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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Each novella is heartbreaking, but the third one was the worst for me. These are not happy stories. They are, however, written well, and reading them back to back really pulled me into the world.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can't decide if I love the primary metaphor of this book or if it was too heavy handed, but this was a well conceived collection of stories that I really enjoyed.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Phenomenal stories, I was just so disappointed we didn't get more of the characters we get attached to in each one
Thoroughly enjoyable! I think I've only ever read one other book written in this format (Will Grayson, Will Grayson) with two authors switching off in this way. These are four short stories within a rather barbaric magical/steampunk universe, specifically set in the glowing city of Khaim. Each story features incredibly strong protagonists, and I was slightly disappointed to learn that the stories wouldn't intertwine at the end, but I was left with the impression that Bacigalupi and Buckell may be planning a sequel to continue this universe... I'm very excited and will be watching out for more.
I've rated the stories below.
The Alchemist: 3 stars. Writing is excellent, although it's a bit of a rough dive into a completely new world. Surprisingly, this was the only story where I wasn't very attached to the protagonists, but I thought it was a good history lesson that set up the political landscape that the other three stories operate in. In a novel, I would argue that this story would be equivalent to a prologue and the following stories more than make up for the lack of emotional connection.
I will describe the rest of the stories in slightly greater detail, so be warned!
The Executioness: 4 stars. By far my favorite! I went into it expecting that it would somehow end with the woman meeting the protagonists from The Alchemist, but I was actually happier with the written ending than anything I had expected. To me, this was not a satisfying ending per se, but it was the one where I felt like the protagonist was empowered and ready to take on further hardships. I admired the author's ability to show that her new identity burdened her with great responsibilities but also simultaneously set her free.
The Children of Khaim: 4.5 stars. My highest rated, but not my favorite. Really, really upsetting, but honestly the most moving of the four stories. The description of the city is most clear in this story and helps flesh out the experience of an average life in the city. The hardship of toil and of the refugees felt very real to me. Worse, the "soft-eyed" men horrified me, but I had to acknowledge that in the real world, many men might fantasize about exactly this. However, I think that was the reason why the ending was so moving - it was like like a bright candle amongst the soul-crushing reality of Khaim's poverty-stricken population.
The Blacksmith's Daughter: 3.5 stars. Compelling plot and there was a real sense of urgency. Again, it builds the world further and gives some insight into the hierarchy within families. While I did very much enjoy the characters, I had a slight issue with the girl's motivations and couldn't empathize with her in quite the same way as the others, particularly when it seemed obvious that her best bet was to just run away. In any case, good descriptive language, but not as emotionally powerful to me as the middle two stories.
I've rated the stories below.
The Alchemist: 3 stars. Writing is excellent, although it's a bit of a rough dive into a completely new world. Surprisingly, this was the only story where I wasn't very attached to the protagonists, but I thought it was a good history lesson that set up the political landscape that the other three stories operate in. In a novel, I would argue that this story would be equivalent to a prologue and the following stories more than make up for the lack of emotional connection.
I will describe the rest of the stories in slightly greater detail, so be warned!
Spoiler
The Executioness: 4 stars. By far my favorite! I went into it expecting that it would somehow end with the woman meeting the protagonists from The Alchemist, but I was actually happier with the written ending than anything I had expected. To me, this was not a satisfying ending per se, but it was the one where I felt like the protagonist was empowered and ready to take on further hardships. I admired the author's ability to show that her new identity burdened her with great responsibilities but also simultaneously set her free.
The Children of Khaim: 4.5 stars. My highest rated, but not my favorite. Really, really upsetting, but honestly the most moving of the four stories. The description of the city is most clear in this story and helps flesh out the experience of an average life in the city. The hardship of toil and of the refugees felt very real to me. Worse, the "soft-eyed" men horrified me, but I had to acknowledge that in the real world, many men might fantasize about exactly this. However, I think that was the reason why the ending was so moving - it was like like a bright candle amongst the soul-crushing reality of Khaim's poverty-stricken population.
The Blacksmith's Daughter: 3.5 stars. Compelling plot and there was a real sense of urgency. Again, it builds the world further and gives some insight into the hierarchy within families. While I did very much enjoy the characters, I had a slight issue with the girl's motivations and couldn't empathize with her in quite the same way as the others, particularly when it seemed obvious that her best bet was to just run away. In any case, good descriptive language, but not as emotionally powerful to me as the middle two stories.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As the book goes on it stays interesting with the different story-lines. Yet I feel as if there was something missing in this book.
However the story brought me to this new world that excited me.
However the story brought me to this new world that excited me.