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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Really interesting adventure book, excellent character work, steampunk odyssey meets the royal scam
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Steam punk never really interested me - I guess I shied away from what I thought would be a stuffy Victorian culture in a Universe that artificially limited its own technological advancement. However, "Senlin Ascends" grabbed me with a modern Bilbo Baggins coming-of-character story. While the protagonist's key characteristics probably evolve a tad too quickly, the colorful characters and world that Bancroft produces are thought-provoking, emotionally complex, and imaginative. The story does end on a cliff hanger, which is a pet-peeve of mine, but the quality of the novel was just good enough for me to forgive that slight.
I don't feel like I can adequately rate this novel because it clearly works well for others, it just seems to be the perfect combination that doesn't work at all for me. While I would say I read the whole book, I definitely skimmed the last 60%.
The prose is slightly flowery in a way that didn't make me appreciate the lovely writing but instead made the story drag.
I didn't care at all for the main character, even after he gets more accustomed to the tower life (and while the side characters apparently get fleshed out in further books, they're just kind of there in this one).
The setting is interesting but not enough was done with it. In a place that cultures from all over can meet and communicate, it's a bit disappointing that everyone the reader encounters would fit neatly in a vaguely Victorian society.
The politics of the tower didn't hold my attention.
It was a struggle to finish this novel which makes me sad as a lot of people really do love it and I wish I did too. I've seen numerous reviews mention the rest of the series is better, but I'll be bowing out here.
The prose is slightly flowery in a way that didn't make me appreciate the lovely writing but instead made the story drag.
I didn't care at all for the main character, even after he gets more accustomed to the tower life (and while the side characters apparently get fleshed out in further books, they're just kind of there in this one).
The setting is interesting but not enough was done with it. In a place that cultures from all over can meet and communicate, it's a bit disappointing that everyone the reader encounters would fit neatly in a vaguely Victorian society.
The politics of the tower didn't hold my attention.
It was a struggle to finish this novel which makes me sad as a lot of people really do love it and I wish I did too. I've seen numerous reviews mention the rest of the series is better, but I'll be bowing out here.
Tom Senlin joins some of my favorite protagonists of all time in fantasy - Bilbo Baggins, Kvothe, Harry Potter… I can’t wait for the next adventure.
WOW. wow wow wow wow.
god this was good.
this was perhaps one of the most creative books i have ever read. from the very start, when Senlin and his wife are on the train headed to the Tower, i immediately felt like i was in a completely different world. and that feeling never went away.
following Senlin through the various levels of the Tower was so thrilling and inventive. i was constantly rooting for him to find his wife and constantly cursing the people standing in his way while also being so impressed at how well-fleshed out this world and these characters are.
oddly, i don't know if i will be picking up the following books in this series. though this book did end up unresolved and on a cliffhanger, i for some reason feel like i don't need any more? this was just such a perfect little book that i don't want that to possibly get tarnished by any second-book syndrome. that is also mostly why i am knocking off a star- there was something keeping me from fully connecting and caring about the fates of all the characters. who knows, though? i definitely might still read it someday.
4 stars for an inventive world and a thrilling read.
god this was good.
this was perhaps one of the most creative books i have ever read. from the very start, when Senlin and his wife are on the train headed to the Tower, i immediately felt like i was in a completely different world. and that feeling never went away.
following Senlin through the various levels of the Tower was so thrilling and inventive. i was constantly rooting for him to find his wife and constantly cursing the people standing in his way while also being so impressed at how well-fleshed out this world and these characters are.
oddly, i don't know if i will be picking up the following books in this series. though this book did end up unresolved and on a cliffhanger, i for some reason feel like i don't need any more? this was just such a perfect little book that i don't want that to possibly get tarnished by any second-book syndrome. that is also mostly why i am knocking off a star- there was something keeping me from fully connecting and caring about the fates of all the characters. who knows, though? i definitely might still read it someday.
4 stars for an inventive world and a thrilling read.
I have very mixed feelings about this one. In the beginning i even wondered if i should just abandon it, but more towards the end i just wanted to know how it ends. Not until the very last pages i had in mind 2* set on it. I just really hope that next book in series justifies 3* rating i give it today.
Different and unique with a dark vibe similar to that of steampunk, although a little anticlimactic.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced