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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Really debated between 3 and 4 stars for this one because I did enjoy the story, it was a fun idea but the POV changes and character changes were very difficult for me to follow (I’m not sure how much that had to do with listening on audiobook though). Settled on 4 stars because ultimately I liked it and would read again, will also likely be reading the follow up books, but if I could give a half rating it would probably be 3.5 instead for the reasons listed above.
Wow, wow, wow. This book was mesmerizing and terrifying. The writing was so good.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The ambition and creativity is here! The author presents a realistic type world (in terms of the diversity of characters, perspectives) and weaves in a supernatural, dystopian, mythic type story told through multiple characters. For those pieces - five stars - and I look forward to reading more from this author because of it (though won't be continuing this series, for reasons outlined later).
The execution? 3 stars - maybe even 2. So. many. characters. And once you start to get into a perspective and get grounded in some way with a character, you're off again and being introduced to new concepts and new characters. This book needs an index and a character map of some kind to help track all the different abilities, events, timelines, etc.
I've been thinking lately about my beef with multiple perspectives in novels (most recently, the Great Divide had this issue), and I think it's because at a certain amount, due to the basic constraint of pages and plotting, you aren't going to spend a lot of time with anyone. So then you end up making a choice about which perspective and plotting requires more space, and you end up leaving others more sparse as a result. In doing so, if you aren't one of the best writers ever, I think you leave readers wanting more and feeling that emptiness in terms of depth for the characters and perspectives that get shortchanged in that equation.
This novel is also introducing so many different concepts - it's genre bending - and again, kudos to the ambition - but I was so confused throughout. At times, I got what was going on - but most of the time, just chilling and hoping pieces come together (some do? most don't)
I kept thinking about N.K. Jemison (who has to influence this story - in all good ways of course!). She is one of the rare writers who has done multiple perspectives really well. I think it's because the plot had all of them as major characters - the story was really interwoven among them so you don't lose plot or story by jumping, it adds to it. I think here, you lose plot, you lose pacing, and often are introduced to totally new stories that are sometimes super ancillary at best. And the consequences - impact of those stories, they feel empty because you just showed up and haven't spent time with them, and don't know how they connect. It doesn't feel like a cohesive piece - and even if there are more books coming after - this book, this one book, I think, should still tell a story - needs a coherent narrative.
If folx are going to start with these multi book narratives and just breadcrumb the first novel, I'm outta here. I don't have time for that and I truly believe authors should give a heads up around that.
And to those who thinks I'm not smart enough to get this, etc. - that's just not true. This book is constructed on some level like a puzzle - and I believe if you take time, notes, it will make some sense - but I don't know that this book is giving enough to warrant that level of work. And I also think there are such amazing fantasy/horror/sci-fi type books out there by authors that do just as much genre-bending and are ambitious and stick the landing on the execution (N.K, Octavia, Nnedi, etc.) without asking their reader to connect so many dots.
Anyway - there are so many good sections here, the writing is a bit stilted at times, but I love the world(s) being created. Sadly, I don't have time to do my own outline and notetaking to understand what's going on. I don't think I'll be continuing but if you like supernatural, fantasy, horror type dystopian fiction - this is it!
The execution? 3 stars - maybe even 2. So. many. characters. And once you start to get into a perspective and get grounded in some way with a character, you're off again and being introduced to new concepts and new characters. This book needs an index and a character map of some kind to help track all the different abilities, events, timelines, etc.
I've been thinking lately about my beef with multiple perspectives in novels (most recently, the Great Divide had this issue), and I think it's because at a certain amount, due to the basic constraint of pages and plotting, you aren't going to spend a lot of time with anyone. So then you end up making a choice about which perspective and plotting requires more space, and you end up leaving others more sparse as a result. In doing so, if you aren't one of the best writers ever, I think you leave readers wanting more and feeling that emptiness in terms of depth for the characters and perspectives that get shortchanged in that equation.
This novel is also introducing so many different concepts - it's genre bending - and again, kudos to the ambition - but I was so confused throughout. At times, I got what was going on - but most of the time, just chilling and hoping pieces come together (some do? most don't)
I kept thinking about N.K. Jemison (who has to influence this story - in all good ways of course!). She is one of the rare writers who has done multiple perspectives really well. I think it's because the plot had all of them as major characters - the story was really interwoven among them so you don't lose plot or story by jumping, it adds to it. I think here, you lose plot, you lose pacing, and often are introduced to totally new stories that are sometimes super ancillary at best. And the consequences - impact of those stories, they feel empty because you just showed up and haven't spent time with them, and don't know how they connect. It doesn't feel like a cohesive piece - and even if there are more books coming after - this book, this one book, I think, should still tell a story - needs a coherent narrative.
If folx are going to start with these multi book narratives and just breadcrumb the first novel, I'm outta here. I don't have time for that and I truly believe authors should give a heads up around that.
And to those who thinks I'm not smart enough to get this, etc. - that's just not true. This book is constructed on some level like a puzzle - and I believe if you take time, notes, it will make some sense - but I don't know that this book is giving enough to warrant that level of work. And I also think there are such amazing fantasy/horror/sci-fi type books out there by authors that do just as much genre-bending and are ambitious and stick the landing on the execution (N.K, Octavia, Nnedi, etc.) without asking their reader to connect so many dots.
Anyway - there are so many good sections here, the writing is a bit stilted at times, but I love the world(s) being created. Sadly, I don't have time to do my own outline and notetaking to understand what's going on. I don't think I'll be continuing but if you like supernatural, fantasy, horror type dystopian fiction - this is it!
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality
Minor: Xenophobia
In a series of very short stories, or vignettes, author Cadwell Turnbull introduces a big cast of characters who are all experiencing the fallout from something called the Fracture. The result is many humans have become shapeshifters, and in addition to having to deal with everyday bigotry, such as profiling, harassment and violence by police, these altered humans are killed when found. This of course results in anger and grief-ridden families and friends of those killed, in addition to confusion and some revulsion when the dead people's shifting ability is revealed.
Turnbull shows the gradual coming together of shifters, as well as a hardening of some against them, which all results in a shocking scene of violence at the end of the book.
Using fantastic abilities granted post-apocalypse, Turnbull adds an extra dimension to a story of bigotry and violence, and the way those affected can both support each other, and in some cases, turn against their own.
Turnbull shows the gradual coming together of shifters, as well as a hardening of some against them, which all results in a shocking scene of violence at the end of the book.
Using fantastic abilities granted post-apocalypse, Turnbull adds an extra dimension to a story of bigotry and violence, and the way those affected can both support each other, and in some cases, turn against their own.
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
7/10 + 4 stars. NPR rec.
Between 2 and 3 stars. Well written, but dry and pointless.
What a wild ride. Monsters, magic, cults, memory manipulation, multiverses, shape shifters, seers and humans are all thrown together in this intriguing, scary world.
An innovative and interesting take on mythical monsters. I really enjoyed the complex and varied backgrounds of the characters. The socially conscious but not at all preachy consideration of identity and economic power made the world building much more engaging. Highly recommended.
I adored this book. It's the first book I've read by Cadwell Turnbull but it certainly won't be my last.
Turnbull is incredibaly talented and has an empathetic and inclusive voice that is so welcome in the genre of urban fantasy. I am impressed that he was able to effortlessly weave a Black Lives Matter and civil rights plotline into a horror-adjacent contemporary fantasy that really belied his love of some of my favorite authors like Ursula K. LeGuin, Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, Nalo Hopkinson and Nnedi Okorafor (this book especially reminded me of Okorafor's LaGuardia series).
The characters were so diverse and fleshed out. There were a lot of them, but his writing made them feel very real and I cared about the fates of each of them.
Ostensibly this is a novel about what happens when people find out that monsters are real and are living among us. What it really is, is an insightful story about what it means to be human through the lens of understanding monstrosity. In this way, this book geniously hearkens back to that foundational Science Fiction work: Mary shelley's Frankenstein.
My favorite part of all was how Turnbull was able to blend quantum physics, Caribbean cosmology and social commentary into a weird, original, fun, scary and all around excellent read.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of this book from Net Galley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Turnbull is incredibaly talented and has an empathetic and inclusive voice that is so welcome in the genre of urban fantasy. I am impressed that he was able to effortlessly weave a Black Lives Matter and civil rights plotline into a horror-adjacent contemporary fantasy that really belied his love of some of my favorite authors like Ursula K. LeGuin, Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, Nalo Hopkinson and Nnedi Okorafor (this book especially reminded me of Okorafor's LaGuardia series).
The characters were so diverse and fleshed out. There were a lot of them, but his writing made them feel very real and I cared about the fates of each of them.
Ostensibly this is a novel about what happens when people find out that monsters are real and are living among us. What it really is, is an insightful story about what it means to be human through the lens of understanding monstrosity. In this way, this book geniously hearkens back to that foundational Science Fiction work: Mary shelley's Frankenstein.
My favorite part of all was how Turnbull was able to blend quantum physics, Caribbean cosmology and social commentary into a weird, original, fun, scary and all around excellent read.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of this book from Net Galley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.