Reviews - House of Open Wounds

400 reviews for:

House of Open Wounds

Adrian Tchaikovsky

4.4 AVERAGE

apoll0314's review against another edition

5.0

God i could cry this book was so good I did not ever want it to end 😔😔😔

geozoink's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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

The Run-Down: Adrian Tchaikovsky knocks it out of the park in this wildly inventive, gripping fantasy novel.

Review:

I don’t understand why everyone isn’t talking about Adrian Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosophers Series. I loved the first book in the series, The City of Last Chances, but I still wasn’t prepared for how much I would love House of Open Wounds, which follows the former-priest Yasnic as he joins an experimental Pallseen army medical unit on the frontlines of their war with the Loruthi. My jaw was on the floor in awe and delight throughout the entire book.

I have never encountered an author who can weave so many plot threads and character arcs together into a cohesive and satisfying narrative as Tchaikovsky. He fluidly shifts between perspectives of ten or more protagonists, each given complex motivations and backstories. Their narratives interlock so delicately and thoughtfully as the story progresses that it leaves no doubt that Tchaikovsky is a mastermind. The story builds to a conclusion so satisfying and jaw-dropping that it has to be one of the greatest endings to a book that I’ve ever read. It’s an ending that’s earned through diligent technical and emotional groundwork; not only does the reader understand how such an ending is possible based on the breadcrumbs laid throughout, but they also grasp why it’s such a perfect ending for the characters and found family they’ve grown to care about.

It is not enough to say that this book is a masterclass in character work and plot. It is also an incredible showcase of Tchaikovsky’s mad-genius inventiveness as a worldbuilder and writer. Every hundred pages or so I would put the book down and ask myself, how on earth did anyone dream this up? He doesn’t shy away from using this worldbuilding to touch upon thematic topics such as religion, personal agency, war, and ethics. Furthermore, his inventiveness extends to the book’s language: there are so many delightful and humorous turns of phrase that add even more flavor to this otherwise incredible work. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially for people who enjoyed City of Last Chances.

Content Warnings

broomgrass's review against another edition

4.0

Belated review! Once I got past the opening, which was trying to be perhaps too dark and grotesque, I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the group. Tchiakovsky is very good at writing empire.

keshwyn's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

This is a delightful critique of the horrors of war, while also an excellent alternate magical reality. The tension between the conscripted refugees, the enthusiastic (and frequently not enthusiastic) soldiers, and the legal wrangling of how to stay inside the letter of the law while bending it as far as it can go - for both noble and utterly horrific ends - made the book for me.

I found the prior book in the series a bit of a slog, but it was worthwhile to have all of the backstory and worldbuilding already in my brain for this book. It made things flow much better.

Content Warnings

nickmcknight's review against another edition

4.0

my favourite trend in fantasy books is when the first book sets down a really interesting and well crafted world, but with enough guidelines and rules and conventions that you read it and aren't too overwhelmed, and finish thinking you understand the world you were just immersed in for 300+ pages.

and then the second book is just entirely off the shits.