trilogy is +1,500 pages. So maybe I will wait for a bit.
Flood of Fire was a fantastic ending to the Irbis trilogy. So many ends to tie up - he did so perfectly, packing a punch but not feeling rushed.
His insight into the true events of the Ibris and the first Opium War was incredibly enlightening. Would read again, but the trilogy is +1,500 pages. So maybe I will wait for a bit.
bluesbooksnbobbins's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
jordanhay's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this final book in the trilogy. I enjoyed the diverse range of character viewpoints and the broad-ranging, important, global history around the opium trade, and globalization, which I haven’t learned before. On the downside, each of these books were long and a little bit of a slog, and it was difficult to hold the sheer number of characters in my head across all three long books.
nikkiacat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-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? No
5.0
ben_miller's review against another edition
4.0
I began this trilogy without any real intention of finishing it, and there were several points along the way when I considered quitting—but something kept drawing me back until I finally did reach the end. (The same force, perhaps, that continuously entwines the fates of the various people who sailed on the ill-fated voyage of the Ibis.)
One thing to know is that these books are mis-marketed as high adventure historical dramas, but in reality Ghosh is a measured, cautious writer, and his books are engrossing but not particularly exciting. There are only a few moments of genuine suspense or thrill to be found in the entire 1,500 page sweep of the Ibis trilogy.
Another thing to know is that if the grand sweep of history and politics in India and China circa 1839-1841 isn't your thing, walk away slowly. You will learn a lot about: the opium trade; the perfidious and hypocritical tactics of British merchants; life in the Bengal native infantry; the peculiar existence of foreign traders in 19th century Canton; Chinese botany, botanical art, and portraiture; indentured servitude in Mauritius, and numerous other topics of pressing interest.
The sheer volume of historical information that Ghosh is trying to convey frequently overwhelms the more novelistic aspects of his work (you know, characters, plot, etc). Some plotlines just fade away. There are so many characters that even 1,500 pages isn't enough to give them all their due, and the emotional effect of their various tribulations gets diluted. All of the key characters get a kind of resolution at the end, but some are more satisfying than others.
On the other hand, because Ghosh is such a steady and confident skipper, it's easy to float along as a fascinated passenger on this vessel. If it resembles a history book at times, it's a very engaging one. His prose has elegance and clarity, and in the first two books in the series he has a wonderful time writing in a variety of accents and dialects—most notably the pidgin that foreigners and locals in Canton use to communicate with one another.
Taken all in all, the Ibis trilogy is a mightily impressive work, and pretty entertaining, too. It doesn't quite reach the heights of brilliance that its scope might suggest, but it's worth the journey.
One thing to know is that these books are mis-marketed as high adventure historical dramas, but in reality Ghosh is a measured, cautious writer, and his books are engrossing but not particularly exciting. There are only a few moments of genuine suspense or thrill to be found in the entire 1,500 page sweep of the Ibis trilogy.
Another thing to know is that if the grand sweep of history and politics in India and China circa 1839-1841 isn't your thing, walk away slowly. You will learn a lot about: the opium trade; the perfidious and hypocritical tactics of British merchants; life in the Bengal native infantry; the peculiar existence of foreign traders in 19th century Canton; Chinese botany, botanical art, and portraiture; indentured servitude in Mauritius, and numerous other topics of pressing interest.
The sheer volume of historical information that Ghosh is trying to convey frequently overwhelms the more novelistic aspects of his work (you know, characters, plot, etc). Some plotlines just fade away. There are so many characters that even 1,500 pages isn't enough to give them all their due, and the emotional effect of their various tribulations gets diluted. All of the key characters get a kind of resolution at the end, but some are more satisfying than others.
On the other hand, because Ghosh is such a steady and confident skipper, it's easy to float along as a fascinated passenger on this vessel. If it resembles a history book at times, it's a very engaging one. His prose has elegance and clarity, and in the first two books in the series he has a wonderful time writing in a variety of accents and dialects—most notably the pidgin that foreigners and locals in Canton use to communicate with one another.
Taken all in all, the Ibis trilogy is a mightily impressive work, and pretty entertaining, too. It doesn't quite reach the heights of brilliance that its scope might suggest, but it's worth the journey.
dvaruas's review against another edition
2.0
Finally, the journey that had started with the Ibis ends with the (almost) conclusion of the first Opium wars.. And it took me only 3 years to reach here. :)
Endings are always bittersweet; especially when it seems there was more to it than conveyed.
Having said that, I'm glad the series ended.
Things need to end; especially when it isn't going anywhere better (I'll explain what I mean in a minute, but before that .... )
Historical fictions are always praiseworthy. The amount of research that goes into the text is undoubtedly enormous, period texts even so, as they need careful recreation of the era (postcolonial India and China back then in this case) in which it is set. There are many interesting tidbits all over the novel - starting from how Hong Kong came under British rule to the origin story of 'Graham crackers'. Amitav Ghosh has done this brilliantly - hats off to him for that.
--- Rant mode activated ---
I personally felt that the series as a whole didn't have a consistent tone in it. Looking at it as a whole, the
- `Sea of Poppies` was definitely the best of the lot with a nice balance between events and character development (something which is an incredibly difficult feat).
- `River of Smoke` was more character-driven with Bahram taking the center stage. An interesting read, although somehow disconnected from the rest of the series (conscious choice? What the hell happened there?). And then,
- `Flood of Fire`.
It has all of my beloved characters back in the scene along with some new ones. But the whole thing feels very plot-driven and very rushed. I was honestly expecting the magic from part one - the correct balance between the two aspects of storytelling, but unfortunately, that did not happen. Some of the events felt very predictable. There was an attempt to have a whole character arc with Zachary, but that was not well fleshed out. Kesri seemed like the only interesting character in this novel, while all others seemed to have lost all of their previous dimensionality and fallen flat on the pages. Sad!
--- Rant mode deactivated ---
Maybe I am being a bit too harsh. With the amount of expectation I had from the finale of the series, it was probably destined to fail already. :D
It's not a bad read definitely. Not an awesome one either.
`OKayish` would be my final verdict... Worth the read if someone has already started out on the journey. :)
Endings are always bittersweet; especially when it seems there was more to it than conveyed.
Having said that, I'm glad the series ended.
Things need to end; especially when it isn't going anywhere better (I'll explain what I mean in a minute, but before that .... )
Historical fictions are always praiseworthy. The amount of research that goes into the text is undoubtedly enormous, period texts even so, as they need careful recreation of the era (postcolonial India and China back then in this case) in which it is set. There are many interesting tidbits all over the novel - starting from how Hong Kong came under British rule to the origin story of 'Graham crackers'. Amitav Ghosh has done this brilliantly - hats off to him for that.
--- Rant mode activated ---
I personally felt that the series as a whole didn't have a consistent tone in it. Looking at it as a whole, the
- `Sea of Poppies` was definitely the best of the lot with a nice balance between events and character development (something which is an incredibly difficult feat).
- `River of Smoke` was more character-driven with Bahram taking the center stage. An interesting read, although somehow disconnected from the rest of the series (conscious choice? What the hell happened there?). And then,
- `Flood of Fire`.
It has all of my beloved characters back in the scene along with some new ones. But the whole thing feels very plot-driven and very rushed. I was honestly expecting the magic from part one - the correct balance between the two aspects of storytelling, but unfortunately, that did not happen. Some of the events felt very predictable. There was an attempt to have a whole character arc with Zachary, but that was not well fleshed out. Kesri seemed like the only interesting character in this novel, while all others seemed to have lost all of their previous dimensionality and fallen flat on the pages. Sad!
--- Rant mode deactivated ---
Maybe I am being a bit too harsh. With the amount of expectation I had from the finale of the series, it was probably destined to fail already. :D
It's not a bad read definitely. Not an awesome one either.
`OKayish` would be my final verdict... Worth the read if someone has already started out on the journey. :)
bloodyfool0's review
5.0
I loved this trilogy. Read the first a few years ago and the last two within a year. Wonderful storytelling and great historical piece.
menfrommarrs's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and sometimes shameful history lesson throughout the series, masked as fiction.
Not a quick read, but very enjoyable.
p.s. Beautiful covers!
Not a quick read, but very enjoyable.
p.s. Beautiful covers!