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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Like other readers I had not realized the book was four novellas. But for me it worked because each story wrapped up nicely and quickly. Anything longer and it would have slowed down the plot. My favorite story is the executioness. She was great. The alchemist was my second favorite.
A solid installment of short stories by one of my favorite authors. This world definitely captures the eerie, ecologically-fucked vibe that I love... but something also made it feel like these were phoned in. Inflating to four stars to boost visibility of Bacigalupi's work 😳
It was fine.
Four novellas, not one novel(which is not what the jacket says!)
The world is a very cool and incredibly unique concept. But because we don't have very long with any of the characters, I don't feel like we really get to know them or explore enough.
Four novellas, not one novel(which is not what the jacket says!)
The world is a very cool and incredibly unique concept. But because we don't have very long with any of the characters, I don't feel like we really get to know them or explore enough.
The plots of these setting-sharing novellas all veer toward melodrama, but extremely well-executed melodrama. The worldbuilding is near-perfect: it's evocative, feels authentically inhabited, and supports the themes of the stories without getting heavy-handed.
This book told 4 different stories, all set in the same general time and world where magic comes at the cost of their planet and lives. While the stories in this book often had dark parts or endings, they felt realistic and had accurate portrayals of the way humans act when pushed to their limits. The writing was great and the stories fascinating, especially in the context of Bacigalupi’s other works concerning climate change. It is easy and very interesting to draw parallels in this book between the magicians with their world and ourselves with Earth today.
Loved the world and premise of the book but I didn't realize this was a collection of 4 novellas. I usually enjoy novellas more when they're a sequel or side-story to a full novel, so I found this a bit difficult to carry on with after the first story. I get caught up in the characters and want to know what happened to them, rather than switching to a different story.
That being said, the first novella was excellent, innovative, and I love the concept of the brambles and tangled land. Guess I just wish that there were more books set in the world!
That being said, the first novella was excellent, innovative, and I love the concept of the brambles and tangled land. Guess I just wish that there were more books set in the world!
I thoughly enjoyed these stories and was totally submerged in the land, thankfully I remain bramble free.
The land of Khaim, where magic use causes brambles to grow. Not just *any* brambles, but those that FEED on the magic, and follow it to it's source. Almost sentient - and absolutely deadly. The people know this...and yet. It's all to easy to do "just a little" to help heal a child. Or "it'll be ok" to help a business flourish. It's always "just fine" - until the brambles make their way closer and closer, taking over home and hearth, and killing entire cities.
These four stories, alternating between the two authors, are all excellent. They are interesting, with wonderfully written characters - and each shines a different light upon the problem of magic use causing the brambles. Each story has its own ending, but with all four of them on the same topic, they easily bleed right into the next one. You really won't want to stop reading.
I do hope that there will be more stories to come from Khaim - there are a couple that ended in which I would love to have some follow-up on the characters and what ended up happening AFTER. Will there ever be an answer to the all-or-nothing problem of the magic and the deadly thorns? Or will the people of that land simply continue to do as they have done, until one day, the world is nothing but the deathly plant?
Honestly, it was initially the cover that drew me. However, in this case, come for the cover - stay for the stories.
These four stories, alternating between the two authors, are all excellent. They are interesting, with wonderfully written characters - and each shines a different light upon the problem of magic use causing the brambles. Each story has its own ending, but with all four of them on the same topic, they easily bleed right into the next one. You really won't want to stop reading.
I do hope that there will be more stories to come from Khaim - there are a couple that ended in which I would love to have some follow-up on the characters and what ended up happening AFTER. Will there ever be an answer to the all-or-nothing problem of the magic and the deadly thorns? Or will the people of that land simply continue to do as they have done, until one day, the world is nothing but the deathly plant?
Honestly, it was initially the cover that drew me. However, in this case, come for the cover - stay for the stories.
I really enjoyed these four short stories, the setting is unique, and rich in detail. Bacigalupi is definitely the better author, but Buckell’s two stories were interesting as well.
Like most people I didn't realize this was an anthology of sorts, or four novellas set in the same world so it was a bit of a different style than I am used to. I think anthologies are hit or miss due to the many different authors, since this one only had two authors I figured it would be ok. But holy crap was I ever taken for a ride.
This book needs a trigger warning. Seriously. Potential spoilers ahead, nothing plot revealing just the things that might make you feel ill.
Book 1 - The Alchemist: Torture, physical and emotional, gory murder, I rate this one 3.5 stars because it took a bit to get going, overall it was decent but could use some fleshing out and character development.
Book 2 - The Executioness: Some murder but not as extreme, I liked the feminist message in this one. I actually rate this one 4.5 stars, this was my favourite one out of the stories. I really liked how she grew into her strong female character role and was quite resistant to it at first. This one had the strongest and clearest theme too in my opinion.
Book 3 - Children of Khaim: Necrophilia, child rape - seriously, wtf did I just read? I threw up in my mouth a little bit. I give this 2 stars because it was so sickening I couldn't stop reading it, but it made me feel nauseous. Horrible.
Book 4 - Blacksmith's Daughter: This one sorta mentions the child rapists in passing, and it seems to only do that to keep the world that was built here consistent. It brushes right over it. Otherwise, this one is fairly unoffensive. Yes, there is a gory murder but most fantasy novels have some of that and compared to the first one this one was not as gory or bloody. I give this a 4-star rating.
What will be no surprise to anyone, the same author writes books 1 and 3 and the other wrote 2 and 4. You can feel it even though they do a good job of keeping the universe consistent. But considering what was in books 1 and 3, someone might want to check on Mr. Bacigalupi, is he alright? Oh geezus, that was a rough read.
This book needs a trigger warning. Seriously. Potential spoilers ahead, nothing plot revealing just the things that might make you feel ill.
Book 1 - The Alchemist: Torture, physical and emotional, gory murder, I rate this one 3.5 stars because it took a bit to get going, overall it was decent but could use some fleshing out and character development.
Book 2 - The Executioness: Some murder but not as extreme, I liked the feminist message in this one. I actually rate this one 4.5 stars, this was my favourite one out of the stories. I really liked how she grew into her strong female character role and was quite resistant to it at first. This one had the strongest and clearest theme too in my opinion.
Book 3 - Children of Khaim: Necrophilia, child rape - seriously, wtf did I just read? I threw up in my mouth a little bit. I give this 2 stars because it was so sickening I couldn't stop reading it, but it made me feel nauseous. Horrible.
Book 4 - Blacksmith's Daughter: This one sorta mentions the child rapists in passing, and it seems to only do that to keep the world that was built here consistent. It brushes right over it. Otherwise, this one is fairly unoffensive. Yes, there is a gory murder but most fantasy novels have some of that and compared to the first one this one was not as gory or bloody. I give this a 4-star rating.
What will be no surprise to anyone, the same author writes books 1 and 3 and the other wrote 2 and 4. You can feel it even though they do a good job of keeping the universe consistent. But considering what was in books 1 and 3, someone might want to check on Mr. Bacigalupi, is he alright? Oh geezus, that was a rough read.