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lucinda_lesbrarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
gabalodon's review
5.0
Pre-review note: Having finished this, I do highly recommend following Lemberg's suggestion in the About the Birdverse forward re reading some of the short stories before diving into this work. The ones they suggested are a great intro to the world and magic system to give you a good foundation going into this so you can focus on soaking in the characters without getting distracted with the details.
I thought this was so beautiful and powerful and it hit me in so many tender bits. These two protagonists have such a complex journey of identity and discovery, full of false starts and missteps, culminating in an ending that wasn't exactly settled and perfect, but it was full of hope and promise and purpose that they both lacked at the beginning. The undercurrent of autocracy and exploitation and exploring the theme of the neverending cycle of repression and revolution, death and hope, sure made me feel Some Things. Lemberg's world-building, magic system, and imagery are, as always, gorgeous. I really wish there were more full length novels so we could dive deep in some of the other places that come up throughout their stories (am especially interested in this Orphan Star assassin academy...some juicy things going on there for sure).
Looking forward to much more in the Birdverse.
I thought this was so beautiful and powerful and it hit me in so many tender bits. These two protagonists have such a complex journey of identity and discovery, full of false starts and missteps, culminating in an ending that wasn't exactly settled and perfect, but it was full of hope and promise and purpose that they both lacked at the beginning. The undercurrent of autocracy and exploitation and exploring the theme of the neverending cycle of repression and revolution, death and hope, sure made me feel Some Things. Lemberg's world-building, magic system, and imagery are, as always, gorgeous. I really wish there were more full length novels so we could dive deep in some of the other places that come up throughout their stories (am especially interested in this Orphan Star assassin academy...some juicy things going on there for sure).
Looking forward to much more in the Birdverse.
saintburns's review
5.0
This story is indeed profound. A hopeful tale of wanderlust told from the perspective of those who are tired of waiting for their lives to begin. I felt lucky to be able to explore this world and would love to return. This story of light also includes a rich darkness that talks of death and hope. I was given an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
spot_the_book_unicorn's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
s_sheppard18's review
5.0
I'm not sure how to even adequately review The Four Profound Weaves, but I'll give it a shot:
Intense. Lyrical. Atmospheric. Heavy. Hopeful. Layered.
It's kind of the book equivalent of an arthouse film. An unflinching and sometimes dark narrative that delves deep into trans experiences, the meaning of life, and found family. It was beautiful and I loved it.
Intense. Lyrical. Atmospheric. Heavy. Hopeful. Layered.
It's kind of the book equivalent of an arthouse film. An unflinching and sometimes dark narrative that delves deep into trans experiences, the meaning of life, and found family. It was beautiful and I loved it.
karinlib's review
3.0
This is the case of really liking the writing, which is lyrical and dreamlike, but it wasn't quite enough to love the book. The premise was interesting, but the worldbuilding could have better executed. I found that I was a bit confused by the magic system, and yet it had potential to be great.
kleonard's review
5.0
This is a book of great beauty and wit and imagination. In The Four Profound Weaves, R. B. Lemberg crafts a story about growing up and growing old, magic and art, learning and traveling, trusting and transforming. The weaver Uiziya sets out into the desert to to find her aunt, who weaves clothes for assassins from bone, in hopes that her aunt will teach her the last of the Four Profound Weaves: weaving with death. With her travels an unnamed man, who is also looking for a kind of final learning, a name. Lemberg introduces readers to several fascinating cultures and individuals from her Birdverse, whose histories and traditions come together to help a weaver find life and happiness, albeit through betrayal and pain. This is a fabulous, brutal, shimmering queer fairytale but also a story of great truth in terms of identity, gender, sexuality, and sense of self.
cheericrow23's review
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
lostinagoodbook's review
4.0
This book is one of a kind. The writing is fascinating, atmospheric, drenched in culture and personality. It feels completely immersive. The writing is utterly beautiful, and the characters are very memorable.
At the moment I am writing this review we are in the middle of yet another needless controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling, and her inability (or actually unwillingness) to understand Trans people and the hardships that they have to endure. Well screw her. This book reminds me of the need to lift up other voices that will serve the Trans community well, and discard the dross of she who must not be named.
We(I) need to pay more attention to artists like R..B. Lemberg who writes about a dazzling group of people with a spectrum of gender identities and sexuality with compassion and appreciation. They, (meaning the author, I am not sure of the correct pronouns) are insightful and understand marginalized people. Particularly in this book, the lives of Trans people. As said in the book, “It is only in stories that change is easily found”, reflects on the fact that change is a process, that is often painful but can bring joy.
I enjoyed this short book (only 192 pages) and feel that I need to read it again in order to really grasp the things the author was trying to convey. I hope you will like it to.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley
At the moment I am writing this review we are in the middle of yet another needless controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling, and her inability (or actually unwillingness) to understand Trans people and the hardships that they have to endure. Well screw her. This book reminds me of the need to lift up other voices that will serve the Trans community well, and discard the dross of she who must not be named.
We(I) need to pay more attention to artists like R..B. Lemberg who writes about a dazzling group of people with a spectrum of gender identities and sexuality with compassion and appreciation. They, (meaning the author, I am not sure of the correct pronouns) are insightful and understand marginalized people. Particularly in this book, the lives of Trans people. As said in the book, “It is only in stories that change is easily found”, reflects on the fact that change is a process, that is often painful but can bring joy.
I enjoyed this short book (only 192 pages) and feel that I need to read it again in order to really grasp the things the author was trying to convey. I hope you will like it to.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley
theshaggyshepherd's review
4.0
The Four Profound Weaves // by R. B. Lemberg
The only thing I truly dislike about this book is that I waited so long to read it! While I can't pretend that I understood everything about it, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it nonetheless. And it is short enough that I may even agree to a reread just to see how differently it will feel already knowing this world now. Aside from the writing itself, I really liked the presentation. I read this as an ebook but still there were illustrations at the beginning of each section that felt like they helped set the tone.
Something I really admire is how it was able to include so many different things for being such a short book! From having an interesting magic system and approach to transgender and transformation to all the different cultures. In less than 200 pages, it managed to address a multitude of themes, including, but not limited to, body image, identity, spirituality, familial relationships, and responsibilities not only to yourself but also to your family and your society. The unabashed candidness that was reached during the characters' self-reflection has the potential to evoke some big feelings for those inclined to be emotional while reading (I will neither confirm nor deny this regarding myself) and I liked how this not only revealed their inner fears but gave me a chance to confront my own.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to more from this author in the future.
The only thing I truly dislike about this book is that I waited so long to read it! While I can't pretend that I understood everything about it, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it nonetheless. And it is short enough that I may even agree to a reread just to see how differently it will feel already knowing this world now. Aside from the writing itself, I really liked the presentation. I read this as an ebook but still there were illustrations at the beginning of each section that felt like they helped set the tone.
Something I really admire is how it was able to include so many different things for being such a short book! From having an interesting magic system and approach to transgender and transformation to all the different cultures. In less than 200 pages, it managed to address a multitude of themes, including, but not limited to, body image, identity, spirituality, familial relationships, and responsibilities not only to yourself but also to your family and your society. The unabashed candidness that was reached during the characters' self-reflection has the potential to evoke some big feelings for those inclined to be emotional while reading (I will neither confirm nor deny this regarding myself) and I liked how this not only revealed their inner fears but gave me a chance to confront my own.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to more from this author in the future.