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sipping_tea_with_ghosts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
If you can give me a good world and some well rounded characters, the story in any book can be mediocre at best. Regrettably, while Wolfe can certainly throw in some interesting concepts, that's all he really can contribute to these broad demands - and even then, half the time the ideas and bits of lore honestly feel like they are purposely tossed in to change the scene in some way, not to build character backstory, world history or establish a plot point. If the author was asked to build a bridge to connect two scenes - be it with character motivation, introspection, action or even the cheapest of fluff - he would just make Severian t-pose and fly over the bridge and be surprised when people ask how he got from A to B with no explanation.
This and the first book wouldn't earn 3 stars if it wasn't for the worldbuilding and the occasional lore and character moment that hits - as vacuous as they now seem in retrospect. The killing blow to anything higher, even the future books I haven't read but know will remain steeped in this flaw - is the characters. Wolfe makes the mistake of making the main character seem like the most boring character to exist in this world. Even when the self-insert isn't being boring, he's reflecting the kinds of thoughts towards women that unfortunately give me the impression of a sexually insecure man that curses his nether regions while whacking the sinful rises with a bible. The latter half of this book makes Severian sound like a horny moron: putting himself in danger, fawning over and condescending any woman that contrivedly fancies him, and still being so naïve and temperamental after so much time alone. I have to agree with Mark Lawrence when he said that he doesn't believe any of the connections that Severian has with any woman.
There's a particular scene in this second half where Severian is talking to a woman he took a boat ride with in the first book named Dorcas.
There's also another scene after with another woman named that was apparently trying to describe consensual love making in a boat but it sounded like anything but. This was also with a character that gets undressed by the narrator's eyes every time she enters a scene, belting out the kind of descriptions that would never be given to a male character.
So yeah, unfortunately as a sucker for lore and worldbuilding, I'm putting up with more chaff than I probably should. While I'm not someone who will burn a book for having some antiquated portrayals and views, it does bring down the experience if it feels tied into a larger problem overall. So the lore and world is neat, the overarching goal is static yet somehow feels unclear and preceded by a route that gets jumbled by Google Maps every time you make a turn, and the characters are either the boring people upfront or the interesting people being vague jerks that occupy a page or two at most.
I'm sure by next year, I'll feel the need to continue, but I'm in no rush.
This and the first book wouldn't earn 3 stars if it wasn't for the worldbuilding and the occasional lore and character moment that hits - as vacuous as they now seem in retrospect. The killing blow to anything higher, even the future books I haven't read but know will remain steeped in this flaw - is the characters. Wolfe makes the mistake of making the main character seem like the most boring character to exist in this world. Even when the self-insert isn't being boring, he's reflecting the kinds of thoughts towards women that unfortunately give me the impression of a sexually insecure man that curses his nether regions while whacking the sinful rises with a bible. The latter half of this book makes Severian sound like a horny moron: putting himself in danger, fawning over and condescending any woman that contrivedly fancies him, and still being so naïve and temperamental after so much time alone. I have to agree with Mark Lawrence when he said that he doesn't believe any of the connections that Severian has with any woman.
There's a particular scene in this second half where Severian is talking to a woman he took a boat ride with in the first book named Dorcas.
Spoiler
I found myself laughing at this scene because the lack of subtlety in this scene with how he downplays her worries and bad dreams, assuring her that maybe she'll feel better with him around, made me think of a draft in which he would bold facedly say "Ahh. don't worry, fair maiden...feel the power of my Staff of Penetration +6 wipe away your womanly strife."There's also another scene after with another woman named
Spoiler
JolentaSo yeah, unfortunately as a sucker for lore and worldbuilding, I'm putting up with more chaff than I probably should. While I'm not someone who will burn a book for having some antiquated portrayals and views, it does bring down the experience if it feels tied into a larger problem overall. So the lore and world is neat, the overarching goal is static yet somehow feels unclear and preceded by a route that gets jumbled by Google Maps every time you make a turn, and the characters are either the boring people upfront or the interesting people being vague jerks that occupy a page or two at most.
I'm sure by next year, I'll feel the need to continue, but I'm in no rush.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
jakobvongunten's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia
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