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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
The most whimsical and wonderful book I've read in a long time! This book will have you thinking for a long time; there are so many layers of meaning. I'm still trying to piece it all together. Yan Ge is a magnificent writer, and Jeremy Tiang the best translator I have read from.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Very whimsical and unique, the chapters work as short stories that all end up interconnected. Some parts are a bit confusing but the more you read the more it makes sense. Otherwise the confusion of some aspects adds to the mystery of the world and beasts themselves. I also enjoyed the ending, it really brought the story to a satisfying conclusion that felt meaningful and thematic.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Confusing and shifting but in a wonderful way. No matter where you think a story is going, you will be surprised.
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Audiobook |
Not my cup of tea at all. Awkward narration.
Choppy weird stories and a lot of whining.
Not my cup of tea at all. Awkward narration.
Choppy weird stories and a lot of whining.
Really really enjoyed this one! The weaving of all the main characters’ stories with the mystical beasts each chapter, the romances, mysteries connections between them. Overall a very great read!
I couldn't even begin to summarise this, and I'm not even sure what I thought about this.
It does deliver on the promise of strange beasts. I think unfortunately the translation may have taken away from the prose, as both dialogue and other passages seemed very stilted at times. This was especially jarring as most of the characters were extremely melodramatic, but the narrator's matter-of-fact style delivered a strange contrast indeed.
Overall it was pleasant, but almost lost me a few times.
It does deliver on the promise of strange beasts. I think unfortunately the translation may have taken away from the prose, as both dialogue and other passages seemed very stilted at times. This was especially jarring as most of the characters were extremely melodramatic, but the narrator's matter-of-fact style delivered a strange contrast indeed.
Overall it was pleasant, but almost lost me a few times.
Really wanted to love this one but the plot was difficult to follow at times. And the writing/translation were jarring.
This book was very different from what I have been reading, and I really enjoyed it. I sometimes found it difficult to follow the events and conclusions of the narrator. Overall though each beast's story was captivating, and I could have happily gone on reading another 500 pages.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated