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anne_seebach's review
4.0
I'll be reading these stories again - it was an enjoyably intriguing first visit, whilst I left still feeling that many more layers are waiting unfold upon my return. I look forward to reading more of the author's works, learning more about his worlds.
annaclarimoto's review
5.0
Wonderful set of short stories! Especially the final title story, also the mysterious cinema...
archytas's review
4.0
I first read this about a year ago, but I went back to pre-order Rjurik Davidson's new novel this week, and discovering this very cheap in eBook format, grabbed it and reread.
I'm not really a fan of short stories. They always seem to be making a single point, and usually pretty forcefully making it, given the strong restrictions on space. And while a couple of the stories in this compendium showed that stronger than others ('will our protagonist go through with it?' verges on a theme), the compelling world building mostly negates it. The tales feel big, expansive, occasionally breathtaking. There are hints of complexities beneath the surface, content which makes the work seem richer.
This is especially true of the Caeli Amur trio of stories, and most of all, of the final story in the compendium, from which the volume takes its name. There's a love story in there, but the slow buildup in the whole volume of themes starts to crystallise. So there is a tale of individuals, a love story of sorts, but also the story of a culture. Who don't get the whole story, but enough to make you want more.
Honestly, I probably would have bumped this up to five stars. but I know and like Rjurik Davidson, and I'm a little terrified of grading on a curve.
I'm not really a fan of short stories. They always seem to be making a single point, and usually pretty forcefully making it, given the strong restrictions on space. And while a couple of the stories in this compendium showed that stronger than others ('will our protagonist go through with it?' verges on a theme), the compelling world building mostly negates it. The tales feel big, expansive, occasionally breathtaking. There are hints of complexities beneath the surface, content which makes the work seem richer.
This is especially true of the Caeli Amur trio of stories, and most of all, of the final story in the compendium, from which the volume takes its name. There's a love story in there, but the slow buildup in the whole volume of themes starts to crystallise. So there is a tale of individuals, a love story of sorts, but also the story of a culture. Who don't get the whole story, but enough to make you want more.
Honestly, I probably would have bumped this up to five stars. but I know and like Rjurik Davidson, and I'm a little terrified of grading on a curve.
iamericab's review
4.0
I liked this more than I thought. The first story was okay but the rest were pretty good. More fantasy. There was a story with minotaurs which to me are scary. A different kind of book for me so that could be another reason I liked it.
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