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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed the story, although I didn't love the ending, but my favorite part is the setting. The world building is fascinating, and it is hands-down the most interesting post-apocalyptic society of any that I've experienced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness
I started reading this book in anticipation that it was a shoo-in to be a Hugo Award finalist. It's a Nebula Award finalist and was highly rated by several reviewers. Alas, it's not a Hugo finalist, I'm a little over half way through, and it's just not compelling enough to finish. Maybe after I'm done with my Hugo reading I'll come back, but I doubt it.
This world-building in this book reminds me of something [a:China Miéville|33918|China Miéville|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243988363p2/33918.jpg] or [a:Kim Stanley Robinson|1858|Kim Stanley Robinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1376955089p2/1858.jpg] would write, but the characters didn't click with me. They all seem to come from Central Casting. That and the plot really doesn't get going for quite some time (and then it's not all that interesting) leads me to shelve this one.
This world-building in this book reminds me of something [a:China Miéville|33918|China Miéville|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243988363p2/33918.jpg] or [a:Kim Stanley Robinson|1858|Kim Stanley Robinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1376955089p2/1858.jpg] would write, but the characters didn't click with me. They all seem to come from Central Casting. That and the plot really doesn't get going for quite some time (and then it's not all that interesting) leads me to shelve this one.
I really liked this book.
It wasn't perfect, and I'll get my minor complaints out of the way first.
At times I felt like there were all these really cool elements that were loosely thrown together instead of neatly tied together. But.... all those cool little elements were really really cool. So It's easy to forgive.
Also, I couldn't really sink into the characters as much as I wanted. Soq was my favorite character. But even with Soq I had a hard time really understanding their motivation. With Go, I felt like we were told that she was badass instead of shown. Kaev was interesting, but I couldn't get inside him either. Masaaraq was a very cool character. Kill bill meets Michonne and then rides on the back of an Orca. She was just awesome, but she felt uneven as well.
As for what I loved - there's a lot.
First and foremost, the world building. I loved this world. The author doesn't spend a lot of time giving you backstory or exposition. Instead you learn the world as you live in it. There are gaps in what you know about the world as a whole, but hey - there probably should be. It's not completely post-apocalyptic, it's more like post "things went south real quick and to a significant degree". The real world building takes place in the city of Qaanaaq. And I loved this city with it's sprawling arms over the northern ocean, sitting atop a thermal vent. The noodle stands on the streets and buildings with thin walls because heat is in unlimited supply. The lack of government and the invisible AI that runs everything.
It felt different and original. I have loved how many books have felt "fresh" in the past few years. New voices (even when they come from existing authors changing things up), and new stories with characters that have new perspectives. Soq is a great example. Soq might have existed in novels a decade ago, but the novel would have been about how Soq is different. I'm thinking of Ancillary Justice (a great book) and how it made us think about gendered pronouns. But it was a central device in Ancillary Justice. In Blackfish City Soq is "they". It's not a guessing game about Soqs gender, that's just who they are. And it is just one facet of the character, not the one that defines them. And the author does the same thing with issues of class, class, wealth, immigration, religion, prejudice... The author doesn't hold these issues up and say "let me tell you what I think about them". They are just woven into the story and left for the reader to mull over.
And I love the Innuit and Northwest Passage influences. That more of a personal thing. But form the cover are to the the names, it was an influence that added to the beauty and mystery of this near future world.
So ya... not perfect. But very good. I think I read that this is Sam J Miller's second novel, and their first adult novel. So I'll definitely be watching for what comes next.
It wasn't perfect, and I'll get my minor complaints out of the way first.
At times I felt like there were all these really cool elements that were loosely thrown together instead of neatly tied together. But.... all those cool little elements were really really cool. So It's easy to forgive.
Also, I couldn't really sink into the characters as much as I wanted. Soq was my favorite character. But even with Soq I had a hard time really understanding their motivation. With Go, I felt like we were told that she was badass instead of shown. Kaev was interesting, but I couldn't get inside him either. Masaaraq was a very cool character. Kill bill meets Michonne and then rides on the back of an Orca. She was just awesome, but she felt uneven as well.
As for what I loved - there's a lot.
First and foremost, the world building. I loved this world. The author doesn't spend a lot of time giving you backstory or exposition. Instead you learn the world as you live in it. There are gaps in what you know about the world as a whole, but hey - there probably should be. It's not completely post-apocalyptic, it's more like post "things went south real quick and to a significant degree". The real world building takes place in the city of Qaanaaq. And I loved this city with it's sprawling arms over the northern ocean, sitting atop a thermal vent. The noodle stands on the streets and buildings with thin walls because heat is in unlimited supply. The lack of government and the invisible AI that runs everything.
It felt different and original. I have loved how many books have felt "fresh" in the past few years. New voices (even when they come from existing authors changing things up), and new stories with characters that have new perspectives. Soq is a great example. Soq might have existed in novels a decade ago, but the novel would have been about how Soq is different. I'm thinking of Ancillary Justice (a great book) and how it made us think about gendered pronouns. But it was a central device in Ancillary Justice. In Blackfish City Soq is "they". It's not a guessing game about Soqs gender, that's just who they are. And it is just one facet of the character, not the one that defines them. And the author does the same thing with issues of class, class, wealth, immigration, religion, prejudice... The author doesn't hold these issues up and say "let me tell you what I think about them". They are just woven into the story and left for the reader to mull over.
And I love the Innuit and Northwest Passage influences. That more of a personal thing. But form the cover are to the the names, it was an influence that added to the beauty and mystery of this near future world.
So ya... not perfect. But very good. I think I read that this is Sam J Miller's second novel, and their first adult novel. So I'll definitely be watching for what comes next.
3.5 stars
I had to be patient with this book because it was only towards the 40% mark that the story really took off.
On a very basic level this story takes the concept of the Golden Compass – humans bonding with non-human entities (in this case real animals) - but made it much darker, grittier and more terrifying. This is no children’s story.
I really enjoyed the overall story line and was determined to give it 4 stars for its wonderful atmosphere and imaginative world HOWEVER….
The author had the knack of referring to the polar bear has having hands (?) and later corrected it by referring to paws. This is a small editing error and as I read a galley I really hope was corrected before publishing.
And then there is Soq. Now this was a very interesting character, but one thing just drove me to distraction. The author made Soq gender fluid so Soq didn’t want to be referred to as he or she but them or they. That really irritated me the same way that Matt in [b:Feedback|22359662|Feedback (Newsflesh, #4)|Mira Grant|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466918601s/22359662.jpg|41767244] did. It was a disruptive little niggle that took me out of the story every time I read it.
I found the concept of the Breaks, very well done. This is a shameful disease normally affecting the lowest of society. When infected you see images that slowly drive you insane. There is no cure and no real cause and turns out to be much more complicated than anyone could have anticipated.
Would I recommend this? The story is worth the read, the world building solid and the story line entertaining. Yes, there were a few little things that bothered me, but this was a unique story with strong imagery and a satisfyingly open-ended ending.
ARC Netgalley
I had to be patient with this book because it was only towards the 40% mark that the story really took off.
On a very basic level this story takes the concept of the Golden Compass – humans bonding with non-human entities (in this case real animals) - but made it much darker, grittier and more terrifying. This is no children’s story.
I really enjoyed the overall story line and was determined to give it 4 stars for its wonderful atmosphere and imaginative world HOWEVER….
The author had the knack of referring to the polar bear has having hands (?) and later corrected it by referring to paws. This is a small editing error and as I read a galley I really hope was corrected before publishing.
And then there is Soq. Now this was a very interesting character, but one thing just drove me to distraction. The author made Soq gender fluid so Soq didn’t want to be referred to as he or she but them or they. That really irritated me the same way that Matt in [b:Feedback|22359662|Feedback (Newsflesh, #4)|Mira Grant|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466918601s/22359662.jpg|41767244] did. It was a disruptive little niggle that took me out of the story every time I read it.
I found the concept of the Breaks, very well done. This is a shameful disease normally affecting the lowest of society. When infected you see images that slowly drive you insane. There is no cure and no real cause and turns out to be much more complicated than anyone could have anticipated.
Would I recommend this? The story is worth the read, the world building solid and the story line entertaining. Yes, there were a few little things that bothered me, but this was a unique story with strong imagery and a satisfyingly open-ended ending.
ARC Netgalley
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Overall the book was good -- my biggest issue is that it took soooooo long to figure out what the heck was going on....I'm talking about 40-45% of the book until a plot really started to shape, and the reader can understand the characters. After, the book really picks up and is interesting and entertaining. The end of the books seemed a little drawn out - but also rushed? Like there was too much action at the end, without enough closure. I would recommend this book - but only to dedicated readers who don't mind a rough beginning. I almost abandoned this book, but am glad I stuck it out. I was between 3 and 4 stars...I went with 3 because of the terribly slow and confusing start. I would be interested in re-reading the first third of the book again to see what I all missed.
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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 really enjoyed the world building in this story. It made me want to make art. I like how the multiple storylines come together and explore the complexities of family. Also I would love to bond to an animal but also I would be crushed when they died. I love animals
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
The world building and concept for a very real future were incredibly well done. It started to lose me around the middle and I really feel like there was a complete shift in the pose - but still a good book overall.
Stunning. Painful. All too real. A vision for the future I believe. But I wish I didn't