137 reviews for:

The Unbalancing

R.B. Lemberg

4.15 AVERAGE

hopeful reflective medium-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: Complicated

I enjoyed this book. Highlights include the lovely writing style, the gender fluidity of the characters/society, and seeing two characters with very different personalities navigate their newly formed relationship. The ending was also not what I expected, but in a good way. 

Apparently this is not the only book/story by Lemberg set in Birdverse, which means I can look forward to reading their other work!
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional hopeful medium-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
reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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
adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-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

 I had tried this author's work before and couldn't get into it. But this one swept me right in, so I think I'd recommend it as a good entry to the Birdverse.

The main character is a nonbinary autistic poet, and I related to them a lot. Too often autistic characters are written as unfeeling, but this one reminded me a lot of myself.

The other character is a major contrast. She's quick to act and eager to fix things. Unfortunately, it seems their destinies have gotten swapped, and they each have all the wrong strengths to solve their village's problem.

I had high hopes for the ending, but instead it was deliberately inconclusive. I see why the author chose to do that, but I found it a letdown. 
adventurous reflective sad 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
adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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