Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
Amazing continuation of the series. Just as interesting as the first book and am eager to read the rest. Reading these books you get a constant sense that's there's something much bigger at play then the obvious quest to find senlin's wife and I need to know what it is.Great books where the plot never slows down but still manages vast depth in character development.
4.5 stars. It had been a while since I read the first book, but it almost didn’t matter. If I forgot details, the author kindly reminded with exposition that didn’t feel forced. Characterization is top tier. I would die for the crew of the Stone Cloud. Also this fantasy world is original and fun and weird. I love it. I took off half a star bc at my core I’m a hater, and I had some pacing gripes.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
I liked this one but it seemed to be missing something compared to the first book, which I loved. I think some of the whimsy and intrigue of the tower was missing from this book. The plot was very meandering and there didn't seem to be major goal to the book. I think it suffered from middle book syndrome a little. Saying all that, the ending has me intrigued, so I'll probably pick up the next book.
Not as good as the first one. Bancroft’s world and easy writing style continue to draw me in. However, this one seemed to drag at times. Despite some major plot developments and decent character development it felt like one big long filler episode at times. Still a fun read
Absolutely incredible. I didn’t think the second one could be better than the first, but it was! These stories are as richly told and beautifully written as the master classics, like CS Lewis and Tolkien. So many wise little quotes and insights that you just have to sit and chew on. The characters are developing in interesting ways, there were surprises around almost every corner, and I even smiled when the “double meaning” of the title was revealed. This feels like it’s even bordering on science fiction, which is my favorite genre. To say this is the best writing and the best series I have read in at least a decade is not an understatement. I am blown away, and look forward to reading the third and fourth book! 🤩
A great follow up to Senlin Ascends. The way Thomas Senlin's story moves forward, transforming at every step is just utterly fascinating. This novel is much tighter and expansive than the first novel. In terms of narrative flow, it's a bit more straightforward and less scattered. But the novel expands to the larger cast, becoming each of their stories, rather than only Senlin's.
The novel is full of so many great moments, and those final few sentences are both gutting and thrilling, but I still sort of find myself holding back from giving it five stars. The novel is unlike any other novel in the genre I can think of, and I think that's because Bancroft is stealing so eclectically for his influences. But this novel is just missing something for me.
And maybe this is one of those reviews where I just knock down the rating arbitrarily, but I didn't love this the way I loved the first novel. I think it may be because I hoped for specific things from this novel and it spun wildly away from that, and I'm not convinced the execution is better than what I had hoped for. But, I mean, how could that possibly be useful as a rubric for rating a book? The answer, of course, is that it's not. However, I do think this novel is largely setting up the next step in Senlin's story, rather than creating a defining chapter in itself. Like, nothing in the novel matches the heist from the first novel, or the madcap escape to finish out that novel. But everything in this novel is so clearly important to everything that will follow.
Also, this novel is just more of an emotional journey. It's amazing what Bancroft does here, not just with Senlin, but with Edith, Iren, Adam, and Voleta.
So, yeah, wholly on board with this series. Digging it and will certainly move forward and probably love what comes next, but this novel, by itself, is not as good as what came before, though the promises it makes have me very excited.
The novel is full of so many great moments, and those final few sentences are both gutting and thrilling, but I still sort of find myself holding back from giving it five stars. The novel is unlike any other novel in the genre I can think of, and I think that's because Bancroft is stealing so eclectically for his influences. But this novel is just missing something for me.
And maybe this is one of those reviews where I just knock down the rating arbitrarily, but I didn't love this the way I loved the first novel. I think it may be because I hoped for specific things from this novel and it spun wildly away from that, and I'm not convinced the execution is better than what I had hoped for. But, I mean, how could that possibly be useful as a rubric for rating a book? The answer, of course, is that it's not. However, I do think this novel is largely setting up the next step in Senlin's story, rather than creating a defining chapter in itself. Like, nothing in the novel matches the heist from the first novel, or the madcap escape to finish out that novel. But everything in this novel is so clearly important to everything that will follow.
Also, this novel is just more of an emotional journey. It's amazing what Bancroft does here, not just with Senlin, but with Edith, Iren, Adam, and Voleta.
So, yeah, wholly on board with this series. Digging it and will certainly move forward and probably love what comes next, but this novel, by itself, is not as good as what came before, though the promises it makes have me very excited.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
Excellent! It would've been a 5 star book if it wasn't for the beginning that dragged a bit and seemed to lack direction for a few chapters.
Excellent! It would've been a 5 star book if it wasn't for the beginning that dragged a bit and seemed to lack direction for a few chapters.