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emmalthompson85's review against another edition
5.0
One day, Zanna and Deeba somehow end up in Un Lun Dun, which is much like London only entirely not. They find out that Zanna is the chosen one, and she must destroy the smog...only Zanna doesn't want to so they hand over to the citizens of Un Lun Dun, go home and Zanna's memories are taken. But something doesn't make sense and Deeba can't stop thinking about what's happening in Un Lun Dun.
I found this book wonderfully vivid and imaginative, a great read and it would no doubt make a great movie as it has a good number of visual elements that would work well like that. The opening is a little dull and predictable, we have all the traditional fantasy setup of the chosen one, the evil one who needs defeating, the sidekick, the mentors...and then it all goes to pot and it gets interesting.
Deeba is a wonderful, likeable character who grows a lot during the novel and really comes to find herself. The backdrop for the story is wonderful and imaginative, it made me want to explore Un Lun Dun. I was expecting kind of a city below like Neverwhere but Un Lun Dun is a city beside, I suppose. Kind of like an alternate dimension where it's kind of like London but at the same time very much not. As it's primarily a young adult book the villain is a little flat sometimes, though to it's credit it has reasons for doing what it does beyond "Muwhahaha I'm evil" which is as far as some fantasy gets. The side characters and charming and memorable, like Curdle the milk carton and Bling and Couldron the words. I got to relaly care about a whole host of them and that's another good thing about the book, it isn't afriad to make you feel things.
Deeba as a character is endearing not only in that she's positioned from the outset at the underdog, Zanna's sidekick, but in that she's adorably teenaged. She uses slang like bling and innit and at times just talks like a teenager and wants the things that teenagers want.
So, yeah. The book is aborable, endearing, and has characters you will remember and care about. The world is vivid and interesting. My only big annoyance was I worked out the end reveal about two chapters too early and ended up having to skim read those two chapters, thuogh the fact that once I'd worked it out it made me actually nervous and so full of energy and concern I had to skim read ahead to make sure Deeba worked it out and it was of is a testement to the book. Also, given it's a young adult book my getting the point early isn't unexpected...but yeah. IT's good. Go read it now.
I found this book wonderfully vivid and imaginative, a great read and it would no doubt make a great movie as it has a good number of visual elements that would work well like that. The opening is a little dull and predictable, we have all the traditional fantasy setup of the chosen one, the evil one who needs defeating, the sidekick, the mentors...and then it all goes to pot and it gets interesting.
Deeba is a wonderful, likeable character who grows a lot during the novel and really comes to find herself. The backdrop for the story is wonderful and imaginative, it made me want to explore Un Lun Dun. I was expecting kind of a city below like Neverwhere but Un Lun Dun is a city beside, I suppose. Kind of like an alternate dimension where it's kind of like London but at the same time very much not. As it's primarily a young adult book the villain is a little flat sometimes, though to it's credit it has reasons for doing what it does beyond "Muwhahaha I'm evil" which is as far as some fantasy gets. The side characters and charming and memorable, like Curdle the milk carton and Bling and Couldron the words. I got to relaly care about a whole host of them and that's another good thing about the book, it isn't afriad to make you feel things.
Deeba as a character is endearing not only in that she's positioned from the outset at the underdog, Zanna's sidekick, but in that she's adorably teenaged. She uses slang like bling and innit and at times just talks like a teenager and wants the things that teenagers want.
So, yeah. The book is aborable, endearing, and has characters you will remember and care about. The world is vivid and interesting. My only big annoyance was I worked out the end reveal about two chapters too early and ended up having to skim read those two chapters, thuogh the fact that once I'd worked it out it made me actually nervous and so full of energy and concern I had to skim read ahead to make sure Deeba worked it out and it was of is a testement to the book. Also, given it's a young adult book my getting the point early isn't unexpected...but yeah. IT's good. Go read it now.
yaelaed's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
scheu's review against another edition
5.0
When I started this book, I thought to myself "oh lord, I hope this isn't another _Neverwhere_". I liked Gaiman's novel just fine, but I had in my hand ANOTHER urban fantasy, with a Dave McKean-esque cover, and I didn't think that I could handle it.
Kudos to Mieville for taking my worries and drop-kicking them into the ocean.
There's so much to like about this novel. The protagonist isn't who it seems at first. The level of imagination is astounding (quirky, gentle, but with a definite Mieville flavor). The Norton Juster influence is noticeable but certainly pleasant.
It's just a lot of FUN, without being ponderous or cliche'. I can only really compare it to Clive Barker's Abarat books, which are just as good although pointed in a slightly different, almost parallel direction.
I hope there is no sequel. Let _Un Lun Dun_ be great on its own.
Kudos to Mieville for taking my worries and drop-kicking them into the ocean.
There's so much to like about this novel. The protagonist isn't who it seems at first. The level of imagination is astounding (quirky, gentle, but with a definite Mieville flavor). The Norton Juster influence is noticeable but certainly pleasant.
It's just a lot of FUN, without being ponderous or cliche'. I can only really compare it to Clive Barker's Abarat books, which are just as good although pointed in a slightly different, almost parallel direction.
I hope there is no sequel. Let _Un Lun Dun_ be great on its own.
carolineroche's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. A must for any steampunk or fantasy enthusiast filled with magical illustrations from the author. I particularly loved the binja!
angelinaxng's review against another edition
4.0
The amount of alternative-London(s) literature ([b:Neverwhere|14497|Neverwhere (London Below, #1)|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348747943l/14497._SX50_.jpg|16534], [b:A Darker Shade of Magic|22055262|A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)|V.E. Schwab|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400322851l/22055262._SY75_.jpg|40098252] etc) is truly staggering... something must be in the air for all of them to SLAP. This book was fantastical in a good way and super whimsical, which is something I was in the mood for. China Mieville also has really incredible range (seeing that I wrote my h3 Lit report on The City & The City, a crime fiction novel.... and then he comes out with this fantasy novel which is as good!). Some pretty decent (though fairly obvious) subversions on being a "Chosen One" and stuff. Docking points for: draggy in the middle, fairly obvious at the beginning what was going to happen next, gets repetitive towards the end. Points for: Super detailed descriptions on the fantastical "Un Lun Dun", cute ending, and Hemi the ghost who is my Favourite Character. Okay this is Too Long a reflection but 7.7/10.
margyly's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by Doug Muder as a sort of anti-Harry Potter. I resisted it, because the premise is too much like London Beneath in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, but it got pretty exciting by the second half.
jpark414's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Sometimes great sometimes groan worthy. The pics are on point.
dr_oligo's review against another edition
4.0
Fabulous book. Shades or Neverworld in places but he took it in a terrific direction and demonstrated exceptional imagination in creating a London that isn't London.
tarugani's review against another edition
1.0
I was going to give this book a chance to get better. I was even considering giving Mieville another try to see what all the fuss, or whatever, was about.
But after rolling my eyes for 150 pages you couldn't pay me to read past "Each of the houses, halls, shops, factories, churches, and temples was a core of brick, wood, concrete, or whatever..."
Un Lon Dun, or whatever it's called, by China Miewhateverhisnameis is not worth my time, your time, or whoever's. You're better off reading Neverwhere itself, the 2007 Farmer's Almanac, J.K. Rowling's latest Pottermore post, or whatever.
WHATEVER!
But after rolling my eyes for 150 pages you couldn't pay me to read past "Each of the houses, halls, shops, factories, churches, and temples was a core of brick, wood, concrete, or whatever..."
Un Lon Dun, or whatever it's called, by China Miewhateverhisnameis is not worth my time, your time, or whoever's. You're better off reading Neverwhere itself, the 2007 Farmer's Almanac, J.K. Rowling's latest Pottermore post, or whatever.
WHATEVER!