Reviews

The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg

ruthorfiction's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

arrkon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.0

This made me cry, but in a good way, a cathartic way. It is poetic yet easy to understand and I found myself and my friends in so many of the characters. Survival will always be a type of success.

aquaflame's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

alymac42's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

anna_hepworth's review against another edition

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

3.5

I really love the world building and some of the ideas explored in this story. I'm a little less sold on the characters, who I found a little too uncanny valley (and I don't think that this is because some of them are neurodiverse), and who didn't seem to really interact with each other in a plausible manner. 

The writing is good, and the magic system well integrated. The belief system was mostly fine -- there was obviously a lot of thought there, and things like the way that the language reflected it was great--but I didn't feel like I quite understood the relationship between the people and their faith. Where the whole story fell down for me is that I didn't find the people, their behaviour, or their motivations convincing. I think it would have been a great play or film, but it didn't work for me as a novel. 

scrow1022's review against another edition

4.0

Beautiful and aching.

ellie8679's review against another edition

3.0

Idk this one just didn’t click, I feel like the books strength was in its characters but the plot was more emphasized. I had trouble following the world building, which was pretty integral to the plot which made it hard to follow at times. Toward the end I kind of was skimming. The representation was amazing though!! It was really great to feel seen

kou_'s review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

gheron's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

theresawonders's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0