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lunep's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
Resolution for 2024: start writing at least a couple lines per book
I really liked the second half but I had started to get bored at the end of the first half. This one was different from the first two in that it didn't start as slow as the other ones, in fact, the expedition started pretty quick, but when the trouble started to arise it started to get a little dull.
I really liked the second half but I had started to get bored at the end of the first half. This one was different from the first two in that it didn't start as slow as the other ones, in fact, the expedition started pretty quick, but when the trouble started to arise it started to get a little dull.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, War, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Gun violence, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Death, Deportation, and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol, Xenophobia, Murder, Grief, and Death of parent
Additional moderate TW: Amputationkbz_22's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I just finished "The Voyage of the Basilisk" by Marie Brennan, and I've got some thoughts to share. I'd give it a solid 4/5 stars.
So, here's the deal: this book starts off kinda slow. It's all about setting the stage for the big voyage. At first, I was like, "Come on, let's get to the action." But then, once they actually set sail, things started to pick up.
The adventure really kicks in once they're out at sea, and it becomes more exciting and impressive. You get to see the characters in their element, dealing with all kinds of challenges. The descriptions of the places they visit and the dragons they encounter are vivid and captivating.
So, yeah, it might take a bit to get going, but if you stick with it, "The Voyage of the Basilisk" becomes a thrilling and adventurous ride that's totally worth the slow start. If you're into maritime adventures and discovering strange dragons in uncharted waters, this one's for you.
So, here's the deal: this book starts off kinda slow. It's all about setting the stage for the big voyage. At first, I was like, "Come on, let's get to the action." But then, once they actually set sail, things started to pick up.
The adventure really kicks in once they're out at sea, and it becomes more exciting and impressive. You get to see the characters in their element, dealing with all kinds of challenges. The descriptions of the places they visit and the dragons they encounter are vivid and captivating.
So, yeah, it might take a bit to get going, but if you stick with it, "The Voyage of the Basilisk" becomes a thrilling and adventurous ride that's totally worth the slow start. If you're into maritime adventures and discovering strange dragons in uncharted waters, this one's for you.
Content Warnings
Minor: War, Animal cruelty, Gore, Kidnapping, Violence, and Animal death
jessthanthree's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Sexism
Minor: Racism and Violence
laurenfro22's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
“Many of my discoveries have been made by doing one thing after another. Each step leads to the next, and sometimes there is virtue in not allowing common sense to call you back.”
Installment 3 of Isabella Camherst's fantastical memoirs has inched its rating past the first two. Isabella's adventures take her to the deep oceans and fantasy interpretations of the Pacific islands. Part of the higher rating likely comes from the familiarity of the characters, but I think Brennan is also hitting her stride in Voyage of the Basilik. We get to see the ever deepening characterization and scientific inquiry through Isabella's eyes, and the addition of a whole host of supporting characters means even more scrapes for her to puzzle through.
While marooned on the island, I loved the way Isabella navigated her 'dragon-spirit' status and the 'unusual' arrangement to which she had to agree in order to be accepted by the community. It is a fascinating play on real world relationships, religions, and cultural aspects. This book also focused more on the 'science' of dragons and really leaned into the expedition/knowledge-gathering essence of Isabella's character. Brennan's writing makes it seem almost reasonable to expect dragons to show up in our real world. It is one of the most thrilling aspects of this series - crafting the story in such a way that balances the reality with the fantasy and blurring the lines between the two.
Brennan has done a great job of tying the long term plot lines (e.g. the pinched scientific findings) throughout the novels. We have the immediacy of whatever threat Isabella and her crew are facing, with the knowledge that there are also mysterious larger forces at play. With the introduction of a few new characters, we are starting to get glimpses of Isabella's impact on a larger scale, and how her passion for uncovering the secrets of the dragons may end up revealing secrets about their world long lost to time and industry.
Installment 3 of Isabella Camherst's fantastical memoirs has inched its rating past the first two. Isabella's adventures take her to the deep oceans and fantasy interpretations of the Pacific islands. Part of the higher rating likely comes from the familiarity of the characters, but I think Brennan is also hitting her stride in Voyage of the Basilik. We get to see the ever deepening characterization and scientific inquiry through Isabella's eyes, and the addition of a whole host of supporting characters means even more scrapes for her to puzzle through.
While marooned on the island, I loved the way Isabella navigated her 'dragon-spirit' status and the 'unusual' arrangement to which she had to agree in order to be accepted by the community. It is a fascinating play on real world relationships, religions, and cultural aspects. This book also focused more on the 'science' of dragons and really leaned into the expedition/knowledge-gathering essence of Isabella's character. Brennan's writing makes it seem almost reasonable to expect dragons to show up in our real world. It is one of the most thrilling aspects of this series - crafting the story in such a way that balances the reality with the fantasy and blurring the lines between the two.
Brennan has done a great job of tying the long term plot lines (e.g. the pinched scientific findings) throughout the novels. We have the immediacy of whatever threat Isabella and her crew are facing, with the knowledge that there are also mysterious larger forces at play. With the introduction of a few new characters, we are starting to get glimpses of Isabella's impact on a larger scale, and how her passion for uncovering the secrets of the dragons may end up revealing secrets about their world long lost to time and industry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
achingallover's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
the_escapist's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
In this third instalment, Isabella & co voyage across the seas to study giant sea serpents and investigate how closely they’re related to other dragon species.
It’s fairly optimistic in tone, very adventurous (remains me of Around the World in 80 Days in some aspects), and the writing style is elegant without being dense. There’s a lot of humanity to it without overlooking the more negative aspects, and there are nice friendships that develop along the way. There’s also explorations of different cultures, a tiny bit of archaeology, sprinkles of humour, and the pacing is medium-slow. I should probably point out that the focus is very much on the journey and adventure rather than just the dragons or the characters though.
This has been my favourite in the series so far. Loved some of the new characters who were introduced (and hope to see them again later in the series), and I love all things underwater, and I ended up even more satisfied than I was expecting on that front. A very solid and fun read overall, with a few laughs and slow but satisfying character development.
Another thing – how great is it to have a book for an adult market which has illustrations inside? I wish more books did this because it adds such a nice touch to the reading experience, especially in this genre where the only illustration you usually get is a map at the start.
It’s fairly optimistic in tone, very adventurous (remains me of Around the World in 80 Days in some aspects), and the writing style is elegant without being dense. There’s a lot of humanity to it without overlooking the more negative aspects, and there are nice friendships that develop along the way. There’s also explorations of different cultures, a tiny bit of archaeology, sprinkles of humour, and the pacing is medium-slow. I should probably point out that the focus is very much on the journey and adventure rather than just the dragons or the characters though.
This has been my favourite in the series so far. Loved some of the new characters who were introduced (and hope to see them again later in the series), and I love all things underwater, and I ended up even more satisfied than I was expecting on that front. A very solid and fun read overall, with a few laughs and slow but satisfying character development.
Another thing – how great is it to have a book for an adult market which has illustrations inside? I wish more books did this because it adds such a nice touch to the reading experience, especially in this genre where the only illustration you usually get is a map at the start.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Misogyny
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