Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
A classic. Le Guin at her finest.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
The first two-thirds are so heavy on the politics that it doesn't feel particularly sci-fi. I only really got invested around the 200 page mark only to be incredibly disappointed by the ending. Frustrating to slog through all that only for a bury your gays moment; the blurb is a lie he does NOT find love.
The lack of true gender-neutrality and default to masculine pronouns was just lame to read; obviously this was ahead of its time, but in 2025 it just doesn't hold up.
A lot of the writing is lovely but it really needs a glossary.
The lack of true gender-neutrality and default to masculine pronouns was just lame to read; obviously this was ahead of its time, but in 2025 it just doesn't hold up.
A lot of the writing is lovely but it really needs a glossary.
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
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 loved the themes raised in this book, as well as the characters, though I found it very difficult to follow for the first half of the book. I may need to read it again to fully appreciate it.
Interesting world-building but lacked an engaging narrative. Felt more like an anthropological exploration than a story per se, though the exploration was insightful and very well-written.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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 really couldn't get into this until 200 pages in. Hot take: I liked Ring of Swords better.
Found the story itself quite hard to follow with the politics and world building, especially in audio but really enjoyed all of the themes explored and felt emotionally connected to the characters by the end. Loved the character growth etc.
Did not appreciate the really out of left field racial slur in a book about alliances between races etc - how do you do so much that's ahead of your time and still manage to do that idk - product of its time blah blah blah
Did not appreciate the really out of left field racial slur in a book about alliances between races etc - how do you do so much that's ahead of your time and still manage to do that idk - product of its time blah blah blah