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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is an excellent fantasy - unusual worldbuilding / location, effective pacing, and great characters. The core conflict is explored well in flashbacks and is successful at anchoring the emotional stakes and pulling the plot through the levels of the Tower as Senlin moves upwards. This gives the story a nicely episodic feel, as the situation changes regularly, but on the flip side, there are a number of things that come together at the end that make this feel like a satisfying novel even though the core conflict remains unresolved.
Initially whimsical worldbuilding by the end reveals a compelling internal logic, and all of the character motivations are clear and forceful; the story really moves by the end. All in all, it’s hard to find much fault here! My only real complaint is that one of the main character’s biggest decisions feels like a bit of a stretch that needed more time for him to think it over, but I can squint and see it, and all the rest tracks beautifully. This is pulp entertainment for sure, but it’s excellent pulp entertainment. I look forward to the next.
Initially whimsical worldbuilding by the end reveals a compelling internal logic, and all of the character motivations are clear and forceful; the story really moves by the end. All in all, it’s hard to find much fault here! My only real complaint is that one of the main character’s biggest decisions feels like a bit of a stretch that needed more time for him to think it over, but I can squint and see it, and all the rest tracks beautifully. This is pulp entertainment for sure, but it’s excellent pulp entertainment. I look forward to the next.
Brilliant
Just brilliant. Eighteen more words required to submit this review. Ten more unnecessary words when this book is just brilliant.
Just brilliant. Eighteen more words required to submit this review. Ten more unnecessary words when this book is just brilliant.
listening to these on audio is probably going to be the way to go with this series. bancroft comes up with the most wonderful & whimsical (albeit very dark as well) world within the tower of babel, and has a very descriptive writing style that i have trouble dealing with when physically reading; however, pairing up his narrative with the wonderful voice of the narrator makes the story come alive in a totally different way, it was a very immersive experience. i loved it, and can't wait to finally continue with this series!
I found this enjoyable and if the Tower is ridiculous, well, it's a delightful piece of nonsense. Plus bits are explained, and more might be in the rest of the series. Anyway, it's rollicking fun about a man on his honeymoon who loses his wife in a bustling market and spends the whole book attempting to find her in a vast, impossible Tower of Babel.
adventurous
funny
I had put off reading this for awhile. Tons of people adored it but something about the book description just wasn’t doing it for me. I’m so glad to be utterly wrong. What a ride! It’s nearly break neck for the first half. All sorts of crazy characters and ringdom zaniness left and right. So many great ideas being thrown out almost as an after thought, but it’s obviously a carefully crafted labor of love. It’s just that chock full of ideas!
The second half begins to slow down. A bit too much time in The Baths, frankly, but overall the slowing down didn’t affect the story too negatively. The mystery and plot thickens wonderfully.
*Spoiler-ish: Alas, since this is one part of four, the fate of his wife is pretty obviously not getting solved here. That was part of the problem with The Baths, too. He spent so much time there it seemed kinda obvious he wasn’t gonna find her in this book. But oh well cause it all just made me that much eager to start the next installment!
The second half begins to slow down. A bit too much time in The Baths, frankly, but overall the slowing down didn’t affect the story too negatively. The mystery and plot thickens wonderfully.
*Spoiler-ish: Alas, since this is one part of four, the fate of his wife is pretty obviously not getting solved here. That was part of the problem with The Baths, too. He spent so much time there it seemed kinda obvious he wasn’t gonna find her in this book. But oh well cause it all just made me that much eager to start the next installment!
Great adventure through a quite a journey. Didn't expect to enjoy it this much - looking forward to being second book.