Reviews

The Descent of Monsters by Neon Yang

anixhz's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

midnarose's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5 stars 

Out of the 3 novellas i have read so far as part of the tensorate series this was my favorite. However, you need to read the first two to truly appreciate this one. 

This novella takes place a few years after The red threads of fortune (novella #2) and many years after the black tides of Heaven. The format is an investigation. each chapter is a letter, diary entry, letter, report or transcripts from an interrogation. 

The story follows the investigator trying to figure out what happened at a research facility, how did the employees die, who is to blame and why are things being covered up. Throughout the investigation we get to see characters from the first two novellas and learn more about the tensorate world. 

If you enjoyed the first two novellas i would 100% recommend this one. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement and Child abuse

rinbee's review

4.0

When I began reading this book, I was a bit dismayed at the fact it didn't pick up where our beloved characters from the Red Threads of Fate left off. I was worried we left them in the dust and were continuing on with a new set of individuals, albeit in the same world. But I should've known better! The third book in the Tensorate series is an Akira-esque mystery that slowly gets unraveled through a new character, the headstrong investigator Tensor Chuwan Sariman's, perspective and in between we see glimpses of what has occurred between the main cast in the interim. Rather than building more on the characters we know, however, the Descent of Monsters focuses more on the setting and its corrupt politics and the shady morals of those in charge. Despite the grim subject matter, this book is a fun read through its epistolary format and charming narrator.

closteroven's review

5.0

(9/10)- This was incredible. I loved the style of having journal entries and letters. It worked very well with the type of book. I also found it to be extremely well written, especially the scenes of horror and just the atmosphere in general. There was even a bit of character development in these few pages. Overall this book was very well done and I really liked it.

jujuvansunshine's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

lady_moon's review against another edition

3.0

Wtf with that ending, this wasn't supposed to go like this-

foolzerrand's review

My favourite of the 3- I'm not always a mystery person but I loved the suspense of it in this! And I am a sucker for multimedia

emilyrandolph_epstein's review

4.0

Taking the form of an epistolary, this novella introduces us to a new character in Sariman and further expands the world and conspiracy hinted at in previous books. Looking forward to the next.

pictrufa's review against another edition

5.0

Neon Yang logra sorprenderme con cada novela...Si ya las dos anteriores me parecieron originales, una abarcando más de 35 años y la otra menos de una semana; esta me ha dejado loca. Una novela epistolar que me ha hecho sumergirme en ella desde la primera página. Me la he bebido en menos de 24h y porque tenía que dormir y trabajar. Ojalá la saga me durase más pero es que es imposible. Me tiene enganchadísima. En el descenso de los monstruos no puedes parar de leer porque a través de una serie de cartas e informes, Yang va dando forma a los peores proyectos del Protectorado. Vas viendo quién está implicado, cómo intentan cubrirse entre ellos y cuánto abarca esto. Cierto es que me ha dejado mal cuerpo, no porque la imaginación de Yang sea una pasada y haya inventado algo nuevo, si no porque la realidad supera la ficción y este tipo de proyectos/investigaciones o estudios, ya se han llevado a cabo a lo largo de la historia, algo que me rondará la cabeza durante mucho tiempo. Igualmente, tengo muchas ganas de empezar el cuarto y último libro y descubrir qué ocurre al final con la trama del Tensorado. Sin duda, este está siendo mi mejor marzo asiático =)

mary_soon_lee's review

4.0

This is the third of Yang's Tensorate novellas, which I would classify as silkpunk science fantasy, if I had to pin a label on them. It's very well written. Yang succeeded fully at making me care about their characters, and this despite the fact that the story is largely conveyed via official reports, interview transcripts, and diary entries.

Spoiler

The voice of the piece is clear and damning, menace building as we gradually learn more and more. It reminded me of the feeling I had as a child when I read "The Hound of the Baskervilles" -- something about the combination of the precise diction with a sense of dread. Although the novella avoids wallowing in the unfolding horror, it is grim. I didn't precisely enjoy it, but

I found it compelling, intelligent, distinctive, and original.

About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).