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psoglav's review
3.0
UKUPNA OCENA (overall rating) ★★★✫
Radnja (story) ★★★✫
Likovi (characters) ★★★★
Pripovedanje (writing style) ★★★✫
Okruženje (setting) ★★★✫
Pozitivno (pros) - odlično odrađeni likovi, priče koje prate svakog protogonistu, knjiga tera na razmišljanje.
Negativno (cons) - neke priče su malo dosadne, kraj bi mogao biti malo bolji.
Radnja (story) ★★★✫
Likovi (characters) ★★★★
Pripovedanje (writing style) ★★★✫
Okruženje (setting) ★★★✫
Pozitivno (pros) - odlično odrađeni likovi, priče koje prate svakog protogonistu, knjiga tera na razmišljanje.
Negativno (cons) - neke priče su malo dosadne, kraj bi mogao biti malo bolji.
doritobabe's review against another edition
1.0
I think I'm the only person who hates Mike Carey's books.
Not only was I very excited for this book, but at first I didn't realize this was the same author as [b:The Girl with All the Gifts|17235026|The Girl with All the Gifts|M.R. Carey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403033579s/17235026.jpg|23753235]. What I also didn't realize, was this book is written by (probably) the entire Carey clan... children included.
The Steel Seraglio is a folkloric fantasy that takes place in ancient Arabia. It is in the same vein as [b:The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights|7123161|The Arabian Nights Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1|Anonymous|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1392253902s/7123161.jpg|25731657]. Specifically, it is a retelling of the story of Bessa-- a city run by and entirely populated by women. The history of this city is recounted through several character perspectives and all begins with the murder of the reigning Sultan whom is replaced by a relentless religious zealot. This forces his 365 concubines and their children into the desert and inspires their subsequent coup of the city they were cast from.
The various voices (authors) in the text is what really started to put me off. While I was first into the story, I started getting inklings of dislike for certain chapters. Then, I started feeling bored: I felt a serious lack of development, that a lot of the 'plot' wasn't really a plot at all, and that the 'climax' was only a pseudo-climax and was pushed aside by some weird counter-climax near the end.
Additionally, the elements of fantasy that decided to pop-up randomly and the addition of sex-crazed male characters and their political dalliances really did not bode well with me. There was just *too* much going on with too little development, yet too much in some areas.
I will admit, at 80% I just asked my friend to tell me what happened at the end because I couldn't finish it. Not to mention, Carey has written a pseudo-feminist tale. It's like him and his family decided to write this amazing pro-female adventure tale only to think, "wait a second: that's not what would happen because THEY'RE WOMEN AFTER ALL" and changed the ending to be horribly disappointing and NOT empowering at all. The patriarchy strikes again!
Honestly, I don't know why this book had such rave reviews. It was a huge disappointment to me. No more Carey novels (or graphic novels) for this girl.
Not only was I very excited for this book, but at first I didn't realize this was the same author as [b:The Girl with All the Gifts|17235026|The Girl with All the Gifts|M.R. Carey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403033579s/17235026.jpg|23753235]. What I also didn't realize, was this book is written by (probably) the entire Carey clan... children included.
The Steel Seraglio is a folkloric fantasy that takes place in ancient Arabia. It is in the same vein as [b:The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights|7123161|The Arabian Nights Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1|Anonymous|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1392253902s/7123161.jpg|25731657]. Specifically, it is a retelling of the story of Bessa-- a city run by and entirely populated by women. The history of this city is recounted through several character perspectives and all begins with the murder of the reigning Sultan whom is replaced by a relentless religious zealot. This forces his 365 concubines and their children into the desert and inspires their subsequent coup of the city they were cast from.
The various voices (authors) in the text is what really started to put me off. While I was first into the story, I started getting inklings of dislike for certain chapters. Then, I started feeling bored: I felt a serious lack of development, that a lot of the 'plot' wasn't really a plot at all, and that the 'climax' was only a pseudo-climax and was pushed aside by some weird counter-climax near the end.
Additionally, the elements of fantasy that decided to pop-up randomly and the addition of sex-crazed male characters and their political dalliances really did not bode well with me. There was just *too* much going on with too little development, yet too much in some areas.
I will admit, at 80% I just asked my friend to tell me what happened at the end because I couldn't finish it. Not to mention, Carey has written a pseudo-feminist tale. It's like him and his family decided to write this amazing pro-female adventure tale only to think, "wait a second: that's not what would happen because THEY'RE WOMEN AFTER ALL" and changed the ending to be horribly disappointing and NOT empowering at all. The patriarchy strikes again!
Honestly, I don't know why this book had such rave reviews. It was a huge disappointment to me. No more Carey novels (or graphic novels) for this girl.
lecturesbuissonnieres's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
tobinlopes's review against another edition
5.0
There's something about p. 68 lately. It was at that point in Ellis' Gun Machine when I realized how good a book that one was. It was the same point in this one - by Carey, his wife, and his daughter. A tale of revenge, freedom, love, and learning that mixes gallows humor with scenes of heartbreak and love.
In the style of a tale within a tale, a la Gaiman's American Gods, The Steel Seraglio interweaves origin stories within a larger broader context to powerful effect.
This is a close second to the best book I've read this year, Ellis' and should be on just about everybody's to-read list.
I gave it a 9/10 on my personal scale.
-tpl
In the style of a tale within a tale, a la Gaiman's American Gods, The Steel Seraglio interweaves origin stories within a larger broader context to powerful effect.
This is a close second to the best book I've read this year, Ellis'
I gave it a 9/10 on my personal scale.
-tpl
imissborders's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
One of my most enjoyable reads in ages. Fantastic tale of heroines, bandits, sultans and escorts all set in what seems to be the beginnings of the Persian Empire, though never expressly stated. A world is created that you both believe and hope is true.
Don't be put off by the triad of authors, it flows well and the tall-tale/mythologizing structure of the narrative lends itself just fine to it.
Don't be put off by the triad of authors, it flows well and the tall-tale/mythologizing structure of the narrative lends itself just fine to it.
lazielow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
theshadowplay's review against another edition
5.0
Few books move me. yet this one, with its many characters, few of which are fleshed out, and with its tales of scheherazade style managed to move me with its conclusion. Absolutely beautiful. Nearly brought tears to my eyes.
tasharobinson's review against another edition
5.0
This is a pretty magnificent book. The structure varies — sometimes it's a series of short vignettes from various points of view, sometimes a fable, sometimes a look back at a distant past from a perspective where most things about it have been forgotten. At one point it's a series of symbolic recipes showing the life of a palace. But mostly it's just one grand epic tale about what happens to a vast harem in a desert country when the sultan who owns them is killed by ascetics in a coup. There are a lot of points of view in this novel, from the ascetic leader to various women who rise up to build a community and eventually take back their city, and the women range from an assassin and a djinn-touched prophet to a woman who's just really good at weaving. This book tells a lot of stories that add up to one story, but its way of getting there is unconventional, refreshing, and unpredictable, with the narrative focus repeatedly shifting so it isn't a familiar Arabian Nights style fairy tale. Very much recommended.
eowyns_helmet's review against another edition
5.0
What a great read: immersive, beautifully paced, funny, gorgeously written. If you're a fan of [a:Mike Carey|9018|Mike Carey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1334894864p2/9018.jpg], as I am, this is a bit of a departure. But apparently, writing talent runs wide and deep in the Carey clan. Highly recommend.
lynnesis's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Très mitigée à la lecture de ce livre. J'ai dévoré les premières pages mais je me suis très rapidement ennuyée sur le reste.
Ce qui est frustrant, c'est que tous les ingrédients sont là : postulat intéressant, personnages qui auraient pu être attachants, ambiance 1001 nuits... Mais il manque quelque chose, tout est convenu et finalement assez simple, comme superficiel. C'est tellement dommage.
Ce qui est frustrant, c'est que tous les ingrédients sont là : postulat intéressant, personnages qui auraient pu être attachants, ambiance 1001 nuits... Mais il manque quelque chose, tout est convenu et finalement assez simple, comme superficiel. C'est tellement dommage.