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theyellowhobbit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
I started reading this as an ebook and switched to the audiobook, which was really well done. I love Sunai so much!
I do think this book could have used a glossary. There was a cast of characters, but it would have been helpful to know the difference between archivists, relics, ENGINES, etc.
I do think this book could have used a glossary. There was a cast of characters, but it would have been helpful to know the difference between archivists, relics, ENGINES, etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Cursing and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent
theelizabethjoy's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was so very difficult for me to comprehend at times, I had to go back through and reread some of it because I would finish a chapter and just go "huh". With that said, it was very good, ended much happier than I anticipated. Definitely a good story but be prepared.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, Violence, Toxic friendship, Death, War, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
librarianmage's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content and Gun violence
quorumbutton's review
While the world/premise seems interesting (AI religious trauma, transhumanism and cyborgs, etc etc), the execution was more bewildering than engaging. This was an example of "drop the reader in the world without explanation" that didn't work for me.
The characters also didn't really draw me in -- I wanted to like Sunai, but his intense self-loathing and self-destructive behavior turned me off. Honestly everyone in the book just seemed like they were miserable, traumatized, and angry. Coupled with my personal squick of mindfuckery being the main plot-component driving a story forward, I dropped this.
The characters also didn't really draw me in -- I wanted to like Sunai, but his intense self-loathing and self-destructive behavior turned me off. Honestly everyone in the book just seemed like they were miserable, traumatized, and angry. Coupled with my personal squick of mindfuckery being the main plot-component driving a story forward, I dropped this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
mordshunger's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This one is hard to rate. It certainly made me feel things, and I feel pissed off. Immaculate vibes and strong characters but is it a net-positive? Reading this dealt me psychic damage. If fiction can be violent this was the Most Violent encounter I had with a book so far.
While it felt like it wanted to say things about religious trauma and trust and betrayal, I fail to see how it did say anything meaningful about them. It feels dangerous to read for people who struggle with upholding boundaries to people who have abused them. I don't even have the right words for a proper CW so I'll just say the lack of consent is disgusting and the immediate forgiveness of the same sickening. It really tampered my enjoyment of the story. The apologetics of an ever understanding, self-neglecting and self-hating POV is just too much.
In general, there is a very inflationary use of love in this book. I understand what this is going for and that is why I think it is dangerous. People who love deeply will see themselves in this and it's not great. This is bad. If love is just a verb for one person and a weapon and exploit for everyone else, it becomes meaningless to even call it such. Fuck that forever.
Chronological impressions:
Welcome to the religious trauma struggle bus. The vibes are chef's kiss but also vague and referential at all times, it feels like I got oil in one eye forever.
This book y'all, it's really just a pile of the worst people you know. My number one pick for most trustworthy guy in this is the not-so-informed-consent AI splinter and I'm sure they will try to kill everyone.
Sinai, Jin und Veyadi consistently bring the energy of an EMT driver/student in exam crunch after three consecutive shifts.
I hate All of Them, but I hate Imaru most. If this bitch doesn't die I'm not reading the next book. Can't believe there is immediate forgiveness, understanding and love after the ultimate betrayal.
I've read some reviews of some very confused people who get lost in who betrayed who first and which plots overlap and let me just say it doesn't matter who betrays who when they all do. They all do! They're the worst!!! And they keep asking more of him. Veyadi, et Tu?
While it felt like it wanted to say things about religious trauma and trust and betrayal, I fail to see how it did say anything meaningful about them. It feels dangerous to read for people who struggle with upholding boundaries to people who have abused them. I don't even have the right words for a proper CW so I'll just say the lack of consent is disgusting and the immediate forgiveness of the same sickening. It really tampered my enjoyment of the story. The apologetics of an ever understanding, self-neglecting and self-hating POV is just too much.
In general, there is a very inflationary use of love in this book. I understand what this is going for and that is why I think it is dangerous. People who love deeply will see themselves in this and it's not great. This is bad. If love is just a verb for one person and a weapon and exploit for everyone else, it becomes meaningless to even call it such. Fuck that forever.
Chronological impressions:
Welcome to the religious trauma struggle bus. The vibes are chef's kiss but also vague and referential at all times, it feels like I got oil in one eye forever.
This book y'all, it's really just a pile of the worst people you know. My number one pick for most trustworthy guy in this is the not-so-informed-consent AI splinter and I'm sure they will try to kill everyone.
Sinai, Jin und Veyadi consistently bring the energy of an EMT driver/student in exam crunch after three consecutive shifts.
I hate All of Them, but I hate Imaru most. If this bitch doesn't die I'm not reading the next book. Can't believe there is immediate forgiveness, understanding and love after the ultimate betrayal.
I've read some reviews of some very confused people who get lost in who betrayed who first and which plots overlap and let me just say it doesn't matter who betrays who when they all do. They all do! They're the worst!!! And they keep asking more of him. Veyadi, et Tu?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Murder, Grief, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Gore, War, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Abandonment, and Blood
Do not read this if consent is important to you to be able to enjoy a book. Just skip it.lorayray's review against another edition
Really interesting concepts with not enough information to describe exactly why I care. Struggled with this one for awhile, looked at reviews and many were frustrated by the same thing. Might try again another time but unsure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
kal517's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
rei_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I don’t know how to rate this one. On one hand, I really enjoyed reading it. I liked the characters and narrative voice, and was invested in what was happening.
On the other hand, I was often confused and I’m not sure I could summarize exactly what happened, even by the end of the book. Between pretty complex world building and all the AI stuff, shifting narrative voices, and characters who constantly don’t want to admit things to themselves or say things out loud, plus an element of mystery or at least the unknown, it’s sometimes hard to grasp exactly what’s going on. I think it’s a credit to the author that I enjoyed it as much as I did in spite of being confused. I wish it was all clearer though.
On the other hand, I was often confused and I’m not sure I could summarize exactly what happened, even by the end of the book. Between pretty complex world building and all the AI stuff, shifting narrative voices, and characters who constantly don’t want to admit things to themselves or say things out loud, plus an element of mystery or at least the unknown, it’s sometimes hard to grasp exactly what’s going on. I think it’s a credit to the author that I enjoyed it as much as I did in spite of being confused. I wish it was all clearer though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol, Gore, War, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content
royalraspberry's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
I'd love to give this book even more stars - one of the best books I've read in years. The prose is absolutely enchanting, and the world building is phenomenal, this sits up there with Leckie and Wells with the greats of the current scifi era. The characters are memorable and instantly likeable (mostly), the story line is intriguing, and I am absolutely OBSESSED with the world buidling - an entire civilization built on the wreckage of corrupt, fallen AI gods. I got this through a library loan and it's one I'll buy so I can read it over and over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Murder, Body horror, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
THE ARCHIVE UNDYING by Emma Mieko Candon hits my brain like an achillean version of THE TIGER FLU by Larissa Lai or THE ALL-CONSUMING WORLD by Cassandra Khaw, combining viscera and technology to create liminal immortality in an ongoing negotiation, tenuous and vital.
I love stories with worldbuilding that is immersive, not waiting for the reader to catch up, but just letting the story unfold; only explaining things that someone in the world would need stated, more explicitly. THE ARCHIVE UNDYING provides explanations late, intertwined with regret.
As I’ve said before and will doubtless say again, I specifically love books which include mental transformations of nominally the same character, such that they understand some thing very differently than they did before, or have an entirely new state of mind. My particular favorite is when they are so different as to be a discrete person by the time the changes are done. THE ARCHIVE UNDYING is full of this, first with a narrator whose identity takes a long time to be known, and then with of variety of technologically assisted mental connections and transformative clashes of mind, such that even if everyone nominally remains afterward as entities, they are changed by those meetings.
Reading this is an audiobook definitely helped to let the story roll over me, enjoying the flow of the words even if I didn’t always understand why something was happening. A few pretty significant changes happen towards the end which reframe and contextualize the actions of some secondary characters. It’s the kind of book where I know I will reread it, if only to experience the shift in perspective that comes with knowing characters, backstories, and ulterior motives from the start.
I love stories with worldbuilding that is immersive, not waiting for the reader to catch up, but just letting the story unfold; only explaining things that someone in the world would need stated, more explicitly. THE ARCHIVE UNDYING provides explanations late, intertwined with regret.
As I’ve said before and will doubtless say again, I specifically love books which include mental transformations of nominally the same character, such that they understand some thing very differently than they did before, or have an entirely new state of mind. My particular favorite is when they are so different as to be a discrete person by the time the changes are done. THE ARCHIVE UNDYING is full of this, first with a narrator whose identity takes a long time to be known, and then with of variety of technologically assisted mental connections and transformative clashes of mind, such that even if everyone nominally remains afterward as entities, they are changed by those meetings.
Reading this is an audiobook definitely helped to let the story roll over me, enjoying the flow of the words even if I didn’t always understand why something was happening. A few pretty significant changes happen towards the end which reframe and contextualize the actions of some secondary characters. It’s the kind of book where I know I will reread it, if only to experience the shift in perspective that comes with knowing characters, backstories, and ulterior motives from the start.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Body horror, Gore, Cannibalism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Torture, Murder, and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit