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indeedithappens's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Self harm, Alcohol, Abandonment, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
foxwish's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
5.0
A brilliant book starring an autistic, non-binary main character named Erigra that enters a relationship with the very determined Ranra.
The prose is excellent, you are thrown straight into the world and concepts are introduced as you go. Magic as a configuration of deep names and the community of ichidi (non-binary people) and their animal tokens were my favourite parts of the world.
Some of the Bird based swearing definitely took me out of the book because phrases like "Pluck it!" seem very silly to me, but swears where "God" is simply replaced with "Bird" are also common in this book and felt more natural to me.
It meant a lot to me to see Erigra struggle with sensory overload and communicating with others, as these are common struggles of autistic people and I loved seeing how they coped with these struggles by going to a place of comfort, tending to plants and creating poetry. I didn't realise before this that reading a book with an excellent autistic character would feel so validating.
The final act of this book impressed me, I did not expect certain plot points to happen and Lemberg had me in awe at the character development. I adored the ending as the themes of hope, community and mental health were combined beautifully.
Trans and autistic characters and experiences are central in this book, if that interests you at all then you should read this.
The prose is excellent, you are thrown straight into the world and concepts are introduced as you go. Magic as a configuration of deep names and the community of ichidi (non-binary people) and their animal tokens were my favourite parts of the world.
Some of the Bird based swearing definitely took me out of the book because phrases like "Pluck it!" seem very silly to me, but swears where "God" is simply replaced with "Bird" are also common in this book and felt more natural to me.
It meant a lot to me to see Erigra struggle with sensory overload and communicating with others, as these are common struggles of autistic people and I loved seeing how they coped with these struggles by going to a place of comfort, tending to plants and creating poetry. I didn't realise before this that reading a book with an excellent autistic character would feel so validating.
The final act of this book impressed me, I did not expect certain plot points to happen and Lemberg had me in awe at the character development. I adored the ending as the themes of hope, community and mental health were combined beautifully.
Trans and autistic characters and experiences are central in this book, if that interests you at all then you should read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Mental illness and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
lbelow's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, and Death of parent
sarrie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg was one of my favorite reads in the first half of the year, and now The Unbalancing has taken up it’s space beside it for this half of the year. The Unbalancing follows two characters as they attempt to find out what is causing the star in the heart of their homeland to tremble with nightmares. The nightmares in fact have begun to disrupt and may possibly destroy this land if they cannot stop them in time.
The important thing to remember about the writing in these books - that I’ve found at least - is that R.B. Lemberg is a poet. That reflects in the style of their prose. It’s beautiful and at times leans to the purple, in the best possible way. It can seem slow to read, but ultimately the world it paints and the characters are intense and very real, with meat on them.
The primary characters of The Unbalancing are deeply flawed and nuanced - one clearly struggles with an unspecified neurodivergence. They are quiet, very introverted, and wants more than anything to keep to their safe spaces. Our other character is the opposite, full of fire and quick action. I loved them both though it took me a good chunk of reading with Ranra, the more outgoing of the two. Erígra was by far my favorite. I deeply felt many of their needs and questions and empathized with them throughout the whole book.
Outside characters from our primary ones were equally as nuanced and fascinating. We get frequent references to Weaves, but in an approachable and very fun ‘Ah Ha!’ kind of way. The story of the Birdverse is also explored and explained in a deeper way. From the idea of who Bird is to the seven stars and who they were before they were brought to the world. That itself was heartbreaking, the realizations behind those stars.
Ultimately this book felt to me - and I think it’s one that will feel and hit different for a lot of people - to be a lot about beginnings and endings. Finding out truths about yourself and others. One of the biggest themes for me was also Failure. How to carry failure, and carry pain. The book is heavy at times, Erígra is attempting to learn just who they are and how they identify. Ranra is struggling with a history of abuse from her mother, who suffers from an ‘illness of the mind’. Their world is literally being destroyed at the same time as they’re trying to sort these things out (something the book touches on, when is the right time to find oneself or take care of yourself). So don’t expect a light read.
I adored it. I wish I could break down every theme and character, but I would get lost in the weeds and truly - I’m still sorting them out in my own head. I loved this and deeply recommend it if you want a heavier, more intense read that really grapples with a lot of themes.
The important thing to remember about the writing in these books - that I’ve found at least - is that R.B. Lemberg is a poet. That reflects in the style of their prose. It’s beautiful and at times leans to the purple, in the best possible way. It can seem slow to read, but ultimately the world it paints and the characters are intense and very real, with meat on them.
The primary characters of The Unbalancing are deeply flawed and nuanced - one clearly struggles with an unspecified neurodivergence. They are quiet, very introverted, and wants more than anything to keep to their safe spaces. Our other character is the opposite, full of fire and quick action. I loved them both though it took me a good chunk of reading with Ranra, the more outgoing of the two. Erígra was by far my favorite. I deeply felt many of their needs and questions and empathized with them throughout the whole book.
Outside characters from our primary ones were equally as nuanced and fascinating. We get frequent references to Weaves, but in an approachable and very fun ‘Ah Ha!’ kind of way. The story of the Birdverse is also explored and explained in a deeper way. From the idea of who Bird is to the seven stars and who they were before they were brought to the world. That itself was heartbreaking, the realizations behind those stars.
Ultimately this book felt to me - and I think it’s one that will feel and hit different for a lot of people - to be a lot about beginnings and endings. Finding out truths about yourself and others. One of the biggest themes for me was also Failure. How to carry failure, and carry pain. The book is heavy at times, Erígra is attempting to learn just who they are and how they identify. Ranra is struggling with a history of abuse from her mother, who suffers from an ‘illness of the mind’. Their world is literally being destroyed at the same time as they’re trying to sort these things out (something the book touches on, when is the right time to find oneself or take care of yourself). So don’t expect a light read.
I adored it. I wish I could break down every theme and character, but I would get lost in the weeds and truly - I’m still sorting them out in my own head. I loved this and deeply recommend it if you want a heavier, more intense read that really grapples with a lot of themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
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