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elenathegreat's reviews
141 reviews
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Stunning! This book is unlike anything I've ever read, offering up the narrative in a mixed media format with prose, poetry, and art. It is truly hard to describe as this book seems to be more about evoking emotion and connection to the themes than any central plot. I plan on making a video on why people should read this book, but it has easily become a favorite and one that I plan on re-reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Forced institutionalization
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo
adventurous
medium-paced
4.5
4.5/5
When The Tiger Came Down the Mountain, the follow-up book to The Empress of Salt and Fortune continues to follow Chih, a cleric, as they travel around this world compiling stories. Much like Empress, this book plays with storytelling and the ways that the same story can be told through different lenses. As Chih is confronted by a group of talking tigers, they realize that the commonly told story of the tiger and her scholar lover is missing some context, and there are various versions of the "truth" depending on who is telling the story.
I liked how this book explored the intricacies of storytelling in this way, and though I liked this story within a story Chih was telling, the ways that the tigers amended Chih's tale and added their insights was that standout part of this book for me. Nghi Vo is an immensely talented writer and I was also taken with how compelling this story and world was, told through us with such lush writing, without it being overwrought. Usually when I read fantasy I want to understand everything about the world and not knowing enough can trip me up. This would seem to be a challenge for any fantasy novella, but Nghi Vo does enough to keep me gripped by the world without being too tedious in the short page count with what she does reveal about it.
My liking of this is about on par with Empress, though I may even like it a little bit more as the story-within-a-story aspect was challenged more and here and seemed more thematically complex. I cannot recommend Nghi Vo's work enough and I think this series is a must-read for any fantasy lover.
When The Tiger Came Down the Mountain, the follow-up book to The Empress of Salt and Fortune continues to follow Chih, a cleric, as they travel around this world compiling stories. Much like Empress, this book plays with storytelling and the ways that the same story can be told through different lenses. As Chih is confronted by a group of talking tigers, they realize that the commonly told story of the tiger and her scholar lover is missing some context, and there are various versions of the "truth" depending on who is telling the story.
I liked how this book explored the intricacies of storytelling in this way, and though I liked this story within a story Chih was telling, the ways that the tigers amended Chih's tale and added their insights was that standout part of this book for me. Nghi Vo is an immensely talented writer and I was also taken with how compelling this story and world was, told through us with such lush writing, without it being overwrought. Usually when I read fantasy I want to understand everything about the world and not knowing enough can trip me up. This would seem to be a challenge for any fantasy novella, but Nghi Vo does enough to keep me gripped by the world without being too tedious in the short page count with what she does reveal about it.
My liking of this is about on par with Empress, though I may even like it a little bit more as the story-within-a-story aspect was challenged more and here and seemed more thematically complex. I cannot recommend Nghi Vo's work enough and I think this series is a must-read for any fantasy lover.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
4/5
These Violent Delights was a *delight* to read. See what I did there? Yeah, I hate my puns too. A Romeo and Juliet reimagining in 1920s Shanghai, These Violent Delights manages to walk the familiar line of the original tale while still raising its own themes and questions.
Torn apart by a blood feud of their two gangs, former-lovers-and-now-enemies Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences work together as a pandemic of madness rages through Shanghai. While the tropes and characters of the Shakespeare tale are present, Chloe Gong provides a historical context on this time period and the relationships between the British, French, Russian, American, and Chinese in this city, adding additional layers of politics, identity, and family loyalty.
I really liked Chloe Gong's writing in here. Her prose is well constructed, and though she can occasionally get tedious and info-dumpy, it was very compelling writing. The setting felt very vivid, and I could easily picture everything on the page. Juliette was also an especially well-realized character and the way that her voice came through was evident.
The angst, the drama, the heartbreak ... so well done.
My only complaint is the pacing of the first 100 pages or so, as it did drag with the amount of worldbuilding, as well as Roma's character, who felt a bit flat in this installment, up until the end where I felt like we got a bit more of him.
This was such a fun read though! What a rollercoaster ride of emotions ... and after that ending, wow am I scared for what is in store for book 2.
These Violent Delights was a *delight* to read. See what I did there? Yeah, I hate my puns too. A Romeo and Juliet reimagining in 1920s Shanghai, These Violent Delights manages to walk the familiar line of the original tale while still raising its own themes and questions.
Torn apart by a blood feud of their two gangs, former-lovers-and-now-enemies Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences work together as a pandemic of madness rages through Shanghai. While the tropes and characters of the Shakespeare tale are present, Chloe Gong provides a historical context on this time period and the relationships between the British, French, Russian, American, and Chinese in this city, adding additional layers of politics, identity, and family loyalty.
I really liked Chloe Gong's writing in here. Her prose is well constructed, and though she can occasionally get tedious and info-dumpy, it was very compelling writing. The setting felt very vivid, and I could easily picture everything on the page. Juliette was also an especially well-realized character and the way that her voice came through was evident.
The angst, the drama, the heartbreak ... so well done.
My only complaint is the pacing of the first 100 pages or so, as it did drag with the amount of worldbuilding, as well as Roma's character, who felt a bit flat in this installment, up until the end where I felt like we got a bit more of him.
This was such a fun read though! What a rollercoaster ride of emotions ... and after that ending, wow am I scared for what is in store for book 2.