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jairey's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
3.25
emmac11's review against another edition
too slow, didn't like the characters
I liked the concept though
I liked the concept though
karireads's review
adventurous
slow-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
4.0
agathag's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mokiethe_dog34's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was challenging to read, but in no way do I feel it deserves anything less than the highest praise. In spite of its lengthy detail and complex world, not once while reading The Tiger and the Wolf was I ever bored. Every single page I was completely invested and fascinated by each turning event.
The book is hard to criticise thanks to its incredible writing, which is hard to describe in any way other than the fact that it works. It just works. It is not beautiful, nor terribly concise, but it does emerse the reader in a world so different from ours in a splendid way.
In agreement with Paul Cornell, The Tiger and the Wolf, is “a pusher of boundaries”. I wouldn’t recommend it for those looking for something simple, rather the people who wish to experience how far a fantasy novel can truly extend its limits while easily remaining within human understanding.
Spoilers(very minor) ahead.
An example of this would be when the MC, Maniye, made the point that the people of the wolf were not humans who could change into wolves, they were the wolves, just the same as they were human. Later, we find that when they die, they retire as wolves. This concept of having two forms of being is consistently a difficult matter to understand, yet the author does a magnificent job of describing it in a way that’s easy and fascinating. And for this, among everything else, The Tiger and the Wolf really was a good book.
The book is hard to criticise thanks to its incredible writing, which is hard to describe in any way other than the fact that it works. It just works. It is not beautiful, nor terribly concise, but it does emerse the reader in a world so different from ours in a splendid way.
In agreement with Paul Cornell, The Tiger and the Wolf, is “a pusher of boundaries”. I wouldn’t recommend it for those looking for something simple, rather the people who wish to experience how far a fantasy novel can truly extend its limits while easily remaining within human understanding.
Spoilers(very minor) ahead.
An example of this would be when the MC, Maniye, made the point that the people of the wolf were not humans who could change into wolves, they were the wolves, just the same as they were human. Later, we find that when they die, they retire as wolves. This concept of having two forms of being is consistently a difficult matter to understand, yet the author does a magnificent job of describing it in a way that’s easy and fascinating. And for this, among everything else, The Tiger and the Wolf really was a good book.
sina_tavousi's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
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
4.5
selinadragonair's review against another edition
3.0
Human Clans who could transform into their animal totem at will sounded like a really cool concept - which it is -, the execution and the pace of the story however were not ideal. I'm saying that the first half of the book could be summed up in a few pages. Most of the story consists of running, fighting, more running, taken captive, getting freed, running and more fighting. Repeat. I guess it is only natural for animals, but they are not mere animals. Still, there was not enough on the human side to engange with.
The second half picks up the pace and the end was finally quite satisfying.
For me the story is wrapped up well enough and I don't see the need to continue with the series.
The second half picks up the pace and the end was finally quite satisfying.
For me the story is wrapped up well enough and I don't see the need to continue with the series.
thebookheap12's review against another edition
this was just too slow for me and was putting me into a reading slump
anonymous_blobfish's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
God bless the power of audiobooks otherwise not sure I would have finished this one.
I found this book to be confused. Not confusing - the story wasn’t complex enough for this to be a high-fantasy head scratcher - but confused, like it had a bunch of identity crises in the making and this was the result. The plot was flimsy at best, the action sequences epic but far too numerous, the characters interesting and yet unfinished feeling, it went for easily 100-200 pages more than it needed to (largely because of those gratuitous action sequences in lieu of conflict development/resolution) - it was just a mess.
I also spent much of this book feeling a bit uncomfortable with some of the characterisations. Maybe I’m becoming overly sensitive as I try to check my white privilege at the door but it just felt a little appropriative to me and some of the language just didn’t sit right. I’m not sure if anything was overt and again it might not actually be a thing (not a single review I could find mentioned it) but a great many things just gave me a gentle ick.
Finally, and I cannot stress this enough… the characters are animal shifters right? Like bear and wolf and snake and tiger… and they have champion mode right? Which is like super saiyin shifter Pokémon evolution… and the crocodile guys champion shifter has “large sickle shaped claws”, is bipedal, fast and scaly… a velociraptor….????? Also maybe he can also go pterodactyl???? Please someone make it make sense!
All of this criticism aside, I didn’t dislike this book. It was an overall enjoyable experience, if nothing life altering. I would consider reading the other books in this series out of curiosity if my library ever gets them or if I can find them cheap secondhand but otherwise I’m fine letting this series go free into the world for others to enjoy.
I found this book to be confused. Not confusing - the story wasn’t complex enough for this to be a high-fantasy head scratcher - but confused, like it had a bunch of identity crises in the making and this was the result. The plot was flimsy at best, the action sequences epic but far too numerous, the characters interesting and yet unfinished feeling, it went for easily 100-200 pages more than it needed to (largely because of those gratuitous action sequences in lieu of conflict development/resolution) - it was just a mess.
I also spent much of this book feeling a bit uncomfortable with some of the characterisations. Maybe I’m becoming overly sensitive as I try to check my white privilege at the door but it just felt a little appropriative to me and some of the language just didn’t sit right. I’m not sure if anything was overt and again it might not actually be a thing (not a single review I could find mentioned it) but a great many things just gave me a gentle ick.
Finally, and I cannot stress this enough… the characters are animal shifters right? Like bear and wolf and snake and tiger… and they have champion mode right? Which is like super saiyin shifter Pokémon evolution… and the crocodile guys champion shifter has “large sickle shaped claws”, is bipedal, fast and scaly… a velociraptor….????? Also maybe he can also go pterodactyl???? Please someone make it make sense!
All of this criticism aside, I didn’t dislike this book. It was an overall enjoyable experience, if nothing life altering. I would consider reading the other books in this series out of curiosity if my library ever gets them or if I can find them cheap secondhand but otherwise I’m fine letting this series go free into the world for others to enjoy.
birte's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75