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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
It's been a few years now since I reread The Wind Singer as an adult, and I thought I remembered a lot of it. I had to check an online summary though, as it is jam-packed with incident and characters that I had forgotten. Refreshed of that info I was ready to carry on the story.
Set four years after the first book, Kestrel, Bo and Mumpo have settled into peaceful but dissatisfied lives in their now reformed home of Aramanth. The collapse of the city state's extreme meritocracy has led to richer lives but a weakened society. Out of nowhere, slavers from "The Mastery" make a surprise attack on the city, burning it down and enslaving the citizens. Amazingly for a YA book, the violence is brutal and chilling and genuinely upsetting. Kestrel is left behind, while the rest of her family are forced to march to their captor's land.
In The Mastery the citizens mostly settle down, all apart from Bowman and his family. His mother is a prophet and she sees visions of a Homeland for their people. Meanwhile Kestrel has been picked up by a royal caravan from a neighbouring nation, making its way to The Mastery to marry off the young princess Sisi. Her and Kestrel become friends of sorts, and Kestrel is able to reach her family.
Themes from the previous book are present here. Most obviously, the book examines an extreme society. This is one of slaves, bound by the will of their ruler and lulled into docility at first with the threat of violence, and later with comfortable lives. Whereas the last book felt like the society could come from Science Fiction, this one felt biblical; with long marches of enslaved people, a prophet and a promised land.
Dance and movement play a big role too. There are two twin explorations of physical freedom described alongside the chains of captivity. The first is a dance called the Tantaraza which Kestrel performs, the second is a form of combat called Manaxa, which begins as a dance and is described as such throughout. Both offer freedom and culminate is moments of passion.
This book was not so rich with incident as its predecessor - possibly it suffered from the dilemma of the middle book. Whereas before Kestrel and Bo explored wondrous imaginative places and peoples, this book feels anchored to real-life hardships and terrors. Having said that, it was still an engaging and enjoyable read, still with lots to offer. Like the last book, fascinating relationships are explored. They range from being simple and loving to difficult, complicated, unkind and compelling. This is where Nicholson excels and I will definitely be seeing how the story ends.
Set four years after the first book, Kestrel, Bo and Mumpo have settled into peaceful but dissatisfied lives in their now reformed home of Aramanth. The collapse of the city state's extreme meritocracy has led to richer lives but a weakened society. Out of nowhere, slavers from "The Mastery" make a surprise attack on the city, burning it down and enslaving the citizens. Amazingly for a YA book, the violence is brutal and chilling and genuinely upsetting. Kestrel is left behind, while the rest of her family are forced to march to their captor's land.
In The Mastery the citizens mostly settle down, all apart from Bowman and his family. His mother is a prophet and she sees visions of a Homeland for their people. Meanwhile Kestrel has been picked up by a royal caravan from a neighbouring nation, making its way to The Mastery to marry off the young princess Sisi. Her and Kestrel become friends of sorts, and Kestrel is able to reach her family.
Themes from the previous book are present here. Most obviously, the book examines an extreme society. This is one of slaves, bound by the will of their ruler and lulled into docility at first with the threat of violence, and later with comfortable lives. Whereas the last book felt like the society could come from Science Fiction, this one felt biblical; with long marches of enslaved people, a prophet and a promised land.
Dance and movement play a big role too. There are two twin explorations of physical freedom described alongside the chains of captivity. The first is a dance called the Tantaraza which Kestrel performs, the second is a form of combat called Manaxa, which begins as a dance and is described as such throughout. Both offer freedom and culminate is moments of passion.
This book was not so rich with incident as its predecessor - possibly it suffered from the dilemma of the middle book. Whereas before Kestrel and Bo explored wondrous imaginative places and peoples, this book feels anchored to real-life hardships and terrors. Having said that, it was still an engaging and enjoyable read, still with lots to offer. Like the last book, fascinating relationships are explored. They range from being simple and loving to difficult, complicated, unkind and compelling. This is where Nicholson excels and I will definitely be seeing how the story ends.
I always liked the second book much more than the first. I loved how the book progressed and it actually was not as slow going as The Wind Singer. In fact I thought this book was quite well paced. I even liked the storyline a lot better.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this, and more than the first in the series. It's an engaging, enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Not a good sequel, as things from the first book seem disregarded, or a lot of focus on stuff comes up out of nowhere in the sequel that you’d think would’ve been mentioned or highlighted before. Climax felt a bit lacking somehow, despite the “exciting” things going on, and there were just some actions or sudden character developments that I didn’t quite believe or feel the impact of.
The writing and plot cohesiveness is better than the first. This book also shines with its social commentary and food for thoughts.
The writing and plot cohesiveness is better than the first. This book also shines with its social commentary and food for thoughts.