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littlecatnose's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lesbianvulpix's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
larsen1191's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
5.0
enantiodromos's review against another edition
5.0
Was underwhelmed by the overall arc of the plot, and not impressed by the recondite vocabulary. At times this tetraology reads more like grist for the art of retcon.
And yet... and yet. I have in the past adored other books/series with similar flaws-- Gormenghast comes to mind. Like a lens that fitfully comes into focus on a hideous, but on further contemplation, strangely beautiful mishmash of dying protozoans. Several astonishingly clever ideas, too. More than several if you count all the stuff that is introduced so off-handedly that I'm still drumming my fingers over it.
And by the end of the fourth book, though there's not been some sort of amazing integral reveal, there is both a lot of emotional conclusion and a enough clarity descends on the whole thing to redeem its marshy spots.
Most of all, it's haunting both in its details, and in the larger picture it hints at.
It remains to be seen whether I will read it a second time. I have so often been so disappointed by what amount to artless, meandering shaggy dog story lines like Hyperion and the Faded Sun Trilogy-- bleah-- that maybe I'm just enthusiasm-shy.
And yet... and yet. I have in the past adored other books/series with similar flaws-- Gormenghast comes to mind. Like a lens that fitfully comes into focus on a hideous, but on further contemplation, strangely beautiful mishmash of dying protozoans. Several astonishingly clever ideas, too. More than several if you count all the stuff that is introduced so off-handedly that I'm still drumming my fingers over it.
And by the end of the fourth book, though there's not been some sort of amazing integral reveal, there is both a lot of emotional conclusion and a enough clarity descends on the whole thing to redeem its marshy spots.
Most of all, it's haunting both in its details, and in the larger picture it hints at.
It remains to be seen whether I will read it a second time. I have so often been so disappointed by what amount to artless, meandering shaggy dog story lines like Hyperion and the Faded Sun Trilogy-- bleah-- that maybe I'm just enthusiasm-shy.
gansejunge's review against another edition
Lost interest, too many descriptions with not enough plot progression
drewolson's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fuzzy1999's review
Started of promisingly, but the main character was so dull and the story was incredibly slow paced and seemed to be going nowhere
dabble's review against another edition
3.0
I've never read a book like this. It was both incredibly imaginative and also incredibly vague. What a trip.
oysterpoacher's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
preostferox's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0