A review by blumoonie
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've had this book for a while, but I was waiting for the perfect time to read it. as I was reading, I wanted desperately to finish it (so I know how it ends and can revel in it), but also feared the concept of ending (I will never read this for the first time ever again). there are few books that make me feel these complex emotions just by thinking ‘I should really read that soon…’

I grew fonder of the characters who I was already attached to, and found a new liking for others as well. ‘liking’ perhaps isn't the best word… maybe ‘admiration' and ‘pity’. the plot unfolded in ways I could not have imagined, including:

- watching someone descend into madness from a perspective that feels far too personal and uncomfortable
- multiple resurrections, though none are truly what they seem at first
- the use of pain to blur the line between one's humanity and animal instincts

and so on, and so on. of course, themes of gender, diaspora and queerness are as important to this novel as they were in the first.

I love this series, and I loved this book- possibly even more than the first. I want to go back to when things were simpler and hurt less, but I can't help the urge to go forever fowards.
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