billie_the_book_babe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wanted to like this so badly, post apocalyptic magical gender fuckery, heck yeah!
Unfortunately it just kinda falls flat. Supposedly there's this mutation that turns young twinks into androgenous hermaphrodites and unlocks their inner magic and they're the next step in human evolution, bring together the "softest parts of man and hardest parts of women."
But really they're all just kinda dicks that want to kill each other and take over the world before the other. And the magic never really matters and is rarely used. The first half was a kind of run away love story, learning about the wider wold adventure. I liked that part. But halfway though
From there it just become some poorly political chosen one story about how this society of new men has to (violently) take over the world before those violent brutes over there take over the world!
There's a lot of tries to be deep commentary about how men were too corrupt, greedy, and jealous and how this new race is above all that. But none of that goes very far as all the central plot points are based around those very traits.
Cool ideas, poor execution.
Unfortunately it just kinda falls flat. Supposedly there's this mutation that turns young twinks into androgenous hermaphrodites and unlocks their inner magic and they're the next step in human evolution, bring together the "softest parts of man and hardest parts of women."
But really they're all just kinda dicks that want to kill each other and take over the world before the other. And the magic never really matters and is rarely used. The first half was a kind of run away love story, learning about the wider wold adventure. I liked that part. But halfway though
Spoiler
the main character is reborn by his father (who's secretly God) into a new body to be the King of men, I mean Wreathru.From there it just become some poorly political chosen one story about how this society of new men has to (violently) take over the world before those violent brutes over there take over the world!
There's a lot of tries to be deep commentary about how men were too corrupt, greedy, and jealous and how this new race is above all that. But none of that goes very far as all the central plot points are based around those very traits.
Cool ideas, poor execution.
yak_attak's review against another edition
2.0
Storm Constatine takes a wild swing at a more modern take on some classic social sci-fi ala Ursula K. Le Guin - with Wraeththu's strange psychic androgyny one can't help make connections to older works such as Left Hand of Darkness... but where LHoD is steeped in thoughtful world-building and atmosphere, the world of Wraeththu is just full of venal bitchy assholes.
No, seriously. Every character in this goddamn book is a prick. The main character (whose story we're seeing from a first person perspective. It's their memoir. They suck.) His mentor. The secretive guy who's using him the whole time. The leaders of the various tribes they visit on their journey. And oh yeah, his One True Love who he cannot help but pine after the entire book is literally the worst of all of them. It's infuriating reading this guy whine about not being able to see Cal when Cal hasn't done a literal goddamn thing except be a snippy cunt. No exaggeration.
On top of that the politics/themes of this are a total mess - And I don't think it's like a "self aware book of a problematic protagonist whose untrustworthy" ala Book of the New Sun. No, we just get weird polygamous psychic eugenics cult alien people and it's basically straight up a good thing. Even if we never see much good come from them, it's all played straight front to back. It even feels like a pretty piss poor take on gender dynamics, which given it's kinda the point of the book is especially unfortunate.
I dunno. Constantine's heart is in the right place, and I'd love more stories of this type, but at every turn things just frustrate and annoy. Maybe there's more interrogation of what's happened in the following books, but man. This one alone sucks.
No, seriously. Every character in this goddamn book is a prick. The main character (whose story we're seeing from a first person perspective. It's their memoir. They suck.) His mentor. The secretive guy who's using him the whole time. The leaders of the various tribes they visit on their journey. And oh yeah, his One True Love who he cannot help but pine after the entire book is literally the worst of all of them. It's infuriating reading this guy whine about not being able to see Cal when Cal hasn't done a literal goddamn thing except be a snippy cunt. No exaggeration.
On top of that the politics/themes of this are a total mess - And I don't think it's like a "self aware book of a problematic protagonist whose untrustworthy" ala Book of the New Sun. No, we just get weird polygamous psychic eugenics cult alien people and it's basically straight up a good thing. Even if we never see much good come from them, it's all played straight front to back. It even feels like a pretty piss poor take on gender dynamics, which given it's kinda the point of the book is especially unfortunate.
I dunno. Constantine's heart is in the right place, and I'd love more stories of this type, but at every turn things just frustrate and annoy. Maybe there's more interrogation of what's happened in the following books, but man. This one alone sucks.
kaseyd's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
graysen's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fantastic novel. Constantine quickly sucks you into her wondrous universe - you'll never want to come back to the real world.
carrionkid's review
4.5
Really compelling world building and a really interesting take on post apocalyptic fiction, plus it fucks around with gender! Some of it aged badly but for the most part it holds up and I enjoyed it thoroughly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War, Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
lijadora's review against another edition
4.0
A different sort of fantasy then I'm used to. Also the writer is skilled - atmosphere and tension are sometimes almost tangible.
sagali's review against another edition
5.0
Best trilogy ever!!
I recommend for all Fantasy lovers to read it.
I recommend for all Fantasy lovers to read it.
manth1975's review against another edition
5.0
I must have read this book over 6 times. I first read it as a teenager and it is utterly unique and compelling
aliciagg's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, I read this like 7-8 years ago and I felt like rereading it because I couldn't remember anything! And it's been like reading it for the first time ever, which is awesome!
While it is true that there are some punctuation mistakes that sometimes bothered me (who edited this!?), the story is far too compelling and interesting, and what's more important for me... the characters!
This book has made me think a lot, the premise is so fascinating. It's true, the author could do more in explaining how this new species appeared and how they start their civilizations but she somehow does that through the characters story. I like it this way, I'm far more interested in what happens to these characters and the explanations about this new world order are well-supported.
I really recommend reading this book. The cover is horrible and it looks like a freakish read, and although it is, it makes you think a lot about how humanity is lost in materialism and how we should focus more in our spirituality and minds to thrive. The characters are very well constructed and you feel all the feels. Also, it is amazing how this book was written in the 80s but so many aspects discussed about humanity still apply nowadays.
While it is true that there are some punctuation mistakes that sometimes bothered me (who edited this!?), the story is far too compelling and interesting, and what's more important for me... the characters!
This book has made me think a lot, the premise is so fascinating. It's true, the author could do more in explaining how this new species appeared and how they start their civilizations but she somehow does that through the characters story. I like it this way, I'm far more interested in what happens to these characters and the explanations about this new world order are well-supported.
I really recommend reading this book. The cover is horrible and it looks like a freakish read, and although it is, it makes you think a lot about how humanity is lost in materialism and how we should focus more in our spirituality and minds to thrive. The characters are very well constructed and you feel all the feels. Also, it is amazing how this book was written in the 80s but so many aspects discussed about humanity still apply nowadays.
progeer's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book series was deeply influential on my life and finding the words for my gender identity. The work isn't perfect and has some appropriation of cultures(it was originally written in the 80's), but I still found the central story relevant.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, and Violence