Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
As noted by some reviews, this book can come off as eyebrow raising and dated in parts. But the world and mystery Wolfe builds in the first two installments of Book of the New Sun are so unique and masterfully done that I don't care. The writing, the allusions, the puzzles--Gene Wolfe makes the reader do a lot of heavy lifting and I don't think that's a bad thing. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It has taken me six months to get through this book and now I am finally free.
I find Severian to be a thoroughly unlikeable protagonist, but the setting of this book is unique enough that I still want to find out what happens next. I thought it was interesting to witness a world through the eyes ofsomeone in a non-space-faring society after someone at some time violated the Prime Directive. This is how I'm interpreting the events of this book but I'll be honest, I didnt quite get everything that was happening.
If you want something with similarly convoluted prose and a setting with a mixture of historical and modern elements, you might enjoy The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake.
If you enjoyed the complex world building, along with the dark and violent atmosphere, but are looking for less misogyny, I'd recommend The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir.
I find Severian to be a thoroughly unlikeable protagonist, but the setting of this book is unique enough that I still want to find out what happens next. I thought it was interesting to witness a world through the eyes of
If you want something with similarly convoluted prose and a setting with a mixture of historical and modern elements, you might enjoy The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake.
If you enjoyed the complex world building, along with the dark and violent atmosphere, but are looking for less misogyny, I'd recommend The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Really not for me. The writing style is a bit dated and it was hard to track what was happening. The writer seemed very interested in painting the world but it in no way was attached to a story. Gonna pass this one up.
Definitely unique, and compelling in its uniqueness. It's a strange story and it's finely written... there's just something that eludes me about it. I still need to read the continuation, Sword and Citadel.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes