A review by arnoles
The Immortal King Rao by Vauhini Vara

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I was really excited for this book because it has a lot of elements I normally love: multigenerational family story, multiple character perspectives, mystery, etc .... But it just kinda fell flat. I didn't find myself really caring about the characters or seeing the through line in all the different timelines and perspectives. I also feel like the very end of the book was where I started really feeling interested, then the plot became rushed and the book was over. I also feel I d left with just too many unanswered questions and didn't feel satisfied by the end. I do the find the concept of a "techno state" fascinating and absolutely terrifying, but the execution wasn't there for me.