thoughtsstained's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Full review posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
I seriously enjoyed The Black Tides of Heaven. It's exploration of gender and weaponry (and responsibility with such weaponry), on top of complex family and sibling dynamics, was absolutely fascinating to me. It also was the perfect blend of heartbreak.
This is my first of Neon Yang's work, but I already own The Genesis of Memory and I'm really excited to read that by them, too. I definitely plan to read the next novella in this series and I recommend it for you all, too!
I seriously enjoyed The Black Tides of Heaven. It's exploration of gender and weaponry (and responsibility with such weaponry), on top of complex family and sibling dynamics, was absolutely fascinating to me. It also was the perfect blend of heartbreak.
This is my first of Neon Yang's work, but I already own The Genesis of Memory and I'm really excited to read that by them, too. I definitely plan to read the next novella in this series and I recommend it for you all, too!
rajaraks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars rounded down.
So let's start with the good - the world building is impressive and the idea of everyone being allowed to choose their gender is a really cool way to talk about it within a fantasy setting. The magic (or slack as it's called) is tied to the elements of nature, so of course my mind goes to Avatar the Last Airbender. (The show. Not the movie.) Thankfully though, it didn't feel like she ripped off the show - even if it may have been influenced by it, she made it her own.
Now for the bad - because the chapters jump through time so often, I wasn't deeply emotionally connected with any of the characters. I knew I should feel sad, etc at certain moments but at the same time, I was like, 'who cares?'. The author didn't give me enough time/pages to really care about what they're fighting for, their character changes as they grew up, or even the climax of the whole story with the fight with his mom.
I don't know if it my impression would improve if I continued reading the series but as it is right now, I don't feel compelled to get the next one.
So let's start with the good - the world building is impressive and the idea of everyone being allowed to choose their gender is a really cool way to talk about it within a fantasy setting. The magic (or slack as it's called) is tied to the elements of nature, so of course my mind goes to Avatar the Last Airbender. (The show. Not the movie.) Thankfully though, it didn't feel like she ripped off the show - even if it may have been influenced by it, she made it her own.
Now for the bad - because the chapters jump through time so often, I wasn't deeply emotionally connected with any of the characters. I knew I should feel sad, etc at certain moments but at the same time, I was like, 'who cares?'. The author didn't give me enough time/pages to really care about what they're fighting for, their character changes as they grew up, or even the climax of the whole story with the fight with his mom.
I don't know if it my impression would improve if I continued reading the series but as it is right now, I don't feel compelled to get the next one.
aoutramafalda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
driedfrogpills's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent world building, fascinating treatment of gender and well-written to boot? And there's (so far) four books planned for this series? Sign me up.
Jumping right into Red Threads of Fortune right after this.
Jumping right into Red Threads of Fortune right after this.
jaywcj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
such excellent writing and compelling worldbuilding. a quick, adventurous reads.
jumps around a bit more than i'd like, and the characters don't feel very complex to me yet but i suppose that's what makes it an easy read.
looking forward to reading the next book!
jumps around a bit more than i'd like, and the characters don't feel very complex to me yet but i suppose that's what makes it an easy read.
looking forward to reading the next book!
clauleesi's review against another edition
4.0
My rating: 4.5 stars
Wow, this book was an experience. And that this unique and gorgeous story was J.Y Jang's debut novel makes it all just even more impressive. It has it all - spellbinding characters, an intricate world that will suck you in, complicated relationships, amazing representation and wonderful writing. It's no wonder I loved the first book in the Tensorate series.
In this story we are introduced to a country that is completely under the thumb of the Protector - a ruler as powerful as she is ruthless. As she made a deal some years before the beginning of the book, she had to give away one of her children to the Monastery, but as they want one of her promising daughters she instead impregnates herself once again and then gives birth to twins. These twins, Mokoya and Akeha, are both offered to the Monastery as a gesture of goodwill. This is where the twins very tense relationship with their mother begins and their strong and complex relationship to each other - especially when Mokoya turns out to be a valuable prophet, which also marks the beginning for the twins huge differences.
The twins are both so very real, but as we get to follow the story from Akeha's perspective, we get to know them better - although I must say that I do think I prefered sweet Mokoya and am very much looking forward to the sequel as they're the protagonist of that one. Still, Akeha was extremely interesting and it's almost all those things that made them unlikeable that also made them so compelling. I would also want to learn more about the rest of the characters - especially the Protector. Her backstory would probably be awfully amazing and I need it.
The world that Akeha, Mokoya and the rest of the characters live in is heavily inspired by different asian cultures and mythologies, that all weave together to create something spectacular - that magic system, in particular, was extremely fascinating and I would love to delve more into it. I'm just such a sucker for elemental magic.
This book was also very, very queer. People in this world get to decide their own gender at the age of seventeen, and it just seemed to be so very accepting in that regard and many others. I mean, they had a dictator and shady executions, but at least they weren't transphobic.
My only complaint about this Tor novella would probably be that that otherwise superb publishing company put so many spoilers in the synopsis on the back of the book. I probably would've enjoyed this even more if I hadn't know what would happen in the last few chapters, but as I mentioned before, I still loved this lots. I can't wait to read the sequel, that hopefully is just as captivating, and also to get to know Mokoya more.
Wow, this book was an experience. And that this unique and gorgeous story was J.Y Jang's debut novel makes it all just even more impressive. It has it all - spellbinding characters, an intricate world that will suck you in, complicated relationships, amazing representation and wonderful writing. It's no wonder I loved the first book in the Tensorate series.
In this story we are introduced to a country that is completely under the thumb of the Protector - a ruler as powerful as she is ruthless. As she made a deal some years before the beginning of the book, she had to give away one of her children to the Monastery, but as they want one of her promising daughters she instead impregnates herself once again and then gives birth to twins. These twins, Mokoya and Akeha, are both offered to the Monastery as a gesture of goodwill. This is where the twins very tense relationship with their mother begins and their strong and complex relationship to each other - especially when Mokoya turns out to be a valuable prophet, which also marks the beginning for the twins huge differences.
The twins are both so very real, but as we get to follow the story from Akeha's perspective, we get to know them better - although I must say that I do think I prefered sweet Mokoya and am very much looking forward to the sequel as they're the protagonist of that one. Still, Akeha was extremely interesting and it's almost all those things that made them unlikeable that also made them so compelling. I would also want to learn more about the rest of the characters - especially the Protector. Her backstory would probably be awfully amazing and I need it.
The world that Akeha, Mokoya and the rest of the characters live in is heavily inspired by different asian cultures and mythologies, that all weave together to create something spectacular - that magic system, in particular, was extremely fascinating and I would love to delve more into it. I'm just such a sucker for elemental magic.
This book was also very, very queer. People in this world get to decide their own gender at the age of seventeen, and it just seemed to be so very accepting in that regard and many others. I mean, they had a dictator and shady executions, but at least they weren't transphobic.
My only complaint about this Tor novella would probably be that that otherwise superb publishing company put so many spoilers in the synopsis on the back of the book. I probably would've enjoyed this even more if I hadn't know what would happen in the last few chapters, but as I mentioned before, I still loved this lots. I can't wait to read the sequel, that hopefully is just as captivating, and also to get to know Mokoya more.
joabroda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Taking place in an Asian culture, the story of twins, children of the Protector, who search for their place in the world. In this world you begin as non-gender specific and choose your gender when you alone make up your mind where you belong. The magic system is fresh and I loved it!
A smart fast fantasy read that held my attention from beginning to end. The world building is excellent and the the characters either likeable or evil, always great in fantasy. Yang's style of writing is clean and flows effortlessly. I look forward to reading more by her.
A smart fast fantasy read that held my attention from beginning to end. The world building is excellent and the the characters either likeable or evil, always great in fantasy. Yang's style of writing is clean and flows effortlessly. I look forward to reading more by her.
kyandesu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
millennialbookreview's review against another edition
4.0
The Black Tides of Heaven is a book that I enjoyed overall, though it isn’t perfect. The characters were compelling and the writing was beautiful. The story was unique, but the execution of certain moments felt rushed. I can’t wait to read more in this series, and future works from this author.
My full review can be found here
My full review can be found here