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qrschulte's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book had a really interesting concept for magic, but I didn’t love it for a couple of reasons. I read the audiobook, and I think that was a mistake. There were frequently errors in the audio, where the same sentence would be repeated twice in a row (I swear this happened like a dozen times). There were no chapters, so it was harder to know when we were switching between Lin and Sima quicker. I think if I’d read the ebook or a physical copy, I wouldn’t have had those complaints, and I wouldn’t have kept getting pulled out of the story. I did absolutely love the in-world epigraphs, which are 100% my shit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Grief
Minor: Vomit, War, and Child death
bookcraft's review
4.0
The story is lovely and the narrator's voice and delivery give it a lilting beauty, but the audiobook production is terrible. It sounds like the pre-edit version was released, complete with misspoken and repeated lines as the narrator tried different line deliveries.
mandygris's review against another edition
4.0
It was nice to see world building crammed in to such a short story. It was well done, though I found the current-day chapter openings to be jarring. They serve a purpose, I get it, but for me the tone of it took away from the majesty of the scenes in the past. Perhaps that was the point.
It would really be awesome to see more set in this world (and time of rulers!)
It would really be awesome to see more set in this world (and time of rulers!)
briar_rose_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Sad and Lovely
A beautiful, poignant little story that vividly encapsulates character and setting in a few spare strokes. This is the first I've read from Fran Wilde, and I definitely liked it enough to seek out more of her books.
A beautiful, poignant little story that vividly encapsulates character and setting in a few spare strokes. This is the first I've read from Fran Wilde, and I definitely liked it enough to seek out more of her books.
stephs_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Book Riot recommended this fantasy novella for one of the entries in this year's Read Harder challenge. I'm glad I picked it up as it's a very solid fantasy story. Even at only 96 pages, Fran Wilde manages to introduce us to a fully developed world.
arekasadara's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic story and worldbuilding in fewer pages than most manage in a full-length novel. I want more stories set in this world!
liacooper's review against another edition
2.0
I read a short story by Fran Wilde earlier this year (part of the Infinity's End collection) and absolutely lvoed it (easily top5 from that collection) so i wanted to try another thing by her. The Jewel and her Lapidary unfortunately did not live up to my hopes.
part of my rating is totally subjective in that there were a bunch of plot choices/character choices i did not care for and that just brought down the reading experience for me. i especially disliked the ending. it reinforced this uncomfortable slavery aspect present in the rest of the novel. (dont want to say more for spoilers sake).
furthermore, i think there was an awful lot of repetition for such a small book, both plotwise and dialogue wise. i listened to this on audiobook and im not sure if it was a fault with the audiobook editing or simply how the book was written but there would be these repeated phrases every couple of pages. at first i thought maybe these were scene breaks where the last line from the previous scene was being repeated as the first line of the next scene (terrible on its own) but some of the repeated phrases were fragments, not even sentences so by the end i had discarded my theory and was just confused. either way they didnt work, whether as a fault of the writing or the audiobook editing.
just a big miss. i will try something else from Fran Wilde though because i still really love that short story by her that i read and i want to find a longer work to love as much.
part of my rating is totally subjective in that there were a bunch of plot choices/character choices i did not care for and that just brought down the reading experience for me. i especially disliked the ending. it reinforced this uncomfortable slavery aspect present in the rest of the novel. (dont want to say more for spoilers sake).
furthermore, i think there was an awful lot of repetition for such a small book, both plotwise and dialogue wise. i listened to this on audiobook and im not sure if it was a fault with the audiobook editing or simply how the book was written but there would be these repeated phrases every couple of pages. at first i thought maybe these were scene breaks where the last line from the previous scene was being repeated as the first line of the next scene (terrible on its own) but some of the repeated phrases were fragments, not even sentences so by the end i had discarded my theory and was just confused. either way they didnt work, whether as a fault of the writing or the audiobook editing.
just a big miss. i will try something else from Fran Wilde though because i still really love that short story by her that i read and i want to find a longer work to love as much.
bookmaddie's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
lonecayt's review against another edition
2.0
This story spent way too much time explaining things to me and way too little time encouraging me to care.
buuboobaby's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 - 5 stars
I liked this novella so much I wish it had been a longer book (something I rarely say). The world-building was compelling, the details about the gems were fascinating, and Lin and Sima are willing to do anything to save their kingdom from the invaders that have taken the crown. Wow. I can hardly wait for Cloudbound now, because I like Wilde's writing so much.
I liked this novella so much I wish it had been a longer book (something I rarely say). The world-building was compelling, the details about the gems were fascinating, and Lin and Sima are willing to do anything to save their kingdom from the invaders that have taken the crown. Wow. I can hardly wait for Cloudbound now, because I like Wilde's writing so much.