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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Re-read January 27, 2024
I guess I'm going through books that I didn't remember finishing, but it turns out I actually did finish them. I wanted to give this one a second read, and part of the way through I checked on my old review. And I guess the audiobook did a lot of heavy lifting in terms of me enjoying this book, because when I tried to read it on my own I didn't even get halfway through before I got bored enough to DNF.
I think this time around, my problem was how magic and the women who used it were portrayed. I mentioned in my previous review how a lot of this read as geisha-like. The problem is that I found it hard to understand why they were doing these geisha-like things if they possessed magic. What was the point in entertaining people at a tea party, learning to dance, or playing instruments? And why was some of the magic used as replacement for cosmetics? It just seems weird when this is the same world where a girl raised her brother from the dead and you can tell people's emotions by looking at a gem they're wearing.
I think another thing that tripped me up was the language. I couldn't help noticing that a lot of the words sounded Russian, for some reason. Maybe that was on purpose, but I didn't really get a sense for the culture enough to know for sure. What little I did understand was the stuff that reminded me of geisha. I'm not sure if understanding Russian culture and their view on the dead would make this any better, but as it was, the necromancy bits were so underwhelming. Fox acted disappointingly normal for a dead guy, and all the dead Tea rose were just swept under the rug, I guess. The book sure focused on something else fast enough.
I am curious how in the world this went on to two more books, since the whole framing device in this one is it's a story Tea is telling a bard. Not curious enough to keep reading, though.
Original review February 27, 2018
How do you make a story about a young necromancer boring? This book sure as hell tries. It started out very promising, as in the beginning the reader already knows Tea raised her brother from the dead. I was really hoping for something creepy and haunting with maybe a touch of psychological horror or ethical questions on controlling life and death.
There are definitely some creepy and haunting bits in it, but the majority of the book is given over to extremely detailed descriptions of dancing, singing, getting dressed in kimonos (they're called something else but I just imagined them as kimonos), going to parties... Basically, I felt like I was reading about geisha or other such women of entertainment. The system was very similar and if there wasn't the odd reference to combat training or magic, I would've completely forgotten this was supposed to be a magical fantasy.
If you want to write a story about geisha, then fine. Go ahead and do that. I've seen Memoirs of a Geisha and read the book, and found it to be incredibly fascinating. I'd be more than happy to read more about them. But don't disguise it under this magical fantasy about a young female necromancer. It just makes the reader disappointed if they wanted more focus on the geisha bits, or bored if they were looking forward to the magic. It constantly feels like they're interrupting each other. The constant going back and forth between young and older Tea was annoying as well. Tease future events once and be done with it; stop slowing down the action by going back to those teases.
I'm only giving this book two stars because I listened to the audio and the girl was actually very talented. She put a lot of emotion and heart into her performance. I hope she got work after this.
I guess I'm going through books that I didn't remember finishing, but it turns out I actually did finish them. I wanted to give this one a second read, and part of the way through I checked on my old review. And I guess the audiobook did a lot of heavy lifting in terms of me enjoying this book, because when I tried to read it on my own I didn't even get halfway through before I got bored enough to DNF.
I think this time around, my problem was how magic and the women who used it were portrayed. I mentioned in my previous review how a lot of this read as geisha-like. The problem is that I found it hard to understand why they were doing these geisha-like things if they possessed magic. What was the point in entertaining people at a tea party, learning to dance, or playing instruments? And why was some of the magic used as replacement for cosmetics? It just seems weird when this is the same world where a girl raised her brother from the dead and you can tell people's emotions by looking at a gem they're wearing.
I think another thing that tripped me up was the language. I couldn't help noticing that a lot of the words sounded Russian, for some reason. Maybe that was on purpose, but I didn't really get a sense for the culture enough to know for sure. What little I did understand was the stuff that reminded me of geisha. I'm not sure if understanding Russian culture and their view on the dead would make this any better, but as it was, the necromancy bits were so underwhelming. Fox acted disappointingly normal for a dead guy, and all the dead Tea rose were just swept under the rug, I guess. The book sure focused on something else fast enough.
I am curious how in the world this went on to two more books, since the whole framing device in this one is it's a story Tea is telling a bard. Not curious enough to keep reading, though.
Original review February 27, 2018
How do you make a story about a young necromancer boring? This book sure as hell tries. It started out very promising, as in the beginning the reader already knows Tea raised her brother from the dead. I was really hoping for something creepy and haunting with maybe a touch of psychological horror or ethical questions on controlling life and death.
There are definitely some creepy and haunting bits in it, but the majority of the book is given over to extremely detailed descriptions of dancing, singing, getting dressed in kimonos (they're called something else but I just imagined them as kimonos), going to parties... Basically, I felt like I was reading about geisha or other such women of entertainment. The system was very similar and if there wasn't the odd reference to combat training or magic, I would've completely forgotten this was supposed to be a magical fantasy.
If you want to write a story about geisha, then fine. Go ahead and do that. I've seen Memoirs of a Geisha and read the book, and found it to be incredibly fascinating. I'd be more than happy to read more about them. But don't disguise it under this magical fantasy about a young female necromancer. It just makes the reader disappointed if they wanted more focus on the geisha bits, or bored if they were looking forward to the magic. It constantly feels like they're interrupting each other. The constant going back and forth between young and older Tea was annoying as well. Tease future events once and be done with it; stop slowing down the action by going back to those teases.
I'm only giving this book two stars because I listened to the audio and the girl was actually very talented. She put a lot of emotion and heart into her performance. I hope she got work after this.
adventurous
dark
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
This book is really a set up for the next book. So I don't feel like I can fully rate it
It is a fun book and I am curious what happens next, but I feel like the next book should have been combined with this one
It is a fun book and I am curious what happens next, but I feel like the next book should have been combined with this one
I absolutely adore this series. The world-building is exquisite, immersing you completely in its fantastical realm and the clever interplay between dual time periods creates a tension that compels you to keep reading. I also love that the morals of the MC are a bit ambiguous adding to this almost anti-hearo feel to the darkness of her magic. Lastly, Chupeco does a great job of writing her characters. They are so diverse and unique and I loved learning about the lives of each one.
Dedicating the book to her instant ramen is just amazing.
Dedicating the book to her instant ramen is just amazing.
adventurous
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
I’m not sure I enjoyed how it ended. However, the book will linger in my thoughts.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I do appreciate the originality in the story and the magic system and Rin Chupeco's writing style is beautiful but I was so bored while reading this book, it took me the longest time to finish it.
The pacing didn't suit me at all, it was more than slow ! And I couldn't picture the monsters in my head and that alone, was a disappointment.
Also the reveal at the end was quite obvious.
If you like slower paced fantasy, maybe you'll enjoy that one more than me !
The pacing didn't suit me at all, it was more than slow ! And I couldn't picture the monsters in my head and that alone, was a disappointment.
Also the reveal at the end was quite obvious.
If you like slower paced fantasy, maybe you'll enjoy that one more than me !
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
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:
No
Beautifully dark, magical and mysterious
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes