Scan barcode
dennytherestaurant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
bibliocinephile's review against another edition
5.0
WOWWWWWWWWW. this book almost reads like a horror movies sometimes: just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. the unforgiving descriptions of the landscapes, the weather, love, and loss were brutal to read in the best way. it was almost masochistic to read this book, seeing Baru destroy so much but still, inside yourself, rooting for her. the morally grey protagonist was explored so well and so compellingly with queerness and how it lives in us very well written too. the plot was incredibly intriguing--never before has such a complex and nuanced plot been so easy to understand for me. simply incredible.
gothhotel's review against another edition
4.0
Exhausting. Dull at first, then utterly vital from about 40% to the end. Baru’s brilliance is at times overblown and the early part of the book feels like watching a board game unfold. Then it turns - around Radaszic’s letter, iykyk - and, oh, oh. You know where it’s going and you have to watch it go there, heart in throat, hoping against hope until you sink. The style is epic poetry but the spirit is historical materialism. Basically this book is like getting the shit beaten out of you. Respect, but not sure I recommend. The next book has mixed reviews and I am tired, so may or may not continue.
abandonedmegastructure's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
The Traitor Baru Cormorant is, without a doubt, the greatest work of SFF I've read this year. It's so many things: a high-level zoomed-out view of war and rebellion and shifting political alliances, a close psychological examination of its fascinating title character, and a philosophical exploration of themes of imperialism, gender, sexuality, modernity, power, and loyalty.
The narrative always sticks close to Baru, who makes for an unique and enjoyable viewpoint: rational but not emotionless, clever but not all-knowing, compassionate yet ruthless. Having a single perspective can be tough, but the novel always manages to share all relevant information with the reader and keep the pacing up. The side characters are distinct and interesting in their own ways, with schemes we only barely glimpse before they come to fruition in a way that perfectly rhymes with Baru's own uneasy paranoia.
The worldbuilding, too, is stellar: a single-page map gives us just enough information to contextualize everything that's slowly introduced . The differing societies are memorable, believable, and simultaneously both grounded in real historical cultures and utterly original (not a contradiction: a sad consequence of most fantasy writers forgetting that lands south of Cairo or east of Moscow exist). Quick throwaway lines have me thinking about all these imagined places that aren't even the focus of the story: an impressive feat!
As for the things that are the focus of the story... Aurdwynn is a bit bland, but this is more than made up for by the imperialist Masquerade, its ideology of colonialism and social darwinism horrifyingly realistic, its mastery of chemistry, psychology, and eugenics creating a very different sort of tyranny than the armor-clad jack-booted oppression of most of fantasy's evil empires.
And the plot! An impressive 400 page account detailing the journey of Baru herself, ruthlessly seeking power for the greater good, being forced to consider just how much she's willing to sacrifice for that. It maintains coherency without getting repetitive - and delivers a very interesting answer, subtly more complicated than 'literally everything'. Plus, y'know, rebellions and armies and large-scale political maneuvering that doesn't fall into ASoIaF's trap of forgetting logistics are a thing (the opposite, in fact).
I was hooked from the first chapter, read the closing pages with barely-concealed awe, and will most definitely be reading the rest of the series. This book is everything I want out of the fantasy genre and more: a compelling narrative chock-full of high-stakes gambits, psychological turmoil, and interesting ideas. Five stars: I can't think of a single thing I'd change.
The narrative always sticks close to Baru, who makes for an unique and enjoyable viewpoint: rational but not emotionless, clever but not all-knowing, compassionate yet ruthless. Having a single perspective can be tough, but the novel always manages to share all relevant information with the reader and keep the pacing up. The side characters are distinct and interesting in their own ways, with schemes we only barely glimpse before they come to fruition in a way that perfectly rhymes with Baru's own uneasy paranoia.
The worldbuilding, too, is stellar: a single-page map gives us just enough information to contextualize everything that's slowly introduced . The differing societies are memorable, believable, and simultaneously both grounded in real historical cultures and utterly original (not a contradiction: a sad consequence of most fantasy writers forgetting that lands south of Cairo or east of Moscow exist). Quick throwaway lines have me thinking about all these imagined places that aren't even the focus of the story: an impressive feat!
As for the things that are the focus of the story... Aurdwynn is a bit bland, but this is more than made up for by the imperialist Masquerade, its ideology of colonialism and social darwinism horrifyingly realistic, its mastery of chemistry, psychology, and eugenics creating a very different sort of tyranny than the armor-clad jack-booted oppression of most of fantasy's evil empires.
And the plot! An impressive 400 page account detailing the journey of Baru herself, ruthlessly seeking power for the greater good, being forced to consider just how much she's willing to sacrifice for that. It maintains coherency without getting repetitive - and delivers a very interesting answer, subtly more complicated than 'literally everything'. Plus, y'know, rebellions and armies and large-scale political maneuvering that doesn't fall into ASoIaF's trap of forgetting logistics are a thing (the opposite, in fact).
I was hooked from the first chapter, read the closing pages with barely-concealed awe, and will most definitely be reading the rest of the series. This book is everything I want out of the fantasy genre and more: a compelling narrative chock-full of high-stakes gambits, psychological turmoil, and interesting ideas. Five stars: I can't think of a single thing I'd change.
kaithutch18's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kivt's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t think I put this down all day. Great read.
Second read: not as good as I remembered, mostly for technical reasons. Dickinson's writing gets a lot better by the third book, which makes sense. Still a good read, though.
Second read: not as good as I remembered, mostly for technical reasons. Dickinson's writing gets a lot better by the third book, which makes sense. Still a good read, though.
carlyxdeexx's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, I really loved this one! It’s the kind of book you don’t want to end—as I saw the unread pages dwindling I kept hoping for more and more story, for an ending that wouldn’t come so soon, a promise of a book two. I don’t think there will be one, but jeez, if there is, I’m reading it!
We follow a single protagonist’s journey to obtain power, enough power to protect those she cares about, to stop suffering, to shape a more just world, all things that are very salient in today’s political climate. How do you stop injustice? How much sacrifice is necessary—is it always too much? What are we willing to do to prevent injustice, to preserve freedom? Or is contentment obtained solely through control?
Despite being a powerful tale of intrigue and strategy (it was hard to put this down every time I picked it up), Dickinson manages to make all of his characters so emotionally rich and deep and compelling. His writing style is pointed, sometimes lyrical, and just very, very smart. I love that he doesn’t give too much away—there were some moments I didn’t quite fully understand, but I felt I lost nothing for it, that it was okay for Baru to be sharper and cleverer than me.
The relationships in this book are authentic and charged between enemies, friends, and lovers alike. No more excuses when it comes to representation in fantasy on every front, because this book does it well: so many sexual orientations, skin tones, family configurations, body types. Disabilities weren’t really featured here, but perhaps that’s more due to the nature of the Masquerade than anything else. These choices aren’t last-minute or inconsequential, and these characters aren’t props: they’re people.
I wish I could know the rest, and I’m grateful I saw a friend recommend this book on Facebook or I may not have ever found it. Now, it’s definitely a core part of my elaborately arranged, overflowing bookshelf, to be returned to again and again.
I guess I should mention one reservation I have about the end. I’m ambivalent about its cutoff point. I want to come away with an answer, but all I finished with were questions, all the same questions. Perhaps that was Dickinson’s goal, though: to keep us thinking about these questions in terms of our own world and the powers we know are at play. How will we make change? What does Baru’s journey look like for us?
UPDATE: THERE’S A SEQUEL AAAAH I’M SO EXCITED! 💛
We follow a single protagonist’s journey to obtain power, enough power to protect those she cares about, to stop suffering, to shape a more just world, all things that are very salient in today’s political climate. How do you stop injustice? How much sacrifice is necessary—is it always too much? What are we willing to do to prevent injustice, to preserve freedom? Or is contentment obtained solely through control?
Despite being a powerful tale of intrigue and strategy (it was hard to put this down every time I picked it up), Dickinson manages to make all of his characters so emotionally rich and deep and compelling. His writing style is pointed, sometimes lyrical, and just very, very smart. I love that he doesn’t give too much away—there were some moments I didn’t quite fully understand, but I felt I lost nothing for it, that it was okay for Baru to be sharper and cleverer than me.
The relationships in this book are authentic and charged between enemies, friends, and lovers alike. No more excuses when it comes to representation in fantasy on every front, because this book does it well: so many sexual orientations, skin tones, family configurations, body types. Disabilities weren’t really featured here, but perhaps that’s more due to the nature of the Masquerade than anything else. These choices aren’t last-minute or inconsequential, and these characters aren’t props: they’re people.
I wish I could know the rest, and I’m grateful I saw a friend recommend this book on Facebook or I may not have ever found it. Now, it’s definitely a core part of my elaborately arranged, overflowing bookshelf, to be returned to again and again.
I guess I should mention one reservation I have about the end. I’m ambivalent about its cutoff point. I want to come away with an answer, but all I finished with were questions, all the same questions. Perhaps that was Dickinson’s goal, though: to keep us thinking about these questions in terms of our own world and the powers we know are at play. How will we make change? What does Baru’s journey look like for us?
UPDATE: THERE’S A SEQUEL AAAAH I’M SO EXCITED! 💛