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stephi_lav's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jillie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
“Once we have done the unthinkable, it would be too painful to ever turn back to the light again. Once we have made ourselves into monsters, we shall never again be men.“
This is a phenomenal piece of literature. My first Tchaikovsky and it will not be my last. I love his prose, his characterizations, the way he built this world and how inside of the story he puts us readers.
I don’t even typically enjoy military or political fantasy, but following Emily and her companions as they navigate these new ways of life was engrossing and I couldn’t put it down. Emily is officially one of my favorite characters.
I also applaud Tchaikovsky with how well he wrote her. I don't typically enjoy when male authors write female characters, especially in fantasy. But this was just so incredibly well done and he doesn’t fall into a lot of the common pitfalls other men do.
Yeah, I loved this. Not sure what else to say about it. Definitely pick it up if it’s interested you at all! Can’t wait to read more from this author.
March 2024
This is a phenomenal piece of literature. My first Tchaikovsky and it will not be my last. I love his prose, his characterizations, the way he built this world and how inside of the story he puts us readers.
I don’t even typically enjoy military or political fantasy, but following Emily and her companions as they navigate these new ways of life was engrossing and I couldn’t put it down. Emily is officially one of my favorite characters.
I also applaud Tchaikovsky with how well he wrote her. I don't typically enjoy when male authors write female characters, especially in fantasy. But this was just so incredibly well done and he doesn’t fall into a lot of the common pitfalls other men do.
Yeah, I loved this. Not sure what else to say about it. Definitely pick it up if it’s interested you at all! Can’t wait to read more from this author.
March 2024
jimmer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
karinlib's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this book without knowing anything about it. I thought I would like it, because I have been enjoying Tchaikovsky's works. This book went to a whole other level. I loved it from beginning to end and in the process, I discovered a new subgenre: Flintlock/Gunpowder Fantasy. I think Naomi Novik's Temeraire series and Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell would fit in this subgenre.
Just as the 60's audiences discovered that you could portray social justice through Science Fiction (i.e, Star Trek), and change people's perception of race and gender, written fiction can do the same.
Of the seven books I have read this year by Tchaikovsky, this is by far, my favorite.
Just as the 60's audiences discovered that you could portray social justice through Science Fiction (i.e, Star Trek), and change people's perception of race and gender, written fiction can do the same.
Of the seven books I have read this year by Tchaikovsky, this is by far, my favorite.
adamborst's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, just wow. Very good book. I want to say I enjoyed it, but that's the wrong word, because this is a book that examines through first-person the experience of essentially jungle guerilla warfare. You get the old guard complaining about "how can we meet them on open ground and give a fair fight!!" type of thinking. Another twist of expectations I didn't really think about was that we are in the POV of someone that is coming from a monarchy is the best position and the enemy has started the roots of a democratic republic. There is magic, although not overly much.
The main character goes through so much in this book, it really made me think about her frame of mind during all the things. She didn't really make any "dumb" choices where you'd go, "c'mon Emily, why are you doing that?!" Her choices all make sense for the given situation, and even though some would not have been what we as readers would have done, you can see through the reasons as to why all choices are made.
So very good. I'm 3 / 3 on Tchaikovsky books at this point. He is rocketing up my favorite authors list. Definite recommend, but only if you're in a good headspace as some of the book could possibly bring down your mood.
The main character goes through so much in this book, it really made me think about her frame of mind during all the things. She didn't really make any "dumb" choices where you'd go, "c'mon Emily, why are you doing that?!" Her choices all make sense for the given situation, and even though some would not have been what we as readers would have done, you can see through the reasons as to why all choices are made.
So very good. I'm 3 / 3 on Tchaikovsky books at this point. He is rocketing up my favorite authors list. Definite recommend, but only if you're in a good headspace as some of the book could possibly bring down your mood.
doritobabe's review against another edition
3.0
Update: It has been almost a year (March 2020) and now i feel like finishing this... HMMM
DNF @ ~75% finished.
I just couldn't finish this book. I read it based on two things: the cover made me do it (I am a sucker for this) and some of my favorite Goodreads reviewers rated it 5 stars (!!!). Sounds like a good deal, right? Unfortunately not for me.
Guns of the Dawn is an A/U historical fantasy that follows protagonist Emily Marshwic as she deals with a civil/national war. Her home territory is under invasion from a neighbouring province that just destroyed their monarchy. However, her people have been more than decimated by the demands of war, so much so that there has been a draft extended to the women.
Most of the book takes place BEFORE Emily is drafted (almost 40%) and then from about 41% - 75% (where I left off) Emily is dealing with being a foot soldier in the swamps. I would have finished it if I felt more invested in the characters, but while there were some very interesting secondary characters (cough -- Mallen -- cough) Emily herself and specifically her relationship with others AND how Tchaikovsky writes women *really* bothered me. She was an irrational, unlikeable character - in my humble opinion. The book was also a bit too long to keep my interest. There were several scenes that I felt nothing really happened to further the plot, and ultimately, I am bored and so I will not finish it. Considering I have cruised through another book in about a fraction of the time I have had this novel, I should leave it behind.
DNF @ ~75% finished.
I just couldn't finish this book. I read it based on two things: the cover made me do it (I am a sucker for this) and some of my favorite Goodreads reviewers rated it 5 stars (!!!). Sounds like a good deal, right? Unfortunately not for me.
Guns of the Dawn is an A/U historical fantasy that follows protagonist Emily Marshwic as she deals with a civil/national war. Her home territory is under invasion from a neighbouring province that just destroyed their monarchy. However, her people have been more than decimated by the demands of war, so much so that there has been a draft extended to the women.
Most of the book takes place BEFORE Emily is drafted (almost 40%) and then from about 41% - 75% (where I left off) Emily is dealing with being a foot soldier in the swamps. I would have finished it if I felt more invested in the characters, but while there were some very interesting secondary characters (cough -- Mallen -- cough) Emily herself and specifically her relationship with others AND how Tchaikovsky writes women *really* bothered me. She was an irrational, unlikeable character - in my humble opinion. The book was also a bit too long to keep my interest. There were several scenes that I felt nothing really happened to further the plot, and ultimately, I am bored and so I will not finish it. Considering I have cruised through another book in about a fraction of the time I have had this novel, I should leave it behind.
samuraiellen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nirik's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
4.5
We are not the things we think we are, when we are tested. We do not know how much we lean on others until those props are taken away. On our own feet at last, we are unsteady.
I'm very surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. Emily's journey through this book was so compelling to read. I will say, though, that the last little bit of the book (regarding the romance) wasn't my favourite.
I'm very surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. Emily's journey through this book was so compelling to read. I will say, though, that the last little bit of the book (regarding the romance) wasn't my favourite.
jugglemisterer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ronanbossard's review against another edition
4.0
"how we got here" => first 20% really boring.
An acceptable amount of dead royals and aristocrats.
Austen dumped in Sharpe having some holiday in the jungle.
An acceptable amount of dead royals and aristocrats.
Austen dumped in Sharpe having some holiday in the jungle.