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posies23's review against another edition
5.0
I'm surprised this book doesn't have more of a following. It's a very well-written fantasy novel, with some amazing world-building and compelling characters. The heroine is a nice change of pace, too -- she starts the novel with a good set of skills, and continues to grow and improve as the novel goes on, as opposed to being superhuman from the get-go, or a doormat who has to be taught everything by some mentor. There are a few clunky sections, but everything pays off in the end, although there are still many threads for future stories.
Now that I think about it, the book actually reminded me a little of Graham Greene's THE POWER AND THE GLORY in the way it is constructed -- you really need to pay attention, because characters are introduced and it takes the narrative a while to explain who they are and how they connect to the bigger picture of the story.
I'm very excited to read the other novels in the series!
Now that I think about it, the book actually reminded me a little of Graham Greene's THE POWER AND THE GLORY in the way it is constructed -- you really need to pay attention, because characters are introduced and it takes the narrative a while to explain who they are and how they connect to the bigger picture of the story.
I'm very excited to read the other novels in the series!
hectaizani's review against another edition
2.0
This book came really highly recommended, so I wanted very much to like it more than I did. The storyline didn't really stand out in my mind, so much so that I forgot much of what had happened previously every time I set the book down. Perhaps I shall read it again in the future, this just might not have been the right time.
qwerty88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this book is very much of its time. if it were published today it would have either been 600 pages long, or a series of novellas. Blink and you'll miss stuff. The author does not repeat themselves, so you need to remember names, relationships, so much to keep track of what is happening in the book.
wybohoukes's review against another edition
2.0
A different, but ultimately unsatisfactory take on many familiar tropes.
Godstalk features on several recent lists of older fantasy books that, for whatever reason, did not get the attention that they deserve -- so it seemed that the least that I could do for it was to give it a try.
Initially, it delivered in spades. We get a heroine in a very memorable setting that she struggles to make sense of, while things get ever more weird and dangerous around her. At the same time, we have to make sense of who she is, as she is on the run from events that she barely remembers and appears to have all manners of talents and secrets. Both the setting and she embody familiar tropes: shifting labyrinths, close contact with the divine, family heirlooms, and the flight from some original sin - in the first ten pages alone. What is intriguing is that nothing is fully explained, much is hinted at, and all does not quite add up to the (over)familiar.
Yet, as other reviewers have noted, it goes downhill from there. The heroine rapidly, and somewhat unbelievably, settles into her new surroundings, which no longer seem so unfamiliar on closer inspection - to her, and to us. Without spoiling too much, we get thieves, power machinations, decadent nobles, revelations of personal and world history, public executions, rooftop chases, and bar room brawling (and dancing). It is all entertaining enough, but never much more than that. Occasionally, things seem to return to the weirdness of the first chapter, but they never do, not even in the dramatic finale; on the contrary, all eventually falls into place a little too neatly to my taste.
Only the heroine herself retains some of her inscrutability, but not (in my opinion) in an altogether good way. I do not mean her history of personal trauma and expanding range of talents: those are interesting enough. More annoying, again as also remarked by others, are her supposedly deep convictions and code of conduct, which are sometimes set in stone and sometimes highly flexible - just as the plot demands; although, incidentally, the inflexibility of her code of honor is mostly introduced in episodes that are tangential to the main storyline.
This ambiguity could have made her more relatable, if it were not for another characteristic: throughout the book, I found it impossible to figure out about whom or what she cares. Quests and, more importantly, people are sometimes reasons to take incredible risks, only to disappear largely from her (and therefore also our) attention and affection a few pages later. Perhaps this lack of emotional consistency should underline that she is not entirely like the characters she meets, or like us, but for me it made most of the book, especially the finale, strangely flat. Interestingly, this lack of consistency is reflected in the style, which is sometimes reminiscent of dark fantasy, and sometimes very light-hearted. All this might be deliberate on the part of the writer - and then it is definitely skillfully done; but it still left me feeling... mostly nothing about what happened.
Overall, my attitude towards the book is nicely captured by a scene in which the heroine and wannabe love interest watch another character leave the city where all events unfold: they feel somewhat glad that he escaped a worse fate, and wish him well in his further endeavors -- but then return to some more pressing business and hardly spare him another thought.
Godstalk features on several recent lists of older fantasy books that, for whatever reason, did not get the attention that they deserve -- so it seemed that the least that I could do for it was to give it a try.
Initially, it delivered in spades. We get a heroine in a very memorable setting that she struggles to make sense of, while things get ever more weird and dangerous around her. At the same time, we have to make sense of who she is, as she is on the run from events that she barely remembers and appears to have all manners of talents and secrets. Both the setting and she embody familiar tropes: shifting labyrinths, close contact with the divine, family heirlooms, and the flight from some original sin - in the first ten pages alone. What is intriguing is that nothing is fully explained, much is hinted at, and all does not quite add up to the (over)familiar.
Yet, as other reviewers have noted, it goes downhill from there. The heroine rapidly, and somewhat unbelievably, settles into her new surroundings, which no longer seem so unfamiliar on closer inspection - to her, and to us. Without spoiling too much, we get thieves, power machinations, decadent nobles, revelations of personal and world history, public executions, rooftop chases, and bar room brawling (and dancing). It is all entertaining enough, but never much more than that. Occasionally, things seem to return to the weirdness of the first chapter, but they never do, not even in the dramatic finale; on the contrary, all eventually falls into place a little too neatly to my taste.
Only the heroine herself retains some of her inscrutability, but not (in my opinion) in an altogether good way. I do not mean her history of personal trauma and expanding range of talents: those are interesting enough. More annoying, again as also remarked by others, are her supposedly deep convictions and code of conduct, which are sometimes set in stone and sometimes highly flexible - just as the plot demands; although, incidentally, the inflexibility of her code of honor is mostly introduced in episodes that are tangential to the main storyline.
This ambiguity could have made her more relatable, if it were not for another characteristic: throughout the book, I found it impossible to figure out about whom or what she cares. Quests and, more importantly, people are sometimes reasons to take incredible risks, only to disappear largely from her (and therefore also our) attention and affection a few pages later. Perhaps this lack of emotional consistency should underline that she is not entirely like the characters she meets, or like us, but for me it made most of the book, especially the finale, strangely flat. Interestingly, this lack of consistency is reflected in the style, which is sometimes reminiscent of dark fantasy, and sometimes very light-hearted. All this might be deliberate on the part of the writer - and then it is definitely skillfully done; but it still left me feeling... mostly nothing about what happened.
Overall, my attitude towards the book is nicely captured by a scene in which the heroine and wannabe love interest watch another character leave the city where all events unfold: they feel somewhat glad that he escaped a worse fate, and wish him well in his further endeavors -- but then return to some more pressing business and hardly spare him another thought.
tacochelle'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As someone from Wisconsin, I look at our local writers section at the public library and see many books on local history, and farming memoirs. And in the midst of all those books, is this little sci-fi/fantasy book from the 80s. Be still my beating heart.
This book throws you right in the midst of the action, as the main character Jame runs from one assailant to a city of many gods, where one night a year the dead gods wander the night hungry. There is so much worldbuilding, and admittedly, I'm still fuzzy on the details. There is just so much packed in a fairly small book. I love the exploration of the people and their many faiths. Most of the characters grew on me. I was just really vibing with this book.
This book throws you right in the midst of the action, as the main character Jame runs from one assailant to a city of many gods, where one night a year the dead gods wander the night hungry. There is so much worldbuilding, and admittedly, I'm still fuzzy on the details. There is just so much packed in a fairly small book. I love the exploration of the people and their many faiths. Most of the characters grew on me. I was just really vibing with this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, Animal cruelty, and Murder
Minor: War
elusivity's review against another edition
2.0
The city of Tai-tastigon, mysterious as it is, fails to draw me in. It forms no shape in my mind's eye, and slips like shadows from my dreams' landscape.
The main character, Jame, mysterious as she is, with cryptic memories sprouting like weeds from her brain, a thief incomparably skilled yet honorable, a being of as-yet-undiscovered powers, fails to form as a coherent person. Sometimes she is tortured. The next instant, she is carefree and joking. No transition between these two states.
The tone of this novel is confusing. Some passages describes darkness and misery. Others, mere fluffy everyday nonsense. It does not seem to matter that people die and gods are wrathful and houses fall and burn. These leave no mark on the characters, and I am not moved either.
Many characters have highlighted cryptic, quirky personalities, yet have no real impact on the plot line. I am left scratching my head. Why did abc spend all this time plotting cryptically, yet nothing comes out of it but...this? Why did xyz exchange long probing gazes all that time, and nothing results but...that?
Finally, and worst of all, this novel is in serious need of a single, good villain. Result: an underwhelming climax.
However, the Kencyr mythology seems quite interesting. I will move on to the next book in this series, and hope that is a better read!
The main character, Jame, mysterious as she is, with cryptic memories sprouting like weeds from her brain, a thief incomparably skilled yet honorable, a being of as-yet-undiscovered powers, fails to form as a coherent person. Sometimes she is tortured. The next instant, she is carefree and joking. No transition between these two states.
The tone of this novel is confusing. Some passages describes darkness and misery. Others, mere fluffy everyday nonsense. It does not seem to matter that people die and gods are wrathful and houses fall and burn. These leave no mark on the characters, and I am not moved either.
Many characters have highlighted cryptic, quirky personalities, yet have no real impact on the plot line. I am left scratching my head. Why did abc spend all this time plotting cryptically, yet nothing comes out of it but...this? Why did xyz exchange long probing gazes all that time, and nothing results but...that?
Finally, and worst of all, this novel is in serious need of a single, good villain. Result: an underwhelming climax.
However, the Kencyr mythology seems quite interesting. I will move on to the next book in this series, and hope that is a better read!
itabar's review against another edition
2.0
This is an iconic book, recommended often. I was underwhelmed.
Lots of mildly interesting characters make appearances in a disjointed narrative. Maybe it was my mood, but I couldn't see the point of the story. It was a struggle to finish, tbh.
Lots of mildly interesting characters make appearances in a disjointed narrative. Maybe it was my mood, but I couldn't see the point of the story. It was a struggle to finish, tbh.
ashleylm's review against another edition
I was game for a while--I liked the idea of a maze city, and as the plot developed early on it seemed to go in atypical directions for a fantasy. Sadly, eventually I realised I wasn't getting a sense of character from the protagonist (the most interesting character was little seen and often referred to, a drug-addicted dancer), it was frustrating (not in an fun challenging way) that Jame both seemed to know a lot about her past and yet was apparently memory-deprived, but without letting the audience in on the rules of what she knew or didn't and why, there were a zillion supporting characters with names like Dibby or Zort that I couldn't keep track of or recall (this from somebody who's fave books are Vanity Fair and Middlemarch) or care about ... and that early sense of an atypical plot transformed into a mature sense that the writer didn't really grasp how to successfully plot (e.g. introducing an aged mentor, for instance, but barely describing them, spending time with them, so what's the point in having one?)
I definitely gave it more than 53 pages (my age), I got fully half-way through before committing to an amicable break-up. Life is short, and there are more novels than ever--I have to up my standards or I'll never get to all the books I might really truly love.
Vita brevis est, sunt magis e libris est. (Life is short, there are better books out there--for me, at least).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
I definitely gave it more than 53 pages (my age), I got fully half-way through before committing to an amicable break-up. Life is short, and there are more novels than ever--I have to up my standards or I'll never get to all the books I might really truly love.
Vita brevis est, sunt magis e libris est. (Life is short, there are better books out there--for me, at least).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
mordproxy69's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very focused on the main character Jame. The side characters are interesting but not super-well developed. Very episodic (but the "episodes" are pretty good). Lots of cool worldbuilding. Will definitely be checking out the sequel(s).
Since I listened to the audiobook instead of reading it (and I'm not a very good listener), take this review with a grain of salt.
Since I listened to the audiobook instead of reading it (and I'm not a very good listener), take this review with a grain of salt.