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distant_mirrors's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ielerol's review against another edition
4.0
Give me all the stories about powerful, bad-tempered older women who have killed some people in the past who they probably shouldn't have and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Especially if there's a lot of good non-Eurocentric worldbuilding too.
waterfairy's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. It engrossed me so much that I was itching everytime I had to put it down. It was really well written; the story new and interesting. When I read [book:The Cloud Roads|9461562], I was not impressed much. But after reading this book, I will definitely be revisiting that book and her other backlogs.
cedardleland's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mica_amy's review against another edition
4.0
The characters make this book. They are likable, complicated, and non-conforming. The world is also pretty neat, and there are some great subplots, but the main plot is fairly predictable and not that intersting. The main antagonists are wierdly not that interesting either. Overall, still a great read and as addictive as I remember as a teenager. Wells is a super creative writer and there are some scenes from this book that have stuck very vividly in my mind.
snazel's review against another edition
I think this was the first Martha Wells book I've read that I didn't utterly fall in love with. A significant element of that may be, let's be real, the fact that I've been over-reading lately and probably missed stuff. Like emotions or plot points. But it seemed much simpler than I tend to expect from Wells, in terms of number of characters and richness of world and like, bad guys. But at the same time I remember getting confused by character names. So no star rating, cause I'm not sure if I just missed characters, or they weren't as lushly drawn as I've come to expect.
Still a great set of characters, several of whom are quite old (one's literally been dead a few times (he's good at meditation, it didn't stick)), and interesting religion/worldbuilding/plot, and snark.
Still a great set of characters, several of whom are quite old (one's literally been dead a few times (he's good at meditation, it didn't stick)), and interesting religion/worldbuilding/plot, and snark.
mousie_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The conspiracy/plot is a little hard to follow.
annaswan's review against another edition
3.0
A mature woman with power (at a cost, very Bujold-ish that), a younger lover, and a well-developed sense of responsibility. The other characters were less thoroughly drawn, alas. The world-building was pretty neat, with complex, codified religious magic, but not the typical faux-European fantasy realm.
metaphorosis's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
Maskelle was once the Voice of the Adversary - the only Ancestor that never took human form. Now, she's returning from exile at the command of the Celestial One to help remake the Wheel of the Infinite - and deal with a problem that risks the existence of the entire world.
I give Martha Wells credit for developing a very different world here. This is not your standard medieval fantasy, nor quite your less-standard Eastern one. It's a mix of existing elements, but it works very well as a fairly unique setting centered around world that must be remade every year through complex rituals. It's never clear whether this is mostly tradition or the world is actually remade (and how the rituals were learned), but clearly the rituals have important effect.
Maskelle, the exiled ex-Voice of the Adversary, is a powerful mage, but also a genuine, human character with needs and emotions. She travels with a group of actors and a mysterious swordsman, and Wells shows us the relationships unfolding in a way that's both subtle and credible. She's not concerned with building up a lot of interplay and romance, and the story works well that way.
The settings and descriptions could have used some clarity, and the descriptions are sometimes overly terse, but we generally get enough for the story to work. What's nice about the story is that not just the relationships, but also the grand, world-shaking actions are presented in a pragmatic, low-key way - the antithesis of the usual over-the-top adventure. These are practical people dealing with problems that just happen to include saving the world. With a touch of humor.
So, what holds this story back? The prose is good, but is generally as low-key as the story itself. It's one area where the book could have benefited from more grace and beauty, to move the language from workmanlike to elegant. The overall plot is good, intriguing, and not quite what we'd expect, but there are also a fair number of loose ends. The core concept is good, but I really wish Wells had done more with the material she introduced. The end fells less like a wrapup than a convenient place to stop, or a good idea that simply isn't fleshed out well enough to satisfy.
All in all, an unusual and interesting world that doesn't reach as far as it should. Recommended despite some flaws.
Maskelle was once the Voice of the Adversary - the only Ancestor that never took human form. Now, she's returning from exile at the command of the Celestial One to help remake the Wheel of the Infinite - and deal with a problem that risks the existence of the entire world.
I give Martha Wells credit for developing a very different world here. This is not your standard medieval fantasy, nor quite your less-standard Eastern one. It's a mix of existing elements, but it works very well as a fairly unique setting centered around world that must be remade every year through complex rituals. It's never clear whether this is mostly tradition or the world is actually remade (and how the rituals were learned), but clearly the rituals have important effect.
Maskelle, the exiled ex-Voice of the Adversary, is a powerful mage, but also a genuine, human character with needs and emotions. She travels with a group of actors and a mysterious swordsman, and Wells shows us the relationships unfolding in a way that's both subtle and credible. She's not concerned with building up a lot of interplay and romance, and the story works well that way.
The settings and descriptions could have used some clarity, and the descriptions are sometimes overly terse, but we generally get enough for the story to work. What's nice about the story is that not just the relationships, but also the grand, world-shaking actions are presented in a pragmatic, low-key way - the antithesis of the usual over-the-top adventure. These are practical people dealing with problems that just happen to include saving the world. With a touch of humor.
So, what holds this story back? The prose is good, but is generally as low-key as the story itself. It's one area where the book could have benefited from more grace and beauty, to move the language from workmanlike to elegant. The overall plot is good, intriguing, and not quite what we'd expect, but there are also a fair number of loose ends. The core concept is good, but I really wish Wells had done more with the material she introduced. The end fells less like a wrapup than a convenient place to stop, or a good idea that simply isn't fleshed out well enough to satisfy.
All in all, an unusual and interesting world that doesn't reach as far as it should. Recommended despite some flaws.
anice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
A weird little romp thru a interesting fantasy world with a strong priestly caste and diverse set of cultural influences. Doesn’t quite have the vibrancy of the other Wells books I’ve read