mairio's review against another edition
3.0
this book was ... chaotic. hence the title I guess
part 1 of the book: didn't really like it. I understand that it explains Clayton's character and the origin of his job but there were so many new characters, I couldn't really bother with
part 2 was better. but one chapter totally threw me off and the author kinda lost me
part 3: the first half gave some explanation but later on it was complete chaos for me. what the heck happened?
anyway, 3 stars for the last book of this trilogy ⭐
part 1 of the book: didn't really like it. I understand that it explains Clayton's character and the origin of his job but there were so many new characters, I couldn't really bother with
part 2 was better. but one chapter totally threw me off and the author kinda lost me
part 3: the first half gave some explanation but later on it was complete chaos for me. what the heck happened?
anyway, 3 stars for the last book of this trilogy ⭐
anyas_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
scribepub's review against another edition
Inventive fun
Yvonne Zipp, The Washington Post
The unreal becomes real, fantasy becomes history, and the reader is thoroughly entertained by an unending parade of bafflements and surprises. This book is a complete delight.
K.W. Jeter, Author of Infernal Devices
Palma’s yarn is altogether a satisfying, thoroughly entertaining creature feature.
Kirkus
Map of Chaos is a vividly drawn odyssey spanning time and space that calls on three of the literary greats of the past century to answer the fundamental question of our place in the universe and to demonstrate the enduring power of undying love.
Jack Dubrul
Spanish novelist Félix J. Palma outdoes himself in The Map of Chaos, the third instalment in a fantasy trilogy that features writers H.G. Wells, Lewis Carroll and Arthur Conan Doyle as action heroes … Bookworms are always searching for new realms in which to lose themselves. With this trilogy, Palma offers an homage and multiple new worlds to explore.
The Seattle Times
Yvonne Zipp, The Washington Post
The unreal becomes real, fantasy becomes history, and the reader is thoroughly entertained by an unending parade of bafflements and surprises. This book is a complete delight.
K.W. Jeter, Author of Infernal Devices
Palma’s yarn is altogether a satisfying, thoroughly entertaining creature feature.
Kirkus
Map of Chaos is a vividly drawn odyssey spanning time and space that calls on three of the literary greats of the past century to answer the fundamental question of our place in the universe and to demonstrate the enduring power of undying love.
Jack Dubrul
Spanish novelist Félix J. Palma outdoes himself in The Map of Chaos, the third instalment in a fantasy trilogy that features writers H.G. Wells, Lewis Carroll and Arthur Conan Doyle as action heroes … Bookworms are always searching for new realms in which to lose themselves. With this trilogy, Palma offers an homage and multiple new worlds to explore.
The Seattle Times
rynflynn12's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
sapphyre30's review against another edition
5.0
I am just so so sorry this trilogy is over. :( Mr. Palma, I need mooooore!!!!
greycloud's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5
Qué decepción me he llevado con el tercero y último de la historia. Me encantó el primero, el segundo estuvo al mismo nivel, pero menudo bajón para el tercero. No sabría decir si es que ha desgastado a los personajes, si es por la historia en sí o incluso la falta de la figura del narrador, que para lo que aparece y nada, viene a ser lo mismo. Le falta chispa, algo a este libro. Y en mi opinión esta vez sí que le han sobrado hojas, por alguna razón en los dos anteriores o bien no me molestaba o no me di cuenta, pero en este sí que me aburría cuando se iba por otros derroteros en dar detalles de los personajes.
La última parte de las tres que componen este libro es la que más me ha gustado, así que en ese sentido no me ha dejado un mal sabor, pero sí un tanto agridulce por lo anteriormente contado.
Qué decepción me he llevado con el tercero y último de la historia. Me encantó el primero, el segundo estuvo al mismo nivel, pero menudo bajón para el tercero. No sabría decir si es que ha desgastado a los personajes, si es por la historia en sí o incluso la falta de la figura del narrador, que para lo que aparece y nada, viene a ser lo mismo. Le falta chispa, algo a este libro. Y en mi opinión esta vez sí que le han sobrado hojas, por alguna razón en los dos anteriores o bien no me molestaba o no me di cuenta, pero en este sí que me aburría cuando se iba por otros derroteros en dar detalles de los personajes.
La última parte de las tres que componen este libro es la que más me ha gustado, así que en ese sentido no me ha dejado un mal sabor, pero sí un tanto agridulce por lo anteriormente contado.
strawfly14's review against another edition
5.0
Fantástico. Maravillosa manera de cerrar una trilogía espectacular. El prólogo me cautivó, y los primeros capítulos fueron también maravillosos (todavía quiero saber más sobre la condesa de Bompard), y aunque hubo un tramo que se me hizo algo más lento y trabado, después el libro tomó el libro vertiginoso que engancha. En algunos momentos me he hecho algún lío con tanto mundo y tantos infinitos (al final, el caos es inexorable...) pero eso no enturbia para nada esta fantástica aventura que he vivido con las novelas de Palma. Fantástico homenaje a Wells y al resto de autores incluidos en la trilogía. Haremos reseña conjunta en el blog.
directorpurry's review against another edition
3.0
The same criticism applies to this volume as much as it does the previous two books of the series: Palma's plot work is amazing, but his pacing is erratic, his character building, especially with women, is incredibly weak, and overall his writing just doesn't stand up to the story.
It's difficult to say with translated works whether Palma's writing has increased in quality or if Nick Caistor has just gotten better at translating. Regardless, The Map of Chaos read much better than its predecessors, but it was still over written and full of unnecessary tangents. For example, Conan Doyle is introduced and I skimmed about four pages on his background as I already came in knowing a fair amount about him.
But this was by far the most inventive and tied in to elements of the two previous novels in clever ways I never expected! I did have on criticism of the multiverse though -
I've spent years wanting to love this series, and I know the plot will stick with me, but Palma and I just didn't stick.
It's difficult to say with translated works whether Palma's writing has increased in quality or if Nick Caistor has just gotten better at translating. Regardless, The Map of Chaos read much better than its predecessors, but it was still over written and full of unnecessary tangents. For example, Conan Doyle is introduced and I skimmed about four pages on his background as I already came in knowing a fair amount about him.
But this was by far the most inventive and tied in to elements of the two previous novels in clever ways I never expected! I did have on criticism of the multiverse though -
Spoiler
when all the worlds are overlapping, there's little thought for time and space. I feel like a safe assumption would be you would come out at about the same place in space you left in your own universe. That's true until the climax, when everyone crashes into London regardless of where they were before. Reichenbach in Germany? Nope, now it's in London.I've spent years wanting to love this series, and I know the plot will stick with me, but Palma and I just didn't stick.
rdebner's review against another edition
3.0
A nice finish to the trilogy, though the story here was not as cohesive as the previous two books.