Reviews

Pre-review note: Having finished this, I do highly recommend following Lemberg's suggestion in the About the Birdverse forward re reading some of the short stories before diving into this work. The ones they suggested are a great intro to the world and magic system to give you a good foundation going into this so you can focus on soaking in the characters without getting distracted with the details.

I thought this was so beautiful and powerful and it hit me in so many tender bits. These two protagonists have such a complex journey of identity and discovery, full of false starts and missteps, culminating in an ending that wasn't exactly settled and perfect, but it was full of hope and promise and purpose that they both lacked at the beginning. The undercurrent of autocracy and exploitation and exploring the theme of the neverending cycle of repression and revolution, death and hope, sure made me feel Some Things. Lemberg's world-building, magic system, and imagery are, as always, gorgeous. I really wish there were more full length novels so we could dive deep in some of the other places that come up throughout their stories (am especially interested in this Orphan Star assassin academy...some juicy things going on there for sure).

Looking forward to much more in the Birdverse.

saintburns's review against another edition

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5.0

This story is indeed profound. A hopeful tale of wanderlust told from the perspective of those who are tired of waiting for their lives to begin. I felt lucky to be able to explore this world and would love to return. This story of light also includes a rich darkness that talks of death and hope. I was given an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

spot_the_book_unicorn's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

s_sheppard18's review against another edition

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5.0

I'm not sure how to even adequately review The Four Profound Weaves, but I'll give it a shot:

Intense. Lyrical. Atmospheric. Heavy. Hopeful. Layered.

It's kind of the book equivalent of an arthouse film. An unflinching and sometimes dark narrative that delves deep into trans experiences, the meaning of life, and found family. It was beautiful and I loved it.

karinlib's review against another edition

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3.0

This is the case of really liking the writing, which is lyrical and dreamlike, but it wasn't quite enough to love the book. The premise was interesting, but the worldbuilding could have better executed. I found that I was a bit confused by the magic system, and yet it had potential to be great.

kleonard's review against another edition

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5.0

This is a book of great beauty and wit and imagination. In The Four Profound Weaves, R. B. Lemberg crafts a story about growing up and growing old, magic and art, learning and traveling, trusting and transforming. The weaver Uiziya sets out into the desert to to find her aunt, who weaves clothes for assassins from bone, in hopes that her aunt will teach her the last of the Four Profound Weaves: weaving with death. With her travels an unnamed man, who is also looking for a kind of final learning, a name. Lemberg introduces readers to several fascinating cultures and individuals from her Birdverse, whose histories and traditions come together to help a weaver find life and happiness, albeit through betrayal and pain. This is a fabulous, brutal, shimmering queer fairytale but also a story of great truth in terms of identity, gender, sexuality, and sense of self.

cheericrow23's review against another edition

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emotional reflective

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

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