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bookbirb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
wealhtheow's review against another edition
3.0
An exiled nun (of a religion very like Buddhism) travels with her mysterious sword-wielding bodyguard to discover how and why the Wheel of the Infinite (a model of the world done in sand that recreates the world every year) is being destroyed. Along the way she must battle a demon-puppet, court intrigues, the Celestial Throne itself, and her past mistakes. Wells sidesteps clichéd plots and melodramatic moments neatly.
suzig's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I do adore Martha Wells. I’m glad she is finally getting her due. And I hope that everyone drawn in by Murderbot reads all her other books, I’m so very glad I did. Her women are strong and complex. Her men are supportive and tender under gruff exteriors. I always think I’m going to think the men aren’t deserving of her super cool ladies and then she proves me wrong. A very difficult task! This book is a sweeping epic. Which is good because I would have been sad if it was over quickly. My only complaints are that the last section of the book is a little confusing and could have used a little more of just telling the reader what’s going on. Also it irks me that Maskelle isn’t on the cover when Rian is.
pyanfarrrr's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kristi_asleep_dreaming's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. Readable. Confusing plot, or at least piecing together the backstory to make sense of the present plot was confusing. But the spiritualiity was handled plausibly - at least, the characters attitudes to religion seemed plausible. And the middle aged, repeatedly married, falliable female heroine was very nice.
ineffablebob's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed Wheel of the Infinite, but I have to admit I felt lost through much of it. There's a lot of things going on related to the structure of the world and spirits that live in it, and little of that made sense to me until the very end. Which means that something would happen and it would be a complete surprise: oh, puppets can be possessed? Had no idea. Maskelle can call animal spirits to attack her enemies in the spiritual plane? That's unexpected. It certainly kept things interesting, but it also meant I had no real investment in the plot...whatever was coming would be some weirdness that kept things moving, but not anything I had any chance of predicting.
Having said all that, the book still held my attention largely because I liked all the major characters. Maskelle is great, her boyfriend Rian too, and the supporting cast of wandering actors is often hilarious. I may not have understood what they were doing a lot of the time, but I sure liked observing how they got through it.
Having said all that, the book still held my attention largely because I liked all the major characters. Maskelle is great, her boyfriend Rian too, and the supporting cast of wandering actors is often hilarious. I may not have understood what they were doing a lot of the time, but I sure liked observing how they got through it.
sarahsponda's review against another edition
4.0
Really good, love Maskelle, wish there was more in this world!
alesia_charles's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars, really. First off, I love Wells' writing. She knows how to use words to elevate setting and character to something three-dimensional, and (my favorite technique) to occasionally drop in something humorous that's also illuminating. For example, on p. 12: "There were gasps and outcries, proving that some of the raiders at least were among the devout. One quick thinker turned and dived out the nearest window."
An amazing bit of work. With that one pair of sentences, Wells had me wondering: Just who *is* this woman that jumping out a window is a rational response to her announcing her title? Bits of information accumulate for quite a while before it all comes clear - which is kind of necessary, because it's involved with this culture's religion, and the religion is also most of what the plot is about, in a manner of speaking. (Can't explain more without spoiling the plot.)
What keeps the book from being five stars for me is simply that despite how interesting the main characters (Maskelle and Rian) were, I had trouble really warming up to them. They had interesting back stories and roles and definite personalities and all, but I don't know. It feels like because their cultures were so unlike those of our world, learning about those cultures displaced some of the learning about the characters.
In addition, the pacing of the end of the book seemed off. It had high stakes and danger and politics andtranslation to an alien alternate universe , but something about the order of events or the way they were presented didn't work well for me. Some of what happened resulted from past events that didn't get explained until quite close to - or even after - the novel's events, which might have something to do with it. Or maybe it's just me.
Still. Maskelle's little lightning strike and a bunch of the other events were sufficiently dramatic and thrilling, the world was fascinating, and most of the characters were of the non-pale persuasion (cover art notwithstanding: Maskelle, the dark-skinned main character, is on the back cover; that's Rian, the supporting lead, on the front). And the resolution makes sense, once you work it out - but it really is quite complicated. Highly recommended.
An amazing bit of work. With that one pair of sentences, Wells had me wondering: Just who *is* this woman that jumping out a window is a rational response to her announcing her title? Bits of information accumulate for quite a while before it all comes clear - which is kind of necessary, because it's involved with this culture's religion, and the religion is also most of what the plot is about, in a manner of speaking. (Can't explain more without spoiling the plot.)
What keeps the book from being five stars for me is simply that despite how interesting the main characters (Maskelle and Rian) were, I had trouble really warming up to them. They had interesting back stories and roles and definite personalities and all, but I don't know. It feels like because their cultures were so unlike those of our world, learning about those cultures displaced some of the learning about the characters.
In addition, the pacing of the end of the book seemed off. It had high stakes and danger and politics and
Still. Maskelle's little lightning strike and a bunch of the other events were sufficiently dramatic and thrilling, the world was fascinating, and most of the characters were of the non-pale persuasion (cover art notwithstanding: Maskelle, the dark-skinned main character, is on the back cover; that's Rian, the supporting lead, on the front). And the resolution makes sense, once you work it out - but it really is quite complicated. Highly recommended.
elusivity's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favorite books from one of my all-time favorite authors. I like the protagonist's strength (power and character), and how well she is matched by an equally-strong, younger, and hot (yay!) love interest.
We are plunged into mystery almost from the first page onwards. At first, who are these people and why are they so interesting. And then, into the actual mystery that is central to the plot.
Great stuff, and I highly recommend it. I heard this one was not one of her bestsellers, what a shame~
We are plunged into mystery almost from the first page onwards. At first, who are these people and why are they so interesting. And then, into the actual mystery that is central to the plot.
Great stuff, and I highly recommend it. I heard this one was not one of her bestsellers, what a shame~
krixbee's review against another edition
4.0
The magic and the world-building is unique, and helps make up for some of the things I didn't like enough. I recommend this for anyone looking for standalone fantasy, particularly for anyone who's bored of the Jamie Lannisters of the fantasy world. (I hate that's where I went with that but there it is.)