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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
Just couldn't care less about anything in this book
I gave this up quite a while ago, but am just now admitting it. The story is complex. The characters are somehow in very interesting situations but aren't interesting themselves. It was a slog.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received a copy of this book for free via Goodreads giveaway. This has in no way impacted my final rating.
I found the setting of <i>The Spice Gate</i> to be extremely inventive, probably my favorite part. Inspired by the history of the spice trade and the Caste system, Srivatsa paints a very wide world in this stand-alone. Unfortunately, the world is much bigger than the actual plot, and I found there was a certain discordance between the purported focus of the story (the adventure) and the day-to-day existence of characters in this universe.
This story would benefit from a second book to relieve some of the pressure from the much larger world, as it currently overshadows the actual story of the novel.
I found the setting of <i>The Spice Gate</i> to be extremely inventive, probably my favorite part. Inspired by the history of the spice trade and the Caste system, Srivatsa paints a very wide world in this stand-alone. Unfortunately, the world is much bigger than the actual plot, and I found there was a certain discordance between the purported focus of the story (the adventure) and the day-to-day existence of characters in this universe.
This story would benefit from a second book to relieve some of the pressure from the much larger world, as it currently overshadows the actual story of the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Miscarriage, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa is a fantasy unlike anything I have personally read before. We enter into a world where spices are the currency and entry into a new city through a can only be entered by carriers. However, something is amiss. With a world full of spices, assasins, kings, queens, and immortal creatures, this book takes a reader into a world that is intriguing as well as mesmerizing.
Amir is a carrier and wants a better life for himself and his family. Carriers are an essential part of all eight kingdoms but are treated as outcasts. They carry precious spices, but they themselves don't have them for their households. Will Amir be able to figure out a way for the betterment of his family?
I was intrigued by the premise of this book when I requested this on Netgalley. The world building of this story is amazing. I loved that part of the book. However, I wish that this book would have been a duology, and the author had developed the world and characters a bit more. The initial 30% of the book I struggled with because there was so much information dumped. I had a hard time following the characters. I persevered, and I am glad that I did, though. Everything becomes a little later. It's a prose heavy story, and the reader needs a bit of patience. I would be definitely keeping this author in my wishlist for their future books.
Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager, for this book.
Amir is a carrier and wants a better life for himself and his family. Carriers are an essential part of all eight kingdoms but are treated as outcasts. They carry precious spices, but they themselves don't have them for their households. Will Amir be able to figure out a way for the betterment of his family?
I was intrigued by the premise of this book when I requested this on Netgalley. The world building of this story is amazing. I loved that part of the book. However, I wish that this book would have been a duology, and the author had developed the world and characters a bit more. The initial 30% of the book I struggled with because there was so much information dumped. I had a hard time following the characters. I persevered, and I am glad that I did, though. Everything becomes a little later. It's a prose heavy story, and the reader needs a bit of patience. I would be definitely keeping this author in my wishlist for their future books.
Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager, for this book.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Police brutality, Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Excrement, Death of parent
Interesting ideas, but I'm still not "hooked" at nearly 200 pages.
adventurous
challenging
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
I loved the world concept. The world being set up around the spice trade was such a wonderful idea. Discussing castes in a fantasy world also feels like a good way for people to empathize with people and understand caste systems better. The food descriptions were rude though - made it hard to skip out on eating to keep reading with all the amazing foods described.
The only real con I have with the book is I think it needed to be split up more - maybe a trilogy - because it felt so dense since there was so much to the plot and world building. (But also, is that really a con if I wanted more time in the world?).
I also didn’t really feel the emotions in Harini and Amir’s relationship since it wasn’t really the main focus of the novel. I think I would’ve liked either that expanded more or Amir and Kalay to end up becoming involved since I was able to see their friendship blossom more. I loved the blossoming friendship we got to see
The only real con I have with the book is I think it needed to be split up more - maybe a trilogy - because it felt so dense since there was so much to the plot and world building. (But also, is that really a con if I wanted more time in the world?).
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It had so much potential, but the long winded paragraphs killed me! Just too much lore to pack into a standalone. In the end, regarding this felt like the cinnamon challenge circa 2012.
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-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
One my favorite thing about reading is that it takes you to new worlds 🌎 if you allow the writer to transport. I really I pick up Spice Gate because I was hope foe a fantasy telling of the Spice trade. I got that and so much more. I feel like I got enlighten on the a tab bit on the Indian culture as much as fantasy book can book can do. I this why I love reason from different cultures. I will I admit cultural ignorant of caste system which when they are used in book they confused me but in this book there might be one or not. I wasn't able to pick up on detail. From what I understood the main character was born with in a difference area and poor and with with a special mark. I still I really enjoyed this story it was beautiful even if I was bit confused while reading on some detail.