Reviews

The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg

laurenbastian's review

tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really wanted to love this book but I found it terribly slow despite a breakneck timeline of events. I had difficulty connecting to Ranra, and felt that she and the most of the other side characters were somewhat vague in her characterization. Perhaps if the book were longer I would have grown to like the characters, but the story takes place in so little time, it was difficult to care much about the character or understand whether they actually developed over the course of the story or not. 

I did really love the creativity of the world building and magic system. The fantasy elements really worked here, and my favorite parts were of Lilún learning the origin of their people and culture. I probably won't read the second one, but I appreciated the read.

geo81's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

gealach's review

hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

wisechild14's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

alandd's review against another edition

3.0

I loved the idea in general. A utopian society where any type of inclination, identity, or condition is seen as part of the person, but not as everything that matters about this person. There are interesting characters that attract attention from the beginning, such as Lilún and Semberí, and I really liked the ending, a realistic bet that works quite well.

Full review: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2023/06/resena-review-unbalancing.html

sarah_grey's review against another edition

3.0

The world is very cool and so is the magic. The falling in love aspect after only a few days is not my favorite.

ajpalj's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

jugglingpup's review

5.0

To see a full review check it out here.

This was woah.

eowyns_helmet's review

2.0

DNF

thecesspit's review

4.0

Probably helps if you have read others in the Birdverse. I liked the tone and story, and nonstandard fantasy world. I didn't really like the multiple new names, complex and obscure magic or the lead characters. But - they weren't characters written for me, so I at least learned something from their point of views.