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bani's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eressea's review against another edition
4.0
This story reads like a lovely queer fairy tale... I love the prose, and I love how Nothing, the main character, grows into Something :) This story is very layered with a unique world building and plot twists all along, and I really loved the first half! However, it began to drag a bit... the second half was a bit boring to me, and I found myself skipping bits to get faster to the end. But it is an unique book and I feel like it should deserve more hype. And a way better cover because this one doesn’t capture the essence of the story at all (sorry cover designer
natalielorelei's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed Tessa Gratton's Tor article about monstrousness and genderqueer identity, so I wanted to read the novel she was pulling a lot of her examples of her own approach from!
I found it enjoyable but not earth-shaking. The fairy-tale-esque worldbuilding and the weight that it gave to names and the conceptions of magic and spirit vs demon were all pretty cool. It was also really neat to watch so many gender-fluid characters navigating their own identities and finding their own ways of taking space and being in relationship to each other, and the novel had interesting things to say about the lines between love and possession and what equal relationships look like in a society with unequal power dynamics.
However, I felt very held at a distance from all of the characters. This definitely felt like a plot-driven novel, rather than a character-driven one, which could be fine, except that so much of Nothing's arc was internal that I had a hard time settling in and getting invested. I kept reading because I was curious about what would happen, but I found it very easy to set the book down and forget about it. Maybe I'll try some of Tessa Gratton's adult fiction--I almost wonder if part of what didn't work for me was that YA novel thing of leaving a lot of space for the reader to fill in their own feelings and experiences and imagination?
tl;dr: I liked this, but I didn't love it like I wanted to.
I found it enjoyable but not earth-shaking. The fairy-tale-esque worldbuilding and the weight that it gave to names and the conceptions of magic and spirit vs demon were all pretty cool. It was also really neat to watch so many gender-fluid characters navigating their own identities and finding their own ways of taking space and being in relationship to each other, and the novel had interesting things to say about the lines between love and possession and what equal relationships look like in a society with unequal power dynamics.
However, I felt very held at a distance from all of the characters. This definitely felt like a plot-driven novel, rather than a character-driven one, which could be fine, except that so much of Nothing's arc was internal that I had a hard time settling in and getting invested. I kept reading because I was curious about what would happen, but I found it very easy to set the book down and forget about it. Maybe I'll try some of Tessa Gratton's adult fiction--I almost wonder if part of what didn't work for me was that YA novel thing of leaving a lot of space for the reader to fill in their own feelings and experiences and imagination?
tl;dr: I liked this, but I didn't love it like I wanted to.
elf_on_a_bookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
This book did not deserve that eye-sore of a cover, let’s just get that out of the way. Jesus…
The book is beautifully written, charming and whimsical. And so, so, so spectacularly queer. Straight culture? Night Shine don’t know her. Loved that about it. The book itself I liked, but did not love. Due to two things: 1) the writing was a bit too flowery and 2) the story too fairy tale-y for my personal taste. Would still recommend it, though, and strongly encourage people to look past the cover... the book is as pretty as that cover is not.
The book is beautifully written, charming and whimsical. And so, so, so spectacularly queer. Straight culture? Night Shine don’t know her. Loved that about it. The book itself I liked, but did not love. Due to two things: 1) the writing was a bit too flowery and 2) the story too fairy tale-y for my personal taste. Would still recommend it, though, and strongly encourage people to look past the cover... the book is as pretty as that cover is not.
theweirdskittle's review against another edition
5.0
First, I'll admit that I only purchased this book because the preorder came with stickers by one of my favorite artists.
Having now taken the time to read it, I'm glad I did. So rarely have I seen my own relationship with gender explored so thoroughly and clearly in a character, and in a character not without flaws at that.
I don't have words to express the way this book pulled me in and kept me until the very last word.
Having now taken the time to read it, I'm glad I did. So rarely have I seen my own relationship with gender explored so thoroughly and clearly in a character, and in a character not without flaws at that.
I don't have words to express the way this book pulled me in and kept me until the very last word.
sierracook14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bi_n_large's review against another edition
4.0
Hear me out: a queer reimagining of Howl’s Moving Castle that explores identity and Big Gender Feelings.
Night Shine feels magical and wondrous, with spirits and dragons and unicorns galore. I wasn’t sure where the story was going most of the time, which led to some nice surprises.
Sky the bodyguard is the best character. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
Night Shine feels magical and wondrous, with spirits and dragons and unicorns galore. I wasn’t sure where the story was going most of the time, which led to some nice surprises.
Sky the bodyguard is the best character. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
ashction's review against another edition
4.0
all the reviews calling this "queer Howl's Moving Castle" are very on point. i feel it's a combo of Howl's and Spirited Away! this was a fun, lush fantasy that was full of queerness and i truly had a wonderful time reading it.
pagestarfire's review against another edition
4.0
The way this book discusses gender and how ones identity can change over time, I have never felt so seen. Also, there is a unicorn!!!