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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.
roganshannon's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy to review.
Represenation: Queer MC, queer and trans MC, many QTBIPOC supporting characters
Stars are alive. They dance, talk, and breathe. Except for the one that fell near Gelle-Geu, that one sleeps restlessly. Generations of starkeepers have kept watch, and now Ranra, the newest starkeeper is left to worry about the increasing tremors that her predecessor ignored. Lilún, a poet who wants to live a simple life alone, has been visiting their ancestor, Semberí. Their ancestor was the first starkeeper, and insists that Lilún should be the starkeeper to be there when it wakes. Semberí also tells them stories of the stars' deliverance by Bird, their goddess, as the island shakes more and more often. Ranra and Lilún meet, sparks fly, and they both work together to figure out a solution to the restless star before it's too late.
Rating: 4.5/5 Lemberg's writing is gorgeous and very poetic. I really love the magic system in this universe, and I enjoyed this more than The Four Profound Weaves. Not to say that I didn't like it, I simply felt this had a much clearer and better paced story and the stakes were far higher. I loved the system, if that's the right word, for how trans people (called ichidi in this) identify themselves with tokens that represent what type of ichidi they are. I liked Ranra and Lilún's relationship, but it did feel like it moved VERY fast for people who supposedly knew nothing of each other up until that day they meet at the starkeeper's ascension party. I wish we could have seen far more of the supporting cast, I really liked some of them and felt like they had so much more story to be told. There's not much more I can say that wasn't said in the summary without spoiling the story too much.
Represenation: Queer MC, queer and trans MC, many QTBIPOC supporting characters
Stars are alive. They dance, talk, and breathe. Except for the one that fell near Gelle-Geu, that one sleeps restlessly. Generations of starkeepers have kept watch, and now Ranra, the newest starkeeper is left to worry about the increasing tremors that her predecessor ignored. Lilún, a poet who wants to live a simple life alone, has been visiting their ancestor, Semberí. Their ancestor was the first starkeeper, and insists that Lilún should be the starkeeper to be there when it wakes. Semberí also tells them stories of the stars' deliverance by Bird, their goddess, as the island shakes more and more often. Ranra and Lilún meet, sparks fly, and they both work together to figure out a solution to the restless star before it's too late.
Rating: 4.5/5 Lemberg's writing is gorgeous and very poetic. I really love the magic system in this universe, and I enjoyed this more than The Four Profound Weaves. Not to say that I didn't like it, I simply felt this had a much clearer and better paced story and the stakes were far higher. I loved the system, if that's the right word, for how trans people (called ichidi in this) identify themselves with tokens that represent what type of ichidi they are. I liked Ranra and Lilún's relationship, but it did feel like it moved VERY fast for people who supposedly knew nothing of each other up until that day they meet at the starkeeper's ascension party. I wish we could have seen far more of the supporting cast, I really liked some of them and felt like they had so much more story to be told. There's not much more I can say that wasn't said in the summary without spoiling the story too much.
g4yhummingbirb's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
greyreadseverything's review against another edition
I wasn’t in the mood for it, and it had to go back to the library
lizzyg21's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
ruthorfiction's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
arrkon's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
This made me cry, but in a good way, a cathartic way. It is poetic yet easy to understand and I found myself and my friends in so many of the characters. Survival will always be a type of success.
alymac42's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
anna_hepworth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really love the world building and some of the ideas explored in this story. I'm a little less sold on the characters, who I found a little too uncanny valley (and I don't think that this is because some of them are neurodiverse), and who didn't seem to really interact with each other in a plausible manner.
The writing is good, and the magic system well integrated. The belief system was mostly fine -- there was obviously a lot of thought there, and things like the way that the language reflected it was great--but I didn't feel like I quite understood the relationship between the people and their faith. Where the whole story fell down for me is that I didn't find the people, their behaviour, or their motivations convincing. I think it would have been a great play or film, but it didn't work for me as a novel.
The writing is good, and the magic system well integrated. The belief system was mostly fine -- there was obviously a lot of thought there, and things like the way that the language reflected it was great--but I didn't feel like I quite understood the relationship between the people and their faith. Where the whole story fell down for me is that I didn't find the people, their behaviour, or their motivations convincing. I think it would have been a great play or film, but it didn't work for me as a novel.