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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
K-pop training and groups as galactic deities!
Gail Carriger is one of my all-time favorite authors and she's always asking her readers to write reviews. I know she put her heart and soul into this trilogy, which is why I feel bad to say it, but for me, the first book was a mixed bag. I do plan to read the other two books, because I want to see where the story goes from here.
Let's start with the great things. I love character-driven SFF stories, and that is Miss Gail's specialty. I'm also an absolute sucker for found family stories, because they make me feel warm and fuzzy. The world-building is creative and I particularly appreciated her inclusion of non-humanoid species, which I think a lot of space operas often ignore. Lastly, I liked how this book engaged all of my senses. The godsong performances produce brilliant colors and patterns (though I kind of wish there were a way I could watch/listen to the characters' performances because I don't think my imagination did them justice). I would love to get lost in a soft Dyesi poofy-chair, and the descriptions of Phex's cooking made me hungry.
The element I struggled with most was the central conceit that conflates celebrity with divinity. I think it's just a disconnect between the book and how I see the world, so I hope it resonated more with others. But I don't stan any celebrities (and I'm only passingly familiar with the K-Pop culture that inspired some of the book), so I don't really connect with the celebrity obsession theme that underlies the metaphor. Also, my idea of religion and divine worship have a more mystical bent than the way the gods are depicted in the book. Basically, they're just people who have gone through training and glow-ups, but in this world divinity or potential divinity doesn't confer any particular powers or magic, which made the metaphor of celebrity as god more straightforward than I liked. Through most of the book, if you swapped the word "god" with the phrase "pop idol," the story wouldn't have lost any meaning (although the connotation of "pop idol" is admittedly more banal). It would have been interesting to me if the gods gained more abilities as they gathered worshippers or if they had a more direct connection to their worshippers, but that wasn't where the book went. So again, this element fell flat for me, but it might just be me.
The other aspect that I didn't love is that this book very much feels like Book 1 of a trilogy. Divinity 36 seems very focused on establishing the characters and worldbuilding for the next books more than it stands alone on its own. Which is fine- different series can have different structures and that's okay. But for me, the result was that the book felt like a slow burn; all the elements I liked were there and slowly came together, but there wasn't really a point in the book that hooked me.
I'll probably feel more generous towards Divinity 36 when I re-read it someday, which despite my critiques, I'm sure I'll do. The book is cozy and warm, and once I know the rest of the story, the issues with this book will probably fade. The challenge I had with the celebrity/divinity metaphor will just be a part of how the book is constructed and not a jarring choice. So, onwards to Phex and friends' next adventure.
Let's start with the great things. I love character-driven SFF stories, and that is Miss Gail's specialty. I'm also an absolute sucker for found family stories, because they make me feel warm and fuzzy. The world-building is creative and I particularly appreciated her inclusion of non-humanoid species, which I think a lot of space operas often ignore. Lastly, I liked how this book engaged all of my senses. The godsong performances produce brilliant colors and patterns (though I kind of wish there were a way I could watch/listen to the characters' performances because I don't think my imagination did them justice). I would love to get lost in a soft Dyesi poofy-chair, and the descriptions of Phex's cooking made me hungry.
The element I struggled with most was the central conceit that conflates celebrity with divinity. I think it's just a disconnect between the book and how I see the world, so I hope it resonated more with others. But I don't stan any celebrities (and I'm only passingly familiar with the K-Pop culture that inspired some of the book), so I don't really connect with the celebrity obsession theme that underlies the metaphor. Also, my idea of religion and divine worship have a more mystical bent than the way the gods are depicted in the book. Basically, they're just people who have gone through training and glow-ups, but in this world divinity or potential divinity doesn't confer any particular powers or magic, which made the metaphor of celebrity as god more straightforward than I liked. Through most of the book, if you swapped the word "god" with the phrase "pop idol," the story wouldn't have lost any meaning (although the connotation of "pop idol" is admittedly more banal). It would have been interesting to me if the gods gained more abilities as they gathered worshippers or if they had a more direct connection to their worshippers, but that wasn't where the book went. So again, this element fell flat for me, but it might just be me.
The other aspect that I didn't love is that this book very much feels like Book 1 of a trilogy. Divinity 36 seems very focused on establishing the characters and worldbuilding for the next books more than it stands alone on its own. Which is fine- different series can have different structures and that's okay. But for me, the result was that the book felt like a slow burn; all the elements I liked were there and slowly came together, but there wasn't really a point in the book that hooked me.
I'll probably feel more generous towards Divinity 36 when I re-read it someday, which despite my critiques, I'm sure I'll do. The book is cozy and warm, and once I know the rest of the story, the issues with this book will probably fade. The challenge I had with the celebrity/divinity metaphor will just be a part of how the book is constructed and not a jarring choice. So, onwards to Phex and friends' next adventure.
funny
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:
Yes
2X Reread for book club. This time I went with audio. Narrator really captures Phex's personality. He doesn't chatter and thinks before he speaks. As is often the case when reading a 'new' world. Audio helps me to see it. Just a delight to revisit. I'm going binge books 2 & 3 on audio as well.
1X
Y'all know how much I love Gail Carriger. When she described Divinity 36 as "The Aliens are coming for us and they want our K-pop", I was so there for it.
It took me a minute to wrap my head around this world she has built. Having read her Crudrat book did give me some insight into main character Phex early on. But I wouldn't say it's necessary to read that first, as this is Book 1 in new Tinkered Starsong Trilogy.
Cozy Sci-fi with found family and I just loved it.
1X
Y'all know how much I love Gail Carriger. When she described Divinity 36 as "The Aliens are coming for us and they want our K-pop", I was so there for it.
It took me a minute to wrap my head around this world she has built. Having read her Crudrat book did give me some insight into main character Phex early on. But I wouldn't say it's necessary to read that first, as this is Book 1 in new Tinkered Starsong Trilogy.
Cozy Sci-fi with found family and I just loved it.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
This was my first foray into cozy sci fi and I have to say that I'm a fan. I've read many of Gail Carriger's other books and while this one is a completely different genre than I've experienced from her before, it had just as much heart and comfort as her fantasy/steampunk works. Phex is such a relatable character as I, too, am often puzzled by how others "tick," and watching him figure things out was familiar and strangely comforting in a way. Watching his pantheon form was fascinating and the slice-of-life aspect of this book was just wonderful. I immediately loaded the second book in the series onto my reader and wouldn't be at all surprised if I read the entire trilogy within the span of a week.
adventurous
emotional
funny
adventurous
emotional
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
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:
Complicated
fast-paced
reflective
relaxing
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