Reviews - Hummingbird Salamander

1.19k reviews for:

Hummingbird Salamander

Jeff VanderMeer

3.27 AVERAGE

ghostbird13's review against another edition

4.0

So good! This book cements my admiration for Jeff Vandermeer as a truly masterful writer. I already know I want to read it again at some point.

kimberlyanna91's review against another edition

1.0

slow-paced

The best part about it was the pretty cover.

sailor_marmar's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rainbowsick's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

iread2much's review against another edition

0.25

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

r_b_c's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 50%

I really wanted to like this one and stuck with it until it was due back at the library, but this was a very rambling book. The protagonist makes decisions with little to no reason. I adored other Vandermeer novels such as Annihilation and would recommend the Southern Reach trilogy instead. Maybe I’ll finish this one someday.

sellnow_hannah's review against another edition

3.0

It took a while to get into this book and my biggest critique of it is that the stakes/why I should care about the hummingbird/why I should empathize with Jane/Jill were pretty obscure initially so it didn’t grab me from the beginning… the plot and my interest level picked up around the 50-60% mark and I really enjoyed the final section of the book. It was very similar to Authority in its vibes and pacing. I do like the climate/ecological fiction genre but did find this one a bit preachy at times (though the hummingbird and salamander metaphors were great!) I am 100% convinced that this book somehow ties into the Area X trilogy, and it’s likely that I’ll re-read at some point to search for more puzzle pieces lol