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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a toughie to review. On the one hand it was deeply fascinating. It covered a whole host of themes before we dive into the octopus of it all, in particular AI and what it means to be a conscious being. But throw in identity, autonomy, environmental impact and on and on. I was impressed at the depth and breadth, truly.
Buuuut was it a good story? That’s harder. The characters were fine, but pretty much barely. You never get a really good sense of them. You’re more TOLD who they are rather than discovering or experiencing it. Honestly Elvrim deserves its own whole novel. Same for Altantsetseg.
It was quieter than I expected, although that’s on me. And for a book about Octopuses it really wasn’t as focused on that as I figured it would. It’s certainly the central idea but there was plenty of other stuff to distract, for good or bad.
But I really enjoyed this strange and beguiling book. Such an intriguing concept. It lacked a definitive personality, with curiosity taking a front seat instead, but it was well written enough to get away with it. Definitely recommend.
Buuuut was it a good story? That’s harder. The characters were fine, but pretty much barely. You never get a really good sense of them. You’re more TOLD who they are rather than discovering or experiencing it. Honestly Elvrim deserves its own whole novel. Same for Altantsetseg.
It was quieter than I expected, although that’s on me. And for a book about Octopuses it really wasn’t as focused on that as I figured it would. It’s certainly the central idea but there was plenty of other stuff to distract, for good or bad.
But I really enjoyed this strange and beguiling book. Such an intriguing concept. It lacked a definitive personality, with curiosity taking a front seat instead, but it was well written enough to get away with it. Definitely recommend.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Such an interesting read. Centred on the concept of consciousness, ranging from human to alternative biological species to AI.
A rich and harsh world, in a future comprising of the clash between technological development and the tendency for humans to corrupt. The latter winning out, turning the former into a sharpened tool for exploitation. A variety of POVs, all complex and believable.
Intelligent and often quotable writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Up my alley in so many ways
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes