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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Ouf... what a journey!
Je sens que j'ai besoin de réfléchir à cette fin!
Quelqu'un pour en jaser avec moi?
Je sens que j'ai besoin de réfléchir à cette fin!
Quelqu'un pour en jaser avec moi?
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is...an indescribable book. It's very dense, simple in some ways and provocative in others-- and honestly, it takes
a while to make any kind of sense (in the way that it does). People who enjoy their stories strange with an element of body horror will probably enjoy this; but I have to say it's very hard to review. Even the word "enjoy" feels strangely wrong to consider as a goal to reading this. In a strange way, just like Sasha, how much of the narrative you're able to accept, contextually, will determine if this is the book for you or not. Don't get me wrong-- it's weird, and not for everyone, but I've also never read anything quite like it, and I've read a LOT of books.
a while to make any kind of sense (in the way that it does). People who enjoy their stories strange with an element of body horror will probably enjoy this; but I have to say it's very hard to review. Even the word "enjoy" feels strangely wrong to consider as a goal to reading this. In a strange way, just like Sasha, how much of the narrative you're able to accept, contextually, will determine if this is the book for you or not. Don't get me wrong-- it's weird, and not for everyone, but I've also never read anything quite like it, and I've read a LOT of books.
What a ride this was! I hardly know how to martial my thoughts about it--it's sort of like trying to describe the taste of something to someone who's never even heard of the food before. If you've read it, you likely know what I'm thinking about. If you haven't read it yet...maybe try it? You might hate it and spit it out, but you might love it!
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Things to love:
-I've never read anything like this. I mean yes, magic school, sure, fine. But...this ain't Hogwarts or Kvothe's University. It's... hmm. Have you read 72 Words by Ted Chiang? Imagine that, written by Philip K Dick, but Russian.
-So effing creepy/trippy/mindblowing. I can't say any more about this, but it's hard fantasy--REALLY hard fantasy.
-But also human? Idk man, this is super cerebral but also, like, we talk about new babies and haircuts and stuff.
-I guess just the writing/translation. Brilliantly translated IMO. Tense, emotive, scary and liberating.
Things not to love:
-Everything I just said. Totally valid not to love that all.
-End...ing? A bit abrupt? Not entirely sure what happened or what the motivation there was.
This was An Experience, and I highly recommend people who like magic school stories, new weird and/or dark fantasy. I'm gonna have to think on this.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Spoiler
coercion of will, sexual coercion, mental torture, loss of a loved one, attempted suicide.Things to love:
-I've never read anything like this. I mean yes, magic school, sure, fine. But...this ain't Hogwarts or Kvothe's University. It's... hmm. Have you read 72 Words by Ted Chiang? Imagine that, written by Philip K Dick, but Russian.
-So effing creepy/trippy/mindblowing. I can't say any more about this, but it's hard fantasy--REALLY hard fantasy.
-But also human? Idk man, this is super cerebral but also, like, we talk about new babies and haircuts and stuff.
-I guess just the writing/translation. Brilliantly translated IMO. Tense, emotive, scary and liberating.
Things not to love:
-Everything I just said. Totally valid not to love that all.
-End...ing? A bit abrupt? Not entirely sure what happened or what the motivation there was.
This was An Experience, and I highly recommend people who like magic school stories, new weird and/or dark fantasy. I'm gonna have to think on this.