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fenchurch's review
5.0
Heartbreaking.
I write about the vast mauve-shadowed canyons that appear only at dusk, about the nameless animals that leave behind golden scales and silver feathers, about the stars that shift their pearled patterns every night. Those pages I burn in the evenings, translating them into the cryptic language of ash and char.
***
And, in the end, to be granted a lonely grace. To be freed, and know the cost of it.
I write about the vast mauve-shadowed canyons that appear only at dusk, about the nameless animals that leave behind golden scales and silver feathers, about the stars that shift their pearled patterns every night. Those pages I burn in the evenings, translating them into the cryptic language of ash and char.
***
And, in the end, to be granted a lonely grace. To be freed, and know the cost of it.
ellyrarg's review against another edition
4.0
What a breath of fresh air this was. Too short, I wish there was more. But it was heart wrenching and you’re easily drawn in (which is what all stories really aspire to do, have you walk with their characters as they wander into conflict and puzzles and break free again, growing and changing and becoming something else). Loved the wild land, cried at Iras gift. Hated Clayton, as appropriate. Wish there was more of this to devour.
bethtabler's review against another edition
5.0
Oona is a traitor. Born to a westerner woman and an easterner man, she already lived upon the dividing line of two worlds and considered a half-breed child, not enough of either land to be claimed by it. Now she is a mapmaker, and in her native language, a mapmaker means a traitor.
Imagine two worlds, on one side, The East, where the land is claimed and calm. Mountains stay where they are supposed to, rivers do not wind, and bend to patterns of their devising. The West is wild and free. Dangerous and magical. Of course, the people of the East want to claim and conquer the land of the West.
Oona and her brother Ira, son of another lover of her mothers, are trying to make it on their own. Ira is struck down with tuberculosis. Oona must care for him. So Oona becomes a mapmaker. She helps define a path for an Eastern-based company, Great Eastern River Company, that wants to explore and conquer the land. Oona, as a mapmaker, can calm the wildness of the land. The company knows this, so they yoke her to their cause by the love she has for her brother. How will Oona survive the two worlds that are slowly tearing her apart?
Harrow writes with beauty and a keen understanding of the power of words and language. Her narrative is melodic and almost lyrical. She writes as if she is describing the warring of the lands and the wildness of the WestWest in poetry. It is magical. I love that she took the idea of Western expansion and manifest destiny and turned it on its ear.
You can try and manifest your destiny, but what if the land fights back and does not want to be tamed?
Imagine two worlds, on one side, The East, where the land is claimed and calm. Mountains stay where they are supposed to, rivers do not wind, and bend to patterns of their devising. The West is wild and free. Dangerous and magical. Of course, the people of the East want to claim and conquer the land of the West.
Oona and her brother Ira, son of another lover of her mothers, are trying to make it on their own. Ira is struck down with tuberculosis. Oona must care for him. So Oona becomes a mapmaker. She helps define a path for an Eastern-based company, Great Eastern River Company, that wants to explore and conquer the land. Oona, as a mapmaker, can calm the wildness of the land. The company knows this, so they yoke her to their cause by the love she has for her brother. How will Oona survive the two worlds that are slowly tearing her apart?
Harrow writes with beauty and a keen understanding of the power of words and language. Her narrative is melodic and almost lyrical. She writes as if she is describing the warring of the lands and the wildness of the WestWest in poetry. It is magical. I love that she took the idea of Western expansion and manifest destiny and turned it on its ear.
You can try and manifest your destiny, but what if the land fights back and does not want to be tamed?
kumipaul's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Little short fantasy story of half-breed Oona the mapmaker and her white employer (more like captor or kidnapper). Not surprisingly, Oona is emotionally abused by the employer and incapable of escaping without causing harm to her family. Ultimately she calls upon the spirits for help, and since it's only a 30 minute read you'll have to see for yourself what ensued. Very cool, descriptive language in the writing, and even the 18 footnotes are pretty interesting.
asia_b's review against another edition
5.0
This was so beautiful?? And creative?? Such an intriguing take on the western conquest and the job of map making (said by someone who has absolutely zero interest in the topic).
Perfect short read to get out of a reading slump or simply enjoy a dark, broody, whimsical tale.
Perfect short read to get out of a reading slump or simply enjoy a dark, broody, whimsical tale.
xoxo333's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-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? No
5.0
Perfect in every way. Absolutely heartbreaking
wanderlustlover's review against another edition
4.0
Winter 2021 (January);
The last of my pieces to knock off my [a:Alix E. Harrow|9823112|Alix E. Harrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1605188394p2/9823112.jpg] backlist (until [b:A Spindle Splintered|49187294|A Spindle Splintered|Alix E. Harrow|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|74636201] publishes, of course). Harrow's writing has been lush since her beginnings, and getting to see this restyle of time (and insertion of the 'mapmakers' and just what 'mapmaking' entails in her world) was such a gorgeous gift. I pulled a number of pieces out of this one and am so sad to be at the end of my All Harrow Writing Quest.
The last of my pieces to knock off my [a:Alix E. Harrow|9823112|Alix E. Harrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1605188394p2/9823112.jpg] backlist (until [b:A Spindle Splintered|49187294|A Spindle Splintered|Alix E. Harrow|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|74636201] publishes, of course). Harrow's writing has been lush since her beginnings, and getting to see this restyle of time (and insertion of the 'mapmakers' and just what 'mapmaking' entails in her world) was such a gorgeous gift. I pulled a number of pieces out of this one and am so sad to be at the end of my All Harrow Writing Quest.
laialore's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0