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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Put this book down, and go read Gormenghast.
Seriously, that book has all the intense and atmosperic sense of place that this lacks, the focused gothic sensibilities that here are undermined at every turn, it has the unnerving, offputting characters with just the right level of whimsy that this got completely wrong, and it has a plot that draws you inexorably forward and into the darker reaches of the castle that this, you guessed it, does not have in spades.
Other than perhaps three of the major characters, the rest are completely interchangeable- and you are likely to find yourself forgetting who's done what in the meandering blandness of peculiarities thrown together to form a novel. No-one has any motivation, few have any challenges, and none are given the spotlight enough to really shine.
That leaves the setting itself to capture us, and despite all its professed weirdness there's just not that much to show for it. And there's too much bloody steampunk. Stop that. Put it down.
Some plot appears in the final fifth of the book, but that point I was so tuned out that it hardly matters; and from I can tell it actually didn't matter; the vast majority of the earlier book is indeed totally irrelevant.
Avoid.
Seriously, that book has all the intense and atmosperic sense of place that this lacks, the focused gothic sensibilities that here are undermined at every turn, it has the unnerving, offputting characters with just the right level of whimsy that this got completely wrong, and it has a plot that draws you inexorably forward and into the darker reaches of the castle that this, you guessed it, does not have in spades.
Other than perhaps three of the major characters, the rest are completely interchangeable- and you are likely to find yourself forgetting who's done what in the meandering blandness of peculiarities thrown together to form a novel. No-one has any motivation, few have any challenges, and none are given the spotlight enough to really shine.
That leaves the setting itself to capture us, and despite all its professed weirdness there's just not that much to show for it. And there's too much bloody steampunk. Stop that. Put it down.
Some plot appears in the final fifth of the book, but that point I was so tuned out that it hardly matters; and from I can tell it actually didn't matter; the vast majority of the earlier book is indeed totally irrelevant.
Avoid.
Great idea but I'm afraid I found it all a bit confusing and muddled, probably just me. The characters never really got developed much and you didn't really care about them at all. I was really looking forward to this book too.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I had trouble starting this review, because it is a rather weird book. And what can I say that will not spoil it all? I did not know what to make of it.
There is a little town called Rotherweird. They do not talk about history, it is forbidden. It is not taught in school, there are no old books. And they alone where given rights long ago by Queen Elizabeth I and that is why they can have their weird rules.
To this strange town comes Oblong, a history teacher (though he can not teach the kids about their history, not that he knows it either.) The last teacher asked questions. That is a big no no.
The school has two strange towers. But this is not about the school, it is about the town. And there is another new inhabitant too, a pompous curious man who buys the Manor. In a town that does not welcome strangers.
We meet a big cast of interesting characters. Because something is now happening. Forces are gathering. Something is about to happen in Rotherweird.
Weird place. I would not go there. And they sure disliked the people in villages around them too. These people should get out more. And now I have made them sound like weird inbred creeps. It is not like that. There is a lot going on behind...weird things.
Honestly, it is just one of those books better read, cos I can not explain it!
Weirdly good
There is a little town called Rotherweird. They do not talk about history, it is forbidden. It is not taught in school, there are no old books. And they alone where given rights long ago by Queen Elizabeth I and that is why they can have their weird rules.
To this strange town comes Oblong, a history teacher (though he can not teach the kids about their history, not that he knows it either.) The last teacher asked questions. That is a big no no.
The school has two strange towers. But this is not about the school, it is about the town. And there is another new inhabitant too, a pompous curious man who buys the Manor. In a town that does not welcome strangers.
We meet a big cast of interesting characters. Because something is now happening. Forces are gathering. Something is about to happen in Rotherweird.
Weird place. I would not go there. And they sure disliked the people in villages around them too. These people should get out more. And now I have made them sound like weird inbred creeps. It is not like that. There is a lot going on behind...weird things.
Honestly, it is just one of those books better read, cos I can not explain it!
Weirdly good
Absolutely awful. The last fifty pages are supposed to be an exposition of the story, kind of like an Agatha Christie mystery. But the story still doesn't make sense. This book is just plain weird. With way too many descriptions and not enough about plot
What a chore!! Not sure what all the hype is about. This book was hard work. Writing didn’t really flow well. Good concept/plot but I won’t be reading the sequel.
idee/lugu 5, teostus 2.
alguses täiesti paljulubav aurupunk, aga kiirelt hakkab väsitama see, kuidas tegelased tulevad kokku ja räägivad üksteisele asju, mida lugeja juba teab... lihtsalt selleks, et kõik tegelased oleks samal leheküljel (pun not intended) ja lugu saaks edasi minna? üldse, miks neid tegelasi nii palju peab olema, ja kui peab, siis kas võiks paluda rohkem järjepidevust neil silma peal hoidmisel?
mitu ebaloogilisust jäi närima kuni lõpuni. vast ikka oleks keegi võinud toimetada seda raamatut.
aga noh, ikkagi see lugu - linn Inglismaal, mis elab täieliku omavalitsuse all ja kus ajalugu on keelatud (ehkki, rääkides ebaloogilisustest, see ei tundu küll ei efektiivne viis probleemi lahendamiseks ega ka... teostatav). tagasivaated 16. sajandisse, kust kogu jama alguse sai, ja vihjed roomlastele ja druiididele. üpris meeleolukas galerii naljakate nimedega linnakodanikke, igaühel omad veidrused (aga kuidas nad nii väikses ja isoleeritud kohas kõik üksteist ei tundnud?). linna jaburad seadused ja veidrad traditsioonid. maagilised portaalid ja ohtlikud mutantkoletised. sellest kõigest oleks võinud väga hea raamatu kirjutada!
triloogia esimesele osale sobivalt jäid lõpus mõned otsad lahti, aga ma vist saan edasi elatud ilma teadmiseta, mis järgmiseks juhtub.
alguses täiesti paljulubav aurupunk, aga kiirelt hakkab väsitama see, kuidas tegelased tulevad kokku ja räägivad üksteisele asju, mida lugeja juba teab... lihtsalt selleks, et kõik tegelased oleks samal leheküljel (pun not intended) ja lugu saaks edasi minna? üldse, miks neid tegelasi nii palju peab olema, ja kui peab, siis kas võiks paluda rohkem järjepidevust neil silma peal hoidmisel?
mitu ebaloogilisust jäi närima kuni lõpuni. vast ikka oleks keegi võinud toimetada seda raamatut.
aga noh, ikkagi see lugu - linn Inglismaal, mis elab täieliku omavalitsuse all ja kus ajalugu on keelatud (ehkki, rääkides ebaloogilisustest, see ei tundu küll ei efektiivne viis probleemi lahendamiseks ega ka... teostatav). tagasivaated 16. sajandisse, kust kogu jama alguse sai, ja vihjed roomlastele ja druiididele. üpris meeleolukas galerii naljakate nimedega linnakodanikke, igaühel omad veidrused (aga kuidas nad nii väikses ja isoleeritud kohas kõik üksteist ei tundnud?). linna jaburad seadused ja veidrad traditsioonid. maagilised portaalid ja ohtlikud mutantkoletised. sellest kõigest oleks võinud väga hea raamatu kirjutada!
triloogia esimesele osale sobivalt jäid lõpus mõned otsad lahti, aga ma vist saan edasi elatud ilma teadmiseta, mis järgmiseks juhtub.
This book has a LOT going on. I really enjoyed it, but with 7-8 characters' POV, lots of moving parts, and _many_ secrets so hard to remember who knows what, I'm not positive it would hold up to close scrutiny.
But I don't read for close scrutiny, so who cares?! Immensely enjoyable tale of mystery that unfolds, set in a fascinating world, with a great ensemble.
But I don't read for close scrutiny, so who cares?! Immensely enjoyable tale of mystery that unfolds, set in a fascinating world, with a great ensemble.