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gphemsley's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Death, Ableism, Colonisation, Murder, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gun violence, Cultural appropriation, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, War, and Slavery
clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
I have no words for how much I loved The Bedlam Stacks. I want to live inside its pages forever.
I adored this book. The history, the magic, the adventure, the characters, the life that this book breathes—everything is just so achingly good.
Pulley’s writing is lush, intricate and beguiling. She has a stunning ability to infuse mundane things with energy and life so that her worlds and characters feel full and real but never boring. This story builds and builds, the tension slow and subtle, and the characters revealed in every detail. And the relationship at its heart is perfection.
If you like all the atmosphere, lovely writing and incredible world- and character-building, you need to read this book. It’s historical fantasy, queer, very British, and set primarily in the Peruvian mountains. Danger, mystery, confounding magic, and intelligent characters fill up every page.
I adored this book. The history, the magic, the adventure, the characters, the life that this book breathes—everything is just so achingly good.
Pulley’s writing is lush, intricate and beguiling. She has a stunning ability to infuse mundane things with energy and life so that her worlds and characters feel full and real but never boring. This story builds and builds, the tension slow and subtle, and the characters revealed in every detail. And the relationship at its heart is perfection.
If you like all the atmosphere, lovely writing and incredible world- and character-building, you need to read this book. It’s historical fantasy, queer, very British, and set primarily in the Peruvian mountains. Danger, mystery, confounding magic, and intelligent characters fill up every page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Racism, Classism, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment and Ableism
lizzie24601's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
No one does it like Natasha Pulley...
I can't think of a book in the past few years that has brought me more joy than this or The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. She uses pretty much the same trope in both (Merrick and Thaniel are basically the same person) in different settings - but the trope and the settings are so lushly illustrated that it works amazingly well both times. This book in particular fascinated me since I'd recently read Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu so the beautiful Andean setting drew me in right away. As usual, Pulley draws out the magical mystery slowly and seductively, taking the time to build up the characters' love and relationships, and finds ingenious new ways to explain all of the magic through science. The time she took to visit and research the Peruvian Andes is evident and the indigenous characters feel fleshed out and genuine. I think I've found one of my new favorite books with this one.
I can't think of a book in the past few years that has brought me more joy than this or The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. She uses pretty much the same trope in both (Merrick and Thaniel are basically the same person) in different settings - but the trope and the settings are so lushly illustrated that it works amazingly well both times. This book in particular fascinated me since I'd recently read Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu so the beautiful Andean setting drew me in right away. As usual, Pulley draws out the magical mystery slowly and seductively, taking the time to build up the characters' love and relationships, and finds ingenious new ways to explain all of the magic through science. The time she took to visit and research the Peruvian Andes is evident and the indigenous characters feel fleshed out and genuine. I think I've found one of my new favorite books with this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Colonisation
Minor: Blood and Pregnancy
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