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crimsoncor's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite what i was expecting. I liked it, but there wasn't really a character in it whose struggle/journey you could really empathize with. The world-building feels incredibly effortless, which is well done. But the lack of any large exposition dumps does leave many things rather hazy, like what exactly the power/limits of the angels are, which reduces some of the dramatic tension. How powerful actually is someone, how weak, what does those terms even mean. It doesn't hurt the story, really, but it does make the stakes feel uncertain.
songwind's review against another edition
4.0
In a war-ruined Paris, people scrabble to survive. Some form gangs and make their living however they can. Others become dependents of a House, beholden to fallen angels and mages.
The story follows the intertwined lives of Philippe, stranded conscript from the French colony of Annam (Vietnam); Isabel, recently fallen angel; and House Silverspires, founded and once ruled by the Morningstar (aka Lucifer) himself.
Worldbuilding in this book was top notch. The approach the author takes to the concept of Fallen is pretty unique. So is the decision to include a Viet POV character with ties to the SE Asian celestial court.
The widespread presence of fallen angels on earth also serves as a catalyst for the alternate history aspect of the story. Around the time that WWI happened, a war between the Fallen houses erupted. Instead of a war-torn Europe, it left a war torn world. The story, according to the math, takes place between 1975 and 1980, but technological advancement has been stifled. The resulting setting feels like early 20th century, with some aspects as basic as the 19th.
The major textual concern I had is unclear antecedents. The author makes frequent use of vague "he," "she," or "they" references when they could be referring to several different characters.
The story follows the intertwined lives of Philippe, stranded conscript from the French colony of Annam (Vietnam); Isabel, recently fallen angel; and House Silverspires, founded and once ruled by the Morningstar (aka Lucifer) himself.
Worldbuilding in this book was top notch. The approach the author takes to the concept of Fallen is pretty unique. So is the decision to include a Viet POV character with ties to the SE Asian celestial court.
The widespread presence of fallen angels on earth also serves as a catalyst for the alternate history aspect of the story. Around the time that WWI happened, a war between the Fallen houses erupted. Instead of a war-torn Europe, it left a war torn world. The story, according to the math, takes place between 1975 and 1980, but technological advancement has been stifled. The resulting setting feels like early 20th century, with some aspects as basic as the 19th.
The major textual concern I had is unclear antecedents. The author makes frequent use of vague "he," "she," or "they" references when they could be referring to several different characters.
vaporization's review against another edition
2.0
I was bored and didn't care about anyone.
Specific things that bothered me:
Characters were incredibly detached and unlikable.
- I didn't like Selene at all. She was just cold for no reason? She wasn't even an interesting kind of cold, where she was ruthless or something. She was just like a statue and went around doing stuff and I had to follow her around for all her perspectives when I just didn't care.
- Philippe was probably the most sympathetic.
Characters were inconsistent.
- Asmodeus was the worst in terms of inconsistency. Every single character dismissed any possibility of Asmodeus having any emotions other than rage, which ruined any chance of Asmodeus being multi-dimensional. His actions didn't match with what the text was saying. And the worst part is that Asmodeus was actually the most intriguing because I could at least hope that he had more depth, but by the end he was just more inconsistent. Selene thinks about how she doesn't get him at all, and I was like SAME! But that doesn't make him interesting that just makes him ANNOYING.
- Isabelle was also inconsistent. She starts out naive and innocent and then...develops? Does she? The book says she develops, and she does things that make it seem like she did, but I didn't feel any of that development, so her actions towards the end just felt out-of-character.
I didn't care for any of the relationships.
- I actually forgot that Selene and Emmanuelle were a thing because their interactions for a while weren't intimate at all; Selene is pretty much never vulnerable with anyone, let alone Emmanuelle, so what is there to care about?
- Philippe and Isabelle were inextricably linked and I just believed it because that's what the text kept saying.
- Madeleine's relationships with everyone else. Just didn't really care.
HOLY EM DASHES AND ELLIPSES. There could be five em dashes on any given page, and not even exaggerating.
This book is not even that bad in terms of quality; the reading experience just sucks.
Specific things that bothered me:
Characters were incredibly detached and unlikable.
- I didn't like Selene at all. She was just cold for no reason? She wasn't even an interesting kind of cold, where she was ruthless or something. She was just like a statue and went around doing stuff and I had to follow her around for all her perspectives when I just didn't care.
- Philippe was probably the most sympathetic.
Characters were inconsistent.
- Asmodeus was the worst in terms of inconsistency. Every single character dismissed any possibility of Asmodeus having any emotions other than rage, which ruined any chance of Asmodeus being multi-dimensional. His actions didn't match with what the text was saying.
Spoiler
Philippe said it looked like he'd wept and then Selene says he didn't weep at all? And that she didn't think he "had feelings; that he could be swayed by tender emotions" (233)??? Then what was he brutally torturing Philippe for?? If he didn't care at all? Also, anger is a feeling.- Isabelle was also inconsistent. She starts out naive and innocent and then...develops? Does she? The book says she develops, and she does things that make it seem like she did, but I didn't feel any of that development, so her actions towards the end just felt out-of-character.
I didn't care for any of the relationships.
- I actually forgot that Selene and Emmanuelle were a thing because their interactions for a while weren't intimate at all; Selene is pretty much never vulnerable with anyone, let alone Emmanuelle, so what is there to care about?
- Philippe and Isabelle were inextricably linked and I just believed it because that's what the text kept saying.
- Madeleine's relationships with everyone else. Just didn't really care.
HOLY EM DASHES AND ELLIPSES. There could be five em dashes on any given page, and not even exaggerating.
This book is not even that bad in terms of quality; the reading experience just sucks.
karinlib's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars really. Bodard's writing is splendid, but I am not sure what I think of the story. I found myself dropped in the middle of a conversation, so to speak. Honestly, that feeling never quite went away.
mgouker's review against another edition
4.0
Aliette de Bodard crafts a dystopian world in an alternate history where The Great War led to a earth-shattering conclusion forever crippling the civilized world. With its roots in fallen angels, where there is a market in their very skin, bones, breath, and “essence” (an addictive ingestible form of angelic power that gives a short-term boost in abilities while creating dependence and destruction to one’s lungs), the backstory and setting of The House of Shattered Wings is dark indeed.
The story is told in 3rd person limited omniscient with several point-of-view characters, principally Philippe, an immortal who has landed rather hard in the world, Isabelle, the Fallen who Philippe is harvesting for his gang as the story unfolds, and Selene, leader of the house of Silverspires.
A word about the houses, two of which we become intimate: Silverspires and Hawthorn. These are not JK Rowling type houses. In this bleak worlds, the houses fight an endless series of raids, counter raids, and political intrigue, each trying to scrape themselves up a little higher by pushing the others down. Once one joins a house, there is a commitment to fight and defend, and a measured degree of loyalty, all given in exchange for the house’s protection.
Outside of the houses are the houseless who are also hopeless, for nothing protects them from the insane post-Apocalyptic world in which they reside. Philippe, the central protagonist, is one of these. He’s an immigrant from French Indochina and experiences an enormous othering by the Parisians.
The story takes a while to really begin (though later you realize the best place was chosen), but once we arrive at the conclave, the political intrigue ratchets up, and soon there are too many problems to solve by a crew with so much attrition, so everyone works twice as hard and the loyalty of some characters (I’m thinking Emmanuelle, Madeleine, and Isabelle) is frankly astounding. This is indeed a feelgood story eventually, which is good because, honestly, it couldn’t end up any darker.
I loved the world-building. I loved the characters and their arcs (esp. Madeleine’s). I also love how De Bodard works hard for me to be sympathetic to Philippe, even against evidence, only to teach me that a character still has time to change, even when there are scant pages in the right hand.
I cannot say enough about the prose. De Bodard has a magical fluidity that hovers above the story much of the time, but that makes it only more evident when the narrative voice takes total command to pound a point (or tell a joke--it's often funny and heartwarming). There is also plenty of philosophical questions raised, such as whether Paris needs the houses, which reflects of course in the modern world about the role of religion.
I recalled a story that relates to Philippe’s argument. A minister once explained to me his commitment to God was not an effort to avoid sin but to do good. His thought was as long as he was busy doing good, there was no time for evil. The problem in De Bodard's dystopian Paris, though, is that there are few opportunities to do good and many to do evil, so let’s say all the characters are above our judgment, even Asmodeus.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I'm actually giving it a 3.5. I wish I could have liked this book more, since I love everything involving angels and demons, but it just didn't capture my attention. I'm not sure I was the right audience for it, since the plot moved very slow for me. That said, it wasn't a bad book at all, hence why I gave it more stars. The world-building is great, the magic is unique, the dialogue is stellar, and the writing as a whole is artfully crafted. If the pacing were a little quicker, I could have loved it. As for the characters, they were all complex and at odds with themselves and each other. My favourite character was Madeline, who arguably has the most engaging and complicated backstory and motivations of all the characters. That's not to say the others aren't engaging––I loved Phillipe's attitude and Selene had a lot of angst––but Madeline's story drew me in from almost the get-go. Again, while this book wasn't to my tastes, it's nonetheless sweeping and dark and perfect for readers who want to be wrapped in elegantly crafted words and deadly magic.
sandygx260's review against another edition
2.0
This novel has a spectacular opening scene. The trouble is, after the kicker opening, the novel never reaches that lofty level again. It never comes close. There is much breathtaking imagery which is beautifully written but such scenes do not save the book. It’s a shame since the novel’s concept is wonderful. Fallen angels, magical wars, man-eating rivers, immortals, revenge, dueling magical factions, addiction… I wanted to adore this novel but too many long-winded scenes anchored down the beauty.
Unfortunately the characters also drag down the story. I didn’t care about any of them, which meant when something happened to them, I hoped they would be killed off. It might shake up the story more.
Many small details turned into repetitive annoyances. One character smells like bergamot; great, but does de Bodard need to remind the reader every damned time the character arrives in the story? Obsessing over such details might seem silly, but when you’re reading, they wave red flags.
It’s rare when I close a fantasy novel and think, “well then, I just read a bunch of words and feel little emotion.”
I am sure many people will love this novel, which is fine. I just couldn’t.
Unfortunately the characters also drag down the story. I didn’t care about any of them, which meant when something happened to them, I hoped they would be killed off. It might shake up the story more.
Many small details turned into repetitive annoyances. One character smells like bergamot; great, but does de Bodard need to remind the reader every damned time the character arrives in the story? Obsessing over such details might seem silly, but when you’re reading, they wave red flags.
It’s rare when I close a fantasy novel and think, “well then, I just read a bunch of words and feel little emotion.”
I am sure many people will love this novel, which is fine. I just couldn’t.
themanfromdelmonte's review against another edition
1.0
There’s been a War. A near apocalyptic conflict that has left Paris in ruins. In the ruins are Houses. I can’t remember whether the Houses predated the conflict or have arisen subsequently. Anyway, these are the fiefdoms that run Paris, although they don’t appear to do anything, apart from scheme against one another. There’s not much of anything to indicate a functioning economy or the conduct of daily life. The Houses just are.
There’s no attempt to explain the War, its origins, its great causes. All we have is the aftermath, with broken people. There’s Phillippe, an ex-diplomat(?)/mercenary(?)/immortal from the Far East who came to Paris for some reason (there’s a lot of amnesia about). Madeleine, addicted to ground up angel (no, that’s not a typo). An underwater ghost dragon - which was much less impressive than it sounds.
There’s also Isabelle, newly Fallen i.e. a devil. There’s a few of them about, even Lucifer himself, although he’s not a current character, having mysteriously vanished years before.
For 250 of its 400 pages this book wallows in its post-war austerity. Colours are bleached, eyes are dulled, life is grim existence. And it’s all in bombed out Paris. There is no impression of the world beyond. There is no mention of what news there might be from London or Berlin. No one comes to Paris, even to trade it seems, almost as if Paris has broken away from the world, to spin its own independent course.
Sez on the front that it’s an award winning novel. Seemingly it won a British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel, which is slightly odd because this isn’t remotely SF. That recommendation is the only reason I forced myself to wade to the end of this ponderous tale.
And it’s extraordinarily dull. The blurb on the back quotes the Washington Post, “ … fast-paced, fantastical thriller.” The only way this book could be experienced as fast-paced, would be to only read every fifth page.
There’s no attempt to explain the War, its origins, its great causes. All we have is the aftermath, with broken people. There’s Phillippe, an ex-diplomat(?)/mercenary(?)/immortal from the Far East who came to Paris for some reason (there’s a lot of amnesia about). Madeleine, addicted to ground up angel (no, that’s not a typo). An underwater ghost dragon - which was much less impressive than it sounds.
There’s also Isabelle, newly Fallen i.e. a devil. There’s a few of them about, even Lucifer himself, although he’s not a current character, having mysteriously vanished years before.
For 250 of its 400 pages this book wallows in its post-war austerity. Colours are bleached, eyes are dulled, life is grim existence. And it’s all in bombed out Paris. There is no impression of the world beyond. There is no mention of what news there might be from London or Berlin. No one comes to Paris, even to trade it seems, almost as if Paris has broken away from the world, to spin its own independent course.
Sez on the front that it’s an award winning novel. Seemingly it won a British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel, which is slightly odd because this isn’t remotely SF. That recommendation is the only reason I forced myself to wade to the end of this ponderous tale.
And it’s extraordinarily dull. The blurb on the back quotes the Washington Post, “ … fast-paced, fantastical thriller.” The only way this book could be experienced as fast-paced, would be to only read every fifth page.
accidentalspaceexplorer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is very complex, sad, and brutal. While I found it an interesting setting & world, & thought the characters were well-fleshed out, I never actually came to care about anyone, and I didn't feel like the story grabbed me the way I prefer. Ultimately, I won't be continuing on, because I didn't think it was good enough to outweigh the way the tragedy of this world makes me feel.