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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
I want to rank this book higher, as I do recommend it, but I struggled to read it. It is lyrical, and has a complex detailed world, and is wonderfully non-western based. It is also dense, you have to actively be tracking the conversation and history in order to understand where the characters emotions are coming from, and beginning and middle is a long summary of the necessary history to understand the end of the book. It's a good book, but it was a hard read for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
tbh I didn’t finish this book. I gave it two stars because I really wanted to like it. World building was pretty solid and it was well written but it was way too slows and some of the characters were not very well rounded. I dreaded reading it but it was always ok when I did. Would not recommend
3.5 stars. I wish I could have read this while not so sleep deprived, as it’s not an easy read and I kept having to go back and check details. Beautifully written, and grim.
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
TL;DR: An experimental fantasy to the point of opacity, but the things that can be grasped are intriguing
This was a strange read, as I never really felt like I could understand what was going on. The pace is unusual, the language is idiosyncratic, and several of the key concepts are never really explained. I like the characters and their arcs, and what I can gather of the themes is good. It's particularly nice to see non-binary identities not just presented but explored. I do think this could have benefited from being a series and taking things a bit slower, but I at least admire its commitment to its style (and I offer a brief shoutout to the sparse animal chapters, which are bizarre yet memorable).
6/10 in personal rating system
This was a strange read, as I never really felt like I could understand what was going on. The pace is unusual, the language is idiosyncratic, and several of the key concepts are never really explained. I like the characters and their arcs, and what I can gather of the themes is good. It's particularly nice to see non-binary identities not just presented but explored. I do think this could have benefited from being a series and taking things a bit slower, but I at least admire its commitment to its style (and I offer a brief shoutout to the sparse animal chapters, which are bizarre yet memorable).
6/10 in personal rating system
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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:
No
It’s a great book! Definitely one to chew on as you read and it does dump you in and you don’t get answers quickly. But the world is vast and the story is epic. I loved it!