ozymandias272's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence and War
raptorq's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Death
Minor: Kidnapping
thebetterstory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Throughout this series, Vo's had clever things to say about the act and art of storytelling, how that relates to history and entertainment and the lives of the people the stories come from, and here it felt like many of those themes showed themselves off to their best advantage. I particularly love what the story does with the word "beautiful" and when it's used to describe women in stories, when it isn't, and how that relates to the ways real people see and love each other.
Minor: Violence, Death, and Infidelity
linblythe_pub22's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Blood, and Abandonment
daniellekat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death
librarymouse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Spoiler
from poly elders who have adored each other long enough for their love to become that of legend, to non-romantic sworn bonds, to fast friendships, this novella shows the enormous breath of what is possible in relationships and love, beyond the narrow definitions often ascribed to marriage and friendship. Nghi Vo writes the most gorgeous fully realized characters.Graphic: Death, Grief, War, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
INTO THE RIVERLANDS is a rambling tale, where Chih is being told stories, often in the somewhat messy and multilayered manner of a group of near-strangers who know similar tales, and may have shared backgrounds, but where each has their own version. Towards the end, there is a reveal that re-contextualized many of the stories. I suspect that if I reread the book I would find that it is even more looping and connected than I was able to understand the first time. I like books which have some kind of revelation that changes the way that the rest of the story is perceived or understood, and I’m also impressed that such a short story conveys so much and has such an interesting twist. It might, however, make the story feel confusing and a bit pointless, because only a couple of things happen in the midst of all the stories. It's definitely not pointless, and it fits in well with the broader series. Almost as soon as I finished I wanted to read it again to understand it better.
Chih has been in danger elsewhere in the series, but this time they are confronted with the messy and logistical realities of death and its aftermath in a way they've never been before. In a previous book, they were in danger of being killed, but it was not the kind of danger that involved them having to figure out what to do with bodies afterward. This time while traveling through the river lands, the group comes a body. There's a mark from the Hollow Hand, a once prominent and terrifying group whose current iteration is composed of whatever group decides that claiming an affiliation would strike fear in victims and bystanders.
I’m glad this is a novella because the way it meanders feels random and unconnected at first and it might have been boring in a longer story. However, as a novella, it had just the right amount of time to cultivate the impression of people traveling together and telling each other stories before they're suddenly interrupted first by death and second by danger.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexism, Grief, Cursing, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Trafficking
maeverose's review
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual assault and Kidnapping
Description of a hanged bodyodditiex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
sophiesmallhands's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Gore