A review by elusivity
Full Fathom Five by Max Gladstone
4.0
3.5 STARS rounded up
Set in the same fascinating world populated by gods who die and the once-mortal Deathless Kings.
This installment is a good read that suffers only in comparison to the first book. Kavekana's industry is original in conception. The Penitents are terrifying both as a form of punishment and as instruments of potential-fascism. The plot is intricate. Characters are unique in the genre and interesting. Yet somehow it is not AS CREATIVE; nor AS INTRICATE; nor as engaging. The plot took a long time to get started -- there is not much action until 1/3 of the book -- before which the characters merely seem to live their lives, barely sensing anything is wrong -- leaving the reader in a state of limbo, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The writing is smoother, more poetic. Every short chapter ends in some Meaningful still tableau or bon-mot. Indeed, these literary flourishes are starting to get in the way of plotting, and characterization..
Regardless, an above-average book. Recommended!
Set in the same fascinating world populated by gods who die and the once-mortal Deathless Kings.
Spoiler
Set on a section of the world akin to Hawaii, Kavekana's primary business mode is being a god-free zone for rich people to store their soul-stuff. Kai is a priestess who makes and maintains idols -- simple constructs that act as proxy-gods to store soul-stuff -- artificial beings that have powers, yet neither volition or thoughts. Izza is a thief and goddess to a series of gods who are killed off almost as soon as they are born. A series of idols is being destroyed by seemingly unavoidable and/or unwise management. Somewhere, a poet is struck by a muse and speaks poetry heard by Kai as she tries to rescue an idol from final destruction, an impossibility, since idols are merely dolls and has no ability to speak, let alone create. Of course, these events are all related..This installment is a good read that suffers only in comparison to the first book. Kavekana's industry is original in conception. The Penitents are terrifying both as a form of punishment and as instruments of potential-fascism. The plot is intricate. Characters are unique in the genre and interesting. Yet somehow it is not AS CREATIVE; nor AS INTRICATE; nor as engaging. The plot took a long time to get started -- there is not much action until 1/3 of the book -- before which the characters merely seem to live their lives, barely sensing anything is wrong -- leaving the reader in a state of limbo, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The writing is smoother, more poetic. Every short chapter ends in some Meaningful still tableau or bon-mot. Indeed, these literary flourishes are starting to get in the way of plotting, and characterization..
Regardless, an above-average book. Recommended!