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A review by _simms24
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this book a lot initially. Baru’s calculating nature and transactional way of viewing the world made for an interesting character and a unique lens for Dickinson’s world. For the first 60% of the book I was certain I would finish the series.
However, as the story continued, I became frustrated that Baru seemed to refuse to grow. She would face setbacks or be introduced to characters that she hypothetically grew to care about but never changed her behavior accordingly.
The last 30 pages of the book, though, were the nail in the coffin for me.
Overall, this was a really interesting book— a fantasy with no magic told from the unreliable perspective of an ambitious accountant. I can’t give it less than three stars because it was well written, clever, and almost enjoyable. I can’t give it more than three stars because Baru refused to grow as a character. The rest of the series isn’t for me, but I would by no means discourage someone from picking this book up.
However, as the story continued, I became frustrated that Baru seemed to refuse to grow. She would face setbacks or be introduced to characters that she hypothetically grew to care about but never changed her behavior accordingly.
The last 30 pages of the book, though, were the nail in the coffin for me.
Overall, this was a really interesting book— a fantasy with no magic told from the unreliable perspective of an ambitious accountant. I can’t give it less than three stars because it was well written, clever, and almost enjoyable. I can’t give it more than three stars because Baru refused to grow as a character. The rest of the series isn’t for me, but I would by no means discourage someone from picking this book up.