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blacksphinx's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
"Go girl, give us nothing." It's not about any one thing enough to form a coherent thought about. It's certainly not about a plot. It waves its arms in the air a little about AI, architecture, and legacy. In the end I thought it said nothing at all.
kivt's review against another edition
3.0
i definitely didn’t fully get it, but i didn’t like it well enough to really try
abookwormspov's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As someone who is super into building systems, architecture and AI, I loved this conceptually. Overall I was missing something, and I don't quite know what. But still good overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Confinement
maiakobabe's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
A brief murder mystery set in an fully conscious AI house in the southwest desert. This story feels in conversation with Ray Bradbury's story The Veldt and has many elements I enjoy, but a somewhat unresolved and slightly unsatisfying ending. I'm honestly still simmering on my thoughts, but looking forward to discussing this in book club soon!
teii's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vengefuldime's review against another edition
4.0
A mysterious little piece of fiction that plays with identity and legacy. It has beautiful writing that really stands out in colors and mood, with a prioritization of a soft, hazy atmosphere. The writing tends to be matter-of-fact when focused on characters and how they feel, but remains more obscure in general. I usually want more from characters, but for this book they are of better use as questions. I enjoyed the mysteries interlinking, and I think the book does well in giving suggestions of shape without clear answers. There are a number of repetitious phrases used that felt somewhat distracting (such as so many uses of “haunt” in such a short book), which I understand but did not prefer.
tashalostinbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
icarusabides's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jordanian_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
I loved Arkady Martine’s Teixcalaan novels, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Martine’s forthcoming novella. Rose/House combines a murder mystery with speculative fiction set in the near future. Preeminent architect Basit Deniau passed away one year ago, leaving his archive locked within his most legendary creation: Rose House, a fantastical house built as an artificial intelligence. Dr. Selene Gisil, Deniau’s former disciple, thought she had successfully cut ties with Deniau until she was appointed his executor and the only individual permitted access to Deniau’s legacy. Selene is determined to resist the posthumous sway of Deniau and Rose House, when Selene receives notice that a dead body is on the property and she’s a prime suspect.
Martine initially tees up Rose/House as a police procedural with Detective Maritza Smith trying to solve the case with Selene’s conflicted assistance. Rose/House is infused with a deliciously creepy yet understated atmosphere reminiscent of film noir. Further, its desert setting is stark and magnificent. However, in this novella, ideas predominate over everything (including the plot) – ideas on artificial intelligence and legacy, narrative and language, ego and volition. Rose/House is a very smart, philosophical work; reading it I highlighted over thirty lines. It made for an especially good buddy-read.
Rose/House also left me with a number of questions, making me wish Martine had fleshed Rose/House out into a full length novel and provided us with a few more answers. Even so, I found it extremely thought-provoking and look forward to her next work.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy upon request via NetGalley.com.
Martine initially tees up Rose/House as a police procedural with Detective Maritza Smith trying to solve the case with Selene’s conflicted assistance. Rose/House is infused with a deliciously creepy yet understated atmosphere reminiscent of film noir. Further, its desert setting is stark and magnificent. However, in this novella, ideas predominate over everything (including the plot) – ideas on artificial intelligence and legacy, narrative and language, ego and volition. Rose/House is a very smart, philosophical work; reading it I highlighted over thirty lines. It made for an especially good buddy-read.
Rose/House also left me with a number of questions, making me wish Martine had fleshed Rose/House out into a full length novel and provided us with a few more answers. Even so, I found it extremely thought-provoking and look forward to her next work.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy upon request via NetGalley.com.
jordanian_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
I loved Arkady Martine’s Teixcalaan novels, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Martine’s forthcoming novella. Rose/House combines a murder mystery with speculative fiction set in the near future. Preeminent architect Basit Deniau passed away one year ago, leaving his archive locked within his most legendary creation: Rose House, a fantastical house built as an artificial intelligence. Dr. Selene Gisil, Deniau’s former disciple, thought she had successfully cut ties with Deniau until she was appointed his executor and the only individual permitted access to Deniau’s legacy. Selene is determined to resist the posthumous sway of Deniau and Rose House, when Selene receives notice that a dead body is on the property and she’s a prime suspect.
Martine initially tees up Rose/House as a police procedural with Detective Maritza Smith trying to solve the case with Selene’s conflicted assistance. Rose/House is infused with a deliciously creepy yet understated atmosphere reminiscent of film noir. Further, its desert setting is stark and magnificent. However, in this novella, ideas predominate over everything (including the plot) – ideas on artificial intelligence and legacy, narrative and language, ego and volition. Rose/House is a very smart, philosophical work; reading it I highlighted over thirty lines. It made for an especially good buddy-read.
Rose/House also left me with a number of questions, making me wish Martine had fleshed Rose/House out into a full length novel and provided us with a few more answers. Even so, I found it extremely thought-provoking and look forward to her next work.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy upon request via NetGalley.com.
Martine initially tees up Rose/House as a police procedural with Detective Maritza Smith trying to solve the case with Selene’s conflicted assistance. Rose/House is infused with a deliciously creepy yet understated atmosphere reminiscent of film noir. Further, its desert setting is stark and magnificent. However, in this novella, ideas predominate over everything (including the plot) – ideas on artificial intelligence and legacy, narrative and language, ego and volition. Rose/House is a very smart, philosophical work; reading it I highlighted over thirty lines. It made for an especially good buddy-read.
Rose/House also left me with a number of questions, making me wish Martine had fleshed Rose/House out into a full length novel and provided us with a few more answers. Even so, I found it extremely thought-provoking and look forward to her next work.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy upon request via NetGalley.com.