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bettysbookishworld's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
This book was awful! I truly hated it even though I was so excited to start this series and I really wanted to be enjoy this one.
Let's start with what I liked about it. The book worldbuilding is based on Tower of Babel where each floor is a completely different world with different rules, and societies. The only thing that was certain was that the world is cruel and Senlin shouldn't trust anyone. I loved the idea and the author gets the credit.
Although, that's probably it. The whole execution was truly bad with the worst main character. Senlin was a British academic who had a lot of knowledge, particularly about Tower of Babel. He was very arrogant, full of himself and when it came to action, totally useless. He didn't have any drive to him, the whole plot just happened to him and there wasn't any driving force. His only motivation was finding his wife. And I do have a problem here, too. I didn't believe he loved her and he married her just because he had to marry someone. When Senlin talked about Marya, it always felt like he was talking about his favourite possession and not about a person he is supposed to be in love with. I didn't believe any emotion expressed by him as their whole marriage felt so superficial. Also, his descriptions of her were just sexist and dumb. In conclusion, I didn't buy it.
Apart from the main character and his marriage, the plot progression was just plain boring. Nothing happened. And when finally something exciting started happening, Senlin was very passive about it and eventually, I got bored again. I really think it was such of waste of opportunity because the world could be so intriguing.
The whole book Senlin is trying to find his lost wife but you know what got me? At the end of it, he still doesn't have any proper clue where she is and she's still missing! What was the point of it then? To only find a trustworthy crew for Senlin so he can finally start properly looking for her? Why was this book so long then?
I'm honestly disappointed as I had such big expectations that I would like it. I won't continue the series and I wouldn't recommend this one either.
Let's start with what I liked about it. The book worldbuilding is based on Tower of Babel where each floor is a completely different world with different rules, and societies. The only thing that was certain was that the world is cruel and Senlin shouldn't trust anyone. I loved the idea and the author gets the credit.
Although, that's probably it. The whole execution was truly bad with the worst main character. Senlin was a British academic who had a lot of knowledge, particularly about Tower of Babel. He was very arrogant, full of himself and when it came to action, totally useless. He didn't have any drive to him, the whole plot just happened to him and there wasn't any driving force. His only motivation was finding his wife. And I do have a problem here, too. I didn't believe he loved her and he married her just because he had to marry someone. When Senlin talked about Marya, it always felt like he was talking about his favourite possession and not about a person he is supposed to be in love with. I didn't believe any emotion expressed by him as their whole marriage felt so superficial. Also, his descriptions of her were just sexist and dumb. In conclusion, I didn't buy it.
Apart from the main character and his marriage, the plot progression was just plain boring. Nothing happened. And when finally something exciting started happening, Senlin was very passive about it and eventually, I got bored again. I really think it was such of waste of opportunity because the world could be so intriguing.
I'm honestly disappointed as I had such big expectations that I would like it. I won't continue the series and I wouldn't recommend this one either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Trafficking, and Slavery
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
cinhein's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
TW: Human Trafficking, Attempted SA, References to SA, Abduction
I can't really recommend this book as it was a slog to get through. If you do enjoy a main character who is too dumb or scared to do anything about the situation that they're in for four-hundred pages, this book is right up your alley. Otherwise, I'd steer clear.
If the things mentioned in the Content Warning section don't put you off, you'll probably be fine with this. It gets going in the middle and picks up the pace somewhat. However, every time it does so, it quickly brings everything to a screeching stop once again with detailed descriptions of human trafficking and slavery.
I can't really recommend this book as it was a slog to get through. If you do enjoy a main character who is too dumb or scared to do anything about the situation that they're in for four-hundred pages, this book is right up your alley. Otherwise, I'd steer clear.
If the things mentioned in the Content Warning section don't put you off, you'll probably be fine with this. It gets going in the middle and picks up the pace somewhat. However, every time it does so, it quickly brings everything to a screeching stop once again with detailed descriptions of human trafficking and slavery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Slavery
Moderate: Grief, Police brutality, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
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