Reviews

will continue reading this series---really enjoyed the characters are their arcs. from mild mannered headmaster to...something else. fun. different. pirates.

halynah's review against another edition

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3.0

In terms of writing - it was an unquestionable five-star read.
As for the plot development - no more than 2 stars, towards the end it became downright ridiculous.

kzimm2024's review

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4.0

I almost dnf'd halfway through. Not because this was written badly, or had poor world building, or sad side characters or lack of imagination. NO. This book is amazing and well written. I was just so conflicted!

3 stars due to wanting to walk away and 5 stars for everything else. 4 is the median.

My emotional response was horror to the events unfolding and it was like a very bloody car wreck with a motorcycle and then a bus slowly crashing in front of me. I wanted to run away and yet felt obligated to continue. It felt a heavy read to me personally, equal parts horror and fascination- what an amazing world, this Tower.

Where was Marya?? Why is man so evil?? The aspect of continually being thwarted weighs on me as a observer. How frustrating, and its a long frustration since it's a long story.

Not to give it away, (some spoilers ahead) but this story is set as if the Tower of Babel existed. Tom ( a School master) and his vivacious young bride travel to the Tower for their honeymoon. Caught completely off-guard by their naivete and the absolute crush of humanity, they become separated almost instantly into this story and we spend the rest of this book following Tom in his journey to find Marya.

We get glimpses as to what is happening to her but it's mostly his POV, tragic that it is. Edith, Turrco (sp?), Opier, Goll, Iren, Adam- all these characters bring either heart wrenching betrayal or tentative trust, which may turn into betrayal. Who knows since man is infinitely evil and weak.

But not Tom. My heart wept with him as he wept when he viewed the paintings of her nude form. He understood that she had to do what she did, but he so regretted that he had not been able to shield her! He also rises to each occasion and I enjoy the bits of humor and irony along the way.

At about 60%, Tom is persuaded to become a Port Master for Goll on the 4th Ring and I found myself really enjoying that part of the story. This whole book is a mystery, layer after layer is peeled back as Tom presents his suspicions to Iren about the Tower with water, fire, steam and electricity. So vastly intriguing.

I loved the excerpts from the travel guide and we see as those quotes end and they become quotes from Tom (Senlin). Really a fabulous story. I am ready for a palette cleanser, something light and meaningless, before I think about returning to this world.