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A review by talia012
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
4.0
This book was dense with political intrigue and economics but able to keep me engaged throughout because it was so relentlessly interesting. Really complex characters and plotting that, for me, were just on the right side of manageable. Although I can see why this book has produced such divisive reviews.
The hardest part for me was the "calculus" that treated decisions with horrible, cruel, real-world consequences so casually. The ends apparently justify the means for Baru but damn if that didn't cause me some serious horror along the way.
Points for a fascinating indictment of empire from a unique vantage and really detailed worldbuilding. Minus points for repetitive character moments (how many times is Baru going to believably make the exact same mistake?) and too-casual throwing away of human lives = 3.5 stars rounded up.
The hardest part for me was the "calculus" that treated decisions with horrible, cruel, real-world consequences so casually. The ends apparently justify the means for Baru but damn if that didn't cause me some serious horror along the way.
Points for a fascinating indictment of empire from a unique vantage and really detailed worldbuilding. Minus points for repetitive character moments (how many times is Baru going to believably make the exact same mistake?) and too-casual throwing away of human lives = 3.5 stars rounded up.