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polkadotgirl's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars:
I really, really liked this book. In fact it's been a long while since a fantasy world captured my attention so throughly and made me think so much (in a good way!).
I think the best part of this book, like I already said, was its world-building and magic system. I loved both the fantastical aspects of it and the explanations we're giving about it about how it works, as the fact that we get to read about the cultural differences in kingdoms/nations on how these practices are viewed and understood. It makes the world feel so real because it's got layers and so much complexity.
This entire story, really, is a heavy commentary on colonialism and I absolutely adored that, especially because we've got quite a few POV throughout the book and we get to see so many perspectives and we live along with the characters as they realize things they hadn't even aware of before, and we get to see them grow and change and shape.
The relationships disappointed me a little bit, because I was expecting more development from them and I was expecting to be more invested in the dynamics between characters. But I think I understand that the book wasn't really about that, so it's mostly just my own fault for expecting differently.
Overall, I really recommend this book and I'm just very happy that I loved a fantasy standalone so much because you don't tend to find them very easily.
I really, really liked this book. In fact it's been a long while since a fantasy world captured my attention so throughly and made me think so much (in a good way!).
I think the best part of this book, like I already said, was its world-building and magic system. I loved both the fantastical aspects of it and the explanations we're giving about it about how it works, as the fact that we get to read about the cultural differences in kingdoms/nations on how these practices are viewed and understood. It makes the world feel so real because it's got layers and so much complexity.
This entire story, really, is a heavy commentary on colonialism and I absolutely adored that, especially because we've got quite a few POV throughout the book and we get to see so many perspectives and we live along with the characters as they realize things they hadn't even aware of before, and we get to see them grow and change and shape.
The relationships disappointed me a little bit, because I was expecting more development from them and I was expecting to be more invested in the dynamics between characters. But I think I understand that the book wasn't really about that, so it's mostly just my own fault for expecting differently.
Overall, I really recommend this book and I'm just very happy that I loved a fantasy standalone so much because you don't tend to find them very easily.
greywaren24's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 stars
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Everything in this book is wonderful. The setting, based on different Asian countries and cultures, is super interesting and unique, and you get fully involved in the politics of it, even if it's not the main focus of the book. The "magic" is great too, and the way different cultures react and interact with different aspects of that magic is fascinating. The writing is the perfect mix of flowery and to the point and it never feels too heavy or too light.
The plot is your classic "escort this guy to the throne so he can be the new ruler" story, but the characters... Oh my god, the characters. I'm completely and absolutely in love with the four main characters. I'm always gonna have a little part of my heart dedicated to Tala, Lee, Xiulan and Jimuro. They're so unique and have so many layers to them that you could tell me they're real people and I'd believe you. Their relationships are also handled really well and the fact that the book mostly focuses on them instead of the overarching story was very welcome, because they're definitely the strongest part of the whole thing.
I also think I need to mention the representation and diversity in this story. It's unbelievably good. You have a ton of important female characters, explicitly bisexual and homosexual characters, trans characters, characters with disabilities...
It was so good. I really, really, really enjoyed this book and I strongly recommend it. I'll definitely check out more of Paul Krueger's work in the future, too.
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Everything in this book is wonderful. The setting, based on different Asian countries and cultures, is super interesting and unique, and you get fully involved in the politics of it, even if it's not the main focus of the book. The "magic" is great too, and the way different cultures react and interact with different aspects of that magic is fascinating. The writing is the perfect mix of flowery and to the point and it never feels too heavy or too light.
The plot is your classic "escort this guy to the throne so he can be the new ruler" story, but the characters... Oh my god, the characters. I'm completely and absolutely in love with the four main characters. I'm always gonna have a little part of my heart dedicated to Tala, Lee, Xiulan and Jimuro. They're so unique and have so many layers to them that you could tell me they're real people and I'd believe you. Their relationships are also handled really well and the fact that the book mostly focuses on them instead of the overarching story was very welcome, because they're definitely the strongest part of the whole thing.
I also think I need to mention the representation and diversity in this story. It's unbelievably good. You have a ton of important female characters, explicitly bisexual and homosexual characters, trans characters, characters with disabilities...
It was so good. I really, really, really enjoyed this book and I strongly recommend it. I'll definitely check out more of Paul Krueger's work in the future, too.
taliskerra's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
erinvv22's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
idlehabitat's review against another edition
Couldn't get into the story and characters felt too juvenile
frog_appreciator's review
Didn’t have the brainpower for an epic fantasy right now so I was reading the reviews to decide if I should keep reading and I found several people saying they didnt support the author anymore because of his harassment of multiple women, so definitely a dnf!
ellyrarg's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I’d like this way more than I did. World building was amazing, there was an epic storyline with well formed characters (with really great diverse pairings) with basically daemons (woo!) and lots of wonderfully earnest and conflicting motivations and a tiny plot twist with ramifications. Super great.
What was not great was the very gentle pace (which I understood at the beginning with the world building, and as we learn enough about each character to place them moving forward) but honestly, I kept putting the book down and wasn’t super excited to pick it back up again. When we finally got to the end I cheered, but not because of the climax but because I was done. I felt like the last third of the book could have been edited down into a tighter read. Hey ho.
What was not great was the very gentle pace (which I understood at the beginning with the world building, and as we learn enough about each character to place them moving forward) but honestly, I kept putting the book down and wasn’t super excited to pick it back up again. When we finally got to the end I cheered, but not because of the climax but because I was done. I felt like the last third of the book could have been edited down into a tighter read. Hey ho.
taliesin_hastings's review
challenging
dark
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? No
1.5
marley's review against another edition
I will not be rating or reviewing this book because of the author's actions.
mcf's review against another edition
5.0
It's hard for me to find the right words to explain how great Steel Crow Saga is -- I can describe it, certainly, but no description will be able to encompass the book's multi-layered emotional punch, or Krueger's remarkable ability to simultaneously tell both huge and tiny stories. His world is one made up of brown people, cultures with connections to what we think of as those in Asia, India, and the Middle East; this alone is refreshing and notable, given how few fantasy books are willing (even now) to not center white, western culture. Similarly, none of the cultures sees heterosexuality as compulsory; the causal dropping of phrases like "his husband" into historical tales remains incredibly powerful. Not only are the cultures clearly differentiated by things like dress, traditions, and language, but they also have totally different types of magic, differences which, in many cases, lead to profound racism in a world full of colonialism, war, and hate. Our main characters are all from different cultures and, in the space of less than a week, are forced to learn to deal with one another (at first in pairs and then in larger or mixed groups), and to address their own prejudices, assumptions, and mistakes.
What's most impressive about all of this, however, might just be the way Krueger is able to make his story feel deeply relevant without hitting the reader over the head with it, and without sacrificing any of the world he's created. Without this grace, the story would be far less powerful but, as it is, there are times when it's almost overwhelming (in a good way).
TL;DR HOLY CRAP IT'S SO GOOD YOU GUYS.
Thanks to Random house and NetGalley for the ARC.
What's most impressive about all of this, however, might just be the way Krueger is able to make his story feel deeply relevant without hitting the reader over the head with it, and without sacrificing any of the world he's created. Without this grace, the story would be far less powerful but, as it is, there are times when it's almost overwhelming (in a good way).
TL;DR HOLY CRAP IT'S SO GOOD YOU GUYS.
Thanks to Random house and NetGalley for the ARC.