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A review by liacooper
Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
3.0
A *3 mostly because all of the character arcs wrap up well and theres good symmetry. The language in this is the most difficult and mudied of any Valente i've read and definitely the least enjoyable. There's something bizarrely unsavory about this story. Unsettling. I struggled to read this and the entire middle dragged for me.
There's a lot of uncomfortable, unhappy sex, and a lot of body mutilation. I feel like some of the more interesting character arcs, development (like November's relationship with Casimiri) is buried under uncomfortable sex scenes that I could have done without. I felt held back from the characters except in knowing their misery.
November was the only character I was really interested in, but we only get a glimpse of her story. Ludo was ok. I couldn't connect with Sei because I couldn't really understand her obsession with trains. And then Oleg...well.....that's a thing that happened.
Idk. Not my favorite. Not one I'd necessarily rec (esp to first time Valente readers) I just think she's written better, more interesting stuff.
There's a lot of uncomfortable, unhappy sex, and a lot of body mutilation. I feel like some of the more interesting character arcs, development (like November's relationship with Casimiri) is buried under uncomfortable sex scenes that I could have done without. I felt held back from the characters except in knowing their misery.
November was the only character I was really interested in, but we only get a glimpse of her story. Ludo was ok. I couldn't connect with Sei because I couldn't really understand her obsession with trains. And then Oleg...well.....that's a thing that happened.
Idk. Not my favorite. Not one I'd necessarily rec (esp to first time Valente readers) I just think she's written better, more interesting stuff.