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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I guess I'm not a fan of fantasy books involving military / colonialism book.
For my diversity challenge: autistic author
This was so good!! Can't even describe how much I loved it. Non-binary mc who uses they/them pronouns (which is very prominent since the book is written in third person), and there is no transphobia or homophobia! Casually queer side characters, and some minor minor characters in a poly relationship. Asian-inspired setting, pretty light sci-fi + fantasy.
Tw: torture (beating), death
This was so good!! Can't even describe how much I loved it. Non-binary mc who uses they/them pronouns (which is very prominent since the book is written in third person), and there is no transphobia or homophobia! Casually queer side characters, and some minor minor characters in a poly relationship. Asian-inspired setting, pretty light sci-fi + fantasy.
Tw: torture (beating), death
This was a mildly frustrating read. It was on for a solid 4 in my rating until the last 20 pages...
The basic premise of the story is interesting - a magic system where grinding up artwork from dead artists produces magical pigment used to animate automatons, all set in an early 20th centuryesque Korea. Two very solid ticks with a cool sounding hard magic system and an interesting and less well known world basis. The non-binary gendering of the main character also added an interesting twist and the use of the plural pronouns to refer to the main protagonist gives an interesting reading experience. Even the family units are interesting, apparently consisting of three adults in a parenting role. The oppressive occupation and the cultural world building all gave this a very cool flair.
Unfortunately this did not stick the ending. It all just went a bit too whimsical and strange. Whilst there was a gritty realism to much of the rest of the book, this ending ended up feeling way to off tone. A shame, as the rest of the book was really good.
The basic premise of the story is interesting - a magic system where grinding up artwork from dead artists produces magical pigment used to animate automatons, all set in an early 20th centuryesque Korea. Two very solid ticks with a cool sounding hard magic system and an interesting and less well known world basis. The non-binary gendering of the main character also added an interesting twist and the use of the plural pronouns to refer to the main protagonist gives an interesting reading experience. Even the family units are interesting, apparently consisting of three adults in a parenting role. The oppressive occupation and the cultural world building all gave this a very cool flair.
Unfortunately this did not stick the ending. It all just went a bit too whimsical and strange. Whilst there was a gritty realism to much of the rest of the book, this ending ended up feeling way to off tone. A shame, as the rest of the book was really good.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I WANT TAFFY!
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
This book is so enchanting I couldn’t wait to read it again. It was truly beautiful escapism that I got lost in, it was based in reality enough and human enough for me to get lost in the characters but magical enough that it transported me out of ever getting distracted.
It started interesting and i liked the characters... But by half way through the book, I began to question some parts (especially one twist that i thought was unnecessary, it added nothing to development).
Over all, I felt that while our main character is underground for most of the book, there's this whole interesting world out there to explore... But we're stuck underground... For almost the entirely of the book...
Over all, I felt that while our main character is underground for most of the book, there's this whole interesting world out there to explore... But we're stuck underground... For almost the entirely of the book...
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It just felt unfinished and the dragon was barely in it.
Jebi is an artist, whose sister is the leader of the revolution. All they want to do is paint and they really don't care what happens to their people/country as long as they can paint. Despite multiple people explaining to them why the revolution is important, they just don't get it. They came off as very naive and selfish.
This is a stand alone fantasy that desperately needed to be part of a series. If it was, I could give it a pass on just how incomplete and lacking it was.
Jebi is an artist, whose sister is the leader of the revolution. All they want to do is paint and they really don't care what happens to their people/country as long as they can paint. Despite multiple people explaining to them why the revolution is important, they just don't get it. They came off as very naive and selfish.
This is a stand alone fantasy that desperately needed to be part of a series. If it was, I could give it a pass on just how incomplete and lacking it was.
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was enjoying this book, but it ended very abruptly and feels unfinished, and it left me unsatisfied.
The main character isn't really likeable. To be honest, they don't seem very intelligent, and rather cowardly. They had some character development, but the book wasn't long enough to really allow them to grow. They never really "get it" when it comes to the revolution.
I would have preferred the book from Bonsunga's point of view; managing a revolution under poor conditions, while also having to deal with the loss of a partner and an insipid and avoidant sibling who in many ways has harmed her revolution through both inaction and direct action, but whom she still loves. Bongsunga has a lot more depth to her character, despite being in the background for most of the book.
Phoenix Extravagant has great ideas, and I would love to have seen it fleshed out more. I'm not sure if the author was limited in the length they were allowed to write, or if it's a writing skill issue. I may pick up some of their other work based on this book, as I do think Yoon Ha Lee has promise as a writer. Phoenix Extravagant just isn't quite "it", though.
The main character isn't really likeable. To be honest, they don't seem very intelligent, and rather cowardly. They had some character development, but the book wasn't long enough to really allow them to grow. They never really "get it" when it comes to the revolution.
I would have preferred the book from Bonsunga's point of view; managing a revolution under poor conditions, while also having to deal with the loss of a partner and an insipid and avoidant sibling who in many ways has harmed her revolution through both inaction and direct action, but whom she still loves. Bongsunga has a lot more depth to her character, despite being in the background for most of the book.
Phoenix Extravagant has great ideas, and I would love to have seen it fleshed out more. I'm not sure if the author was limited in the length they were allowed to write, or if it's a writing skill issue. I may pick up some of their other work based on this book, as I do think Yoon Ha Lee has promise as a writer. Phoenix Extravagant just isn't quite "it", though.
