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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
The Tiger and the Wolf took me a long time to read: nearly eight weeks. Even for a book of ~600 pages, this is a long time for me. Part of the reason it took so long is because I read it in fits and starts, a dozen pages here, a hundred there, in and around all of the other things I've read since mid-December. I even forgot I had the book a couple of times. Usually, this is bad news for a book in my possession.
So why did I give it four stars?
Well, for one, the world building is amazing. The Crown of the World is richly detailed in its landscape and multiple cultures and religious beliefs make this feel like a real place. It's one of the most fully realized fantasy worlds I've read.
Second, the prose is very good, even elegant at times. Tchaikovsky's descriptions, especially, are lovely, and add to instead of detract from the magic of the book.
Third, the plot is intricate, featuring a dozen or so main characters, with three or four POV characters, all with their own well-developed and complex motivations and desires - and fears. Of everyone, I thought Maniye, the main main character, was the least developed. She spends much of the story reacting and running - but then, she's a quiet, abused person at the beginning, so in many ways her actions are realistic. And she is by no means a weak character.
Last night, after I'd finished the book, I lay awake wondering if there was any part of the plot that was unnecessary. I don't think so. Although it may not seem like it at first, all of the threads come together in the last scene in a satisfying way, and without what came before, the ending wouldn't make sense.
It seemed odd to me that it took so long to finish this book. Usually, if I forget I'm reading a book, it drifts to my DNF and that's it. I think the fact that I kept returning to it says a lot, actually. It doesn't grip you and drag you along; it's a slow burn. I found I remembered what had been happening even if it had been a couple of weeks between reads, which made it easy to return to reading it.
I wonder if this isn't just one of those books you either have to read in a dramatic sprint, or slowly. I went with the latter option, but I don't regret that. In fact, I've added the sequels to my TBR.
So why did I give it four stars?
Well, for one, the world building is amazing. The Crown of the World is richly detailed in its landscape and multiple cultures and religious beliefs make this feel like a real place. It's one of the most fully realized fantasy worlds I've read.
Second, the prose is very good, even elegant at times. Tchaikovsky's descriptions, especially, are lovely, and add to instead of detract from the magic of the book.
Third, the plot is intricate, featuring a dozen or so main characters, with three or four POV characters, all with their own well-developed and complex motivations and desires - and fears. Of everyone, I thought Maniye, the main main character, was the least developed. She spends much of the story reacting and running - but then, she's a quiet, abused person at the beginning, so in many ways her actions are realistic. And she is by no means a weak character.
Last night, after I'd finished the book, I lay awake wondering if there was any part of the plot that was unnecessary. I don't think so. Although it may not seem like it at first, all of the threads come together in the last scene in a satisfying way, and without what came before, the ending wouldn't make sense.
It seemed odd to me that it took so long to finish this book. Usually, if I forget I'm reading a book, it drifts to my DNF and that's it. I think the fact that I kept returning to it says a lot, actually. It doesn't grip you and drag you along; it's a slow burn. I found I remembered what had been happening even if it had been a couple of weeks between reads, which made it easy to return to reading it.
I wonder if this isn't just one of those books you either have to read in a dramatic sprint, or slowly. I went with the latter option, but I don't regret that. In fact, I've added the sequels to my TBR.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This is a slow burn tale of a young girl's coming of age journey set amidst a harsh landscape and an even harder world. Young Maniye is 14 years old and lives in a world where people belong to different animal totems and, as such, are divided into clans based on whatever animal form they can shift into. She is the offspring of a non-consensual mating between the Chief of one of the wolf tribes and the Queen of the tiger tribe. As a result, Maniye can shift into both animals which is a rarity in this world. Unwilling to be a pawn in the schemes of her uncaring father - in addition to always being an outcast in her own village, Maniye decides to flee believing that any other life would be better than the one she has.
The rest of the story is pretty much Maniye running from one point of danger to another. It does feel tedious in some spots and, I'm not going to lie, the whole book probably could've been cut down by about 100 pages or so, but I still found it to be an overall enjoyable read. Maniye is much less annoying than most literary characters her age. The harsh and often violent world in which she lives has not afforded her the luxury of developing any sense of entitlement or annoying (and false) bravado so common to her peers. And it was interesting to meet some of the other clans she encounters in her journey. There are some interesting and entertaining characters along the way.
While Maniye's story is the central one, the book also offers up a second POV character in Asmander. A southern native, he has journeyed into the unfamiliar territories of Maniye's northern landscape on a mission for his father as well as his Prince. Asmander has something of his own personal journey as well though it's clear that this will be continued in the next book.
I enjoyed the author's writing style. There is a certain languid elegance about it that calls to mind the writings of [a:Guy Gavriel Kay|60177|Guy Gavriel Kay|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1218804723p2/60177.jpg]...and that's certainly a good thing in my opinion. Plus, what a gorgeous cover! This was my first book by this author but it certainly won't be my last.
The rest of the story is pretty much Maniye running from one point of danger to another. It does feel tedious in some spots and, I'm not going to lie, the whole book probably could've been cut down by about 100 pages or so, but I still found it to be an overall enjoyable read. Maniye is much less annoying than most literary characters her age. The harsh and often violent world in which she lives has not afforded her the luxury of developing any sense of entitlement or annoying (and false) bravado so common to her peers. And it was interesting to meet some of the other clans she encounters in her journey. There are some interesting and entertaining characters along the way.
While Maniye's story is the central one, the book also offers up a second POV character in Asmander. A southern native, he has journeyed into the unfamiliar territories of Maniye's northern landscape on a mission for his father as well as his Prince. Asmander has something of his own personal journey as well though it's clear that this will be continued in the next book.
I enjoyed the author's writing style. There is a certain languid elegance about it that calls to mind the writings of [a:Guy Gavriel Kay|60177|Guy Gavriel Kay|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1218804723p2/60177.jpg]...and that's certainly a good thing in my opinion. Plus, what a gorgeous cover! This was my first book by this author but it certainly won't be my last.
Let's call it 3.5 stars.
The world is absolutely fascinating, and I often found myself more interested in learning about the various cultures and history than I was in the actual story and conflict, which feature some pretty universal themes like revenge, power, personal agency, and familial bonds.
I thought the story was sometimes lost in all the fighting and the world building though - the pacing occasionally stuttered, and I felt like there was an awful lot of battling and being swept along - especially in Maniye's case, which bothered me, since Tchaikovsky has created some really fantastic female characters. But when it came to Maniye, it felt like she was often at the mercy of a powerful and mostly male cast, which was a bit disappointing.
The world is absolutely fascinating, and I often found myself more interested in learning about the various cultures and history than I was in the actual story and conflict, which feature some pretty universal themes like revenge, power, personal agency, and familial bonds.
I thought the story was sometimes lost in all the fighting and the world building though - the pacing occasionally stuttered, and I felt like there was an awful lot of battling and being swept along - especially in Maniye's case, which bothered me, since Tchaikovsky has created some really fantastic female characters. But when it came to Maniye, it felt like she was often at the mercy of a powerful and mostly male cast, which was a bit disappointing.
Personal rating - 4.5 stars
This is an epic fantasy about tribes of shapeshifters. I loved the world building in this and the attention to detail on how the different tribes interact with each other! Definitely continuing with he series!
This is an epic fantasy about tribes of shapeshifters. I loved the world building in this and the attention to detail on how the different tribes interact with each other! Definitely continuing with he series!
I’m pretty sure anyone who I’ve ever interacted with this year has heard me talk about this book
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 Really fun concept. I was put off by how repetitive the middle of the book was. But the ending was great and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
I have a soft spot for stories about disparaged youths of mixed heritage finding a new place in the world, and this book really delivers on that front. Protagonist Maniye is the child of a detestably callous and cruel Wolf chief and the Tiger Queen he had murdered just after Maniye was born. It's a recipe for a miserable life that only gets worse when Maniye's father reveals his plans for her, and so she makes a gambit and begins a long, panicked, eventful flight across her continent's north.
A lot of this book is a series of flights from one place to another, with Maniye needing to outwit or outlast enemies and make it to the leg barely-planned leg of her journey with the help of strange or unexpected allies. There's an interesting mix of characters with a variety of relationships and backgrounds, all of whom, in some way or another, end up impacting Maniye's journey as she struggles to reconcile the Tiger and Wolf spirits that both inhabit her. It's a compelling and exciting read, and the constant motion makes the book feel a lot shorter than it is.
I quite enjoyed the world, too, which is something Tchaikovsky has always been good at in my eye. Everyone in the world has an animal totem they can transform into, and the different groups interact meaningfully - Wolves prey cruelly on Boar and Deer, the bonds of Horse and Coyote trade secure peace throughout the north, Dragon and Crocodile people from the south travel the lands seeking mercenaries, and Serpents traverse the lands seeking wisdom. There's a fair amount of brutality - not just murder but ritual sacrifice, a few different kinds of cannibalism, and obliquely-referenced sexual violence as well. It's a cruel world, and seeing Maniye contend with some of its worst elements is both nerve-wracking and, where she succeeds, deeply satisfying.
There are gods and magic to be found here, too, and done in a really interesting and internal way. For a lot of the book I wasn't even sure if these gods were real in any way, or for that matter if magic was a thing - characters feel a great deal of spiritual influence, but that influence has precious little obvious impact on the material world. The story slowly peels back the spiritual layers of the world, though, until finally it all comes together and starts to make sense.
My only complaint is that the sequel hasn't yet been published in a paperback format that matches the dimensions of my copy of this book. I'd like them to look neat on my shelves! But that's all I have to say on the negative front - I really enjoyed reading about Maniye's journey and the world she lives in, and am avidly anticipating the sequel.
A lot of this book is a series of flights from one place to another, with Maniye needing to outwit or outlast enemies and make it to the leg barely-planned leg of her journey with the help of strange or unexpected allies. There's an interesting mix of characters with a variety of relationships and backgrounds, all of whom, in some way or another, end up impacting Maniye's journey as she struggles to reconcile the Tiger and Wolf spirits that both inhabit her. It's a compelling and exciting read, and the constant motion makes the book feel a lot shorter than it is.
I quite enjoyed the world, too, which is something Tchaikovsky has always been good at in my eye. Everyone in the world has an animal totem they can transform into, and the different groups interact meaningfully - Wolves prey cruelly on Boar and Deer, the bonds of Horse and Coyote trade secure peace throughout the north, Dragon and Crocodile people from the south travel the lands seeking mercenaries, and Serpents traverse the lands seeking wisdom. There's a fair amount of brutality - not just murder but ritual sacrifice, a few different kinds of cannibalism, and obliquely-referenced sexual violence as well. It's a cruel world, and seeing Maniye contend with some of its worst elements is both nerve-wracking and, where she succeeds, deeply satisfying.
There are gods and magic to be found here, too, and done in a really interesting and internal way. For a lot of the book I wasn't even sure if these gods were real in any way, or for that matter if magic was a thing - characters feel a great deal of spiritual influence, but that influence has precious little obvious impact on the material world. The story slowly peels back the spiritual layers of the world, though, until finally it all comes together and starts to make sense.
My only complaint is that the sequel hasn't yet been published in a paperback format that matches the dimensions of my copy of this book. I'd like them to look neat on my shelves! But that's all I have to say on the negative front - I really enjoyed reading about Maniye's journey and the world she lives in, and am avidly anticipating the sequel.