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bunny_herondale's review against another edition
4.0
ENGLISH:
First of all, thanks to Robot Dinosaur Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy of the book in exchange of a honest review.
I'm still not sure if it's 3.5 or 4 stars.
Ok, the book is good, is interesting and it's a good trilogy start. What bothers me is that the main character which is a grown adult that has stopped being a naive young girl some time ago makes mistakes that not even the dumbest protagonist of the most cliché teen movie or book would make. Things that were very obvious and she refused to see or not giving the enough importance to other things even when a goddess (literally) told her the importance of those said things!
So, I don't know how I would classify this book because it has many genres, something like a space opera with fantasy and steampunk, a weird mixup, but it works well.
I have to recognize that at the beginning of the book it was difficult for me to really get into the story, and that's partly because the story itself, the principal problem in the book, doesn't start until the 58% of the book, everything that happens before that is the construction and preamble to that specific moment, I just hope it doesn't happen the same in the sequel.
I loved all the rest of the characters, including the aliens with unpronounceable names, Meran, the Wind Sabre crew and even Hankirk. The deities were more like meh to me, they weren't by far the more interesting thing in the book, but there were many things that I did like.
My favorite quotes of the book:
ESPAÑOL:
Primero que nada, gracias a Robot Dinosaur Press y a NetGalley por proveerme con una copia avanzada del libro a cambio de una reseña honesta.
Estoy indecisa entre 3.5 y 4 estrellas.
Ok, el libro es bueno, es interesante y marca un buen inicio de trilogía. Lo que me molesta, es que la protagonista que es una mujer adulta que ya tiene sus añitos, cometa errores que ni el protagonista más tonto de cualquier película o libro cliché para adolescentes cometería. Cosas que eran muy obvias y que no quiso ver o no darle la suficiente importancia a otras cosas a pesar de que una diosa (literalmente) fue y le informó de la importancia de ciertas cosas.
Entonces, no sé exactamente cómo se clasificaría este libro porque tiene muchos géneros, algo como un space opera con fantasía y steampunk, una mezcla rara, sin embargo funciona bien.
Debo reconocer que al inicio me costó engancharme con el libro, y es que la historia en sí, la problemática principal, no empieza sino hasta el 58% del libro, todo lo que sucede antes es como la construcción y el preámbulo para ese momento en específico, solamente espero que en la secuela no suceda lo mismo.
Me encantaron todos los demás personajes, incluyendo los aliens con nombres impronunciables, Meran, la tripulación del Wind Sabre e incluso Hankirk. Las deidades se me hicieron personajes equis, no eran ni de lejos lo más interesante del libro, pero hay varias cosas que sí que me gustaron.
Mis frases favoritas del libro:
First of all, thanks to Robot Dinosaur Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy of the book in exchange of a honest review.
I'm still not sure if it's 3.5 or 4 stars.
Ok, the book is good, is interesting and it's a good trilogy start. What bothers me is that the main character which is a grown adult that has stopped being a naive young girl some time ago makes mistakes that not even the dumbest protagonist of the most cliché teen movie or book would make. Things that were very obvious and she refused to see or not giving the enough importance to other things even when a goddess (literally) told her the importance of those said things!
So, I don't know how I would classify this book because it has many genres, something like a space opera with fantasy and steampunk, a weird mixup, but it works well.
I have to recognize that at the beginning of the book it was difficult for me to really get into the story, and that's partly because the story itself, the principal problem in the book, doesn't start until the 58% of the book, everything that happens before that is the construction and preamble to that specific moment, I just hope it doesn't happen the same in the sequel.
I loved all the rest of the characters, including the aliens with unpronounceable names, Meran, the Wind Sabre crew and even Hankirk. The deities were more like meh to me, they weren't by far the more interesting thing in the book, but there were many things that I did like.
My favorite quotes of the book:
It wasn’t the most impressive private airship in the skies— just a single lift balloon, a handful of cannons, and room for a small crew. But it was hers. You didn’t get to have or keep much in this world.
She couldn’t give him back the future he’d lost, but she never stopped trying to make a new one for him.
Talk to the goddess that had a penchant for turning people into mermaids if they pissed her off.
Of course.
Why not?
Then a wave hit her. Desolation. Aching emptiness.
Silus Cutter is dead.
Her god. The being who created her people and protected them. The being who was supposed to be immortal.
He wasn’t. He was dead. And she was kneeling among his murderers.
“We all do...” Xe paused for a moment, resting. “...what we must to survive. Act for what we believe is the greater good of our people.”
Sometimes, she thought. And other times we act selfishly and court disaster.
“Do you have a purpose I can live for?”
“Same thing I have. Freedom.”
“This one would raze it all to the ground for you,” she said, her eyes flashing at Talis.
Dug’s eyelids lowered, and he inhaled deeply. He looked intoxicated, leaning toward Meran, who cupped his chin. But Meran looked at Hankirk.
“As would he.”
“Should have killed him,”she said under her breath to Dug.
“You still can.”
She stayed silent. She’d already proven that she couldn’t.
ESPAÑOL:
Primero que nada, gracias a Robot Dinosaur Press y a NetGalley por proveerme con una copia avanzada del libro a cambio de una reseña honesta.
Estoy indecisa entre 3.5 y 4 estrellas.
Ok, el libro es bueno, es interesante y marca un buen inicio de trilogía. Lo que me molesta, es que la protagonista que es una mujer adulta que ya tiene sus añitos, cometa errores que ni el protagonista más tonto de cualquier película o libro cliché para adolescentes cometería. Cosas que eran muy obvias y que no quiso ver o no darle la suficiente importancia a otras cosas a pesar de que una diosa (literalmente) fue y le informó de la importancia de ciertas cosas.
Entonces, no sé exactamente cómo se clasificaría este libro porque tiene muchos géneros, algo como un space opera con fantasía y steampunk, una mezcla rara, sin embargo funciona bien.
Debo reconocer que al inicio me costó engancharme con el libro, y es que la historia en sí, la problemática principal, no empieza sino hasta el 58% del libro, todo lo que sucede antes es como la construcción y el preámbulo para ese momento en específico, solamente espero que en la secuela no suceda lo mismo.
Me encantaron todos los demás personajes, incluyendo los aliens con nombres impronunciables, Meran, la tripulación del Wind Sabre e incluso Hankirk. Las deidades se me hicieron personajes equis, no eran ni de lejos lo más interesante del libro, pero hay varias cosas que sí que me gustaron.
Mis frases favoritas del libro:
It wasn’t the most impressive private airship in the skies— just a single lift balloon, a handful of cannons, and room for a small crew. But it was hers. You didn’t get to have or keep much in this world.
She couldn’t give him back the future he’d lost, but she never stopped trying to make a new one for him.
Talk to the goddess that had a penchant for turning people into mermaids if they pissed her off.
Of course.
Why not?
Then a wave hit her. Desolation. Aching emptiness.
Silus Cutter is dead.
Her god. The being who created her people and protected them. The being who was supposed to be immortal.
He wasn’t. He was dead. And she was kneeling among his murderers.
“We all do...” Xe paused for a moment, resting. “...what we must to survive. Act for what we believe is the greater good of our people.”
Sometimes, she thought. And other times we act selfishly and court disaster.
“Do you have a purpose I can live for?”
“Same thing I have. Freedom.”
“This one would raze it all to the ground for you,” she said, her eyes flashing at Talis.
Dug’s eyelids lowered, and he inhaled deeply. He looked intoxicated, leaning toward Meran, who cupped his chin. But Meran looked at Hankirk.
“As would he.”
“Should have killed him,”she said under her breath to Dug.
“You still can.”
She stayed silent. She’d already proven that she couldn’t.
roklobster's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, except for the end.
The characters are interesting and compelling, the story moves along at a good pace, the writing is clever and engaging, the world is different and marvelous, there are weird creatures and there are androids and aliens and flying ships. It's one of those books that makes me think: you knew what I wanted in a story and then made it happen! Bravo! All of the elements of story, from the characters to the world to the magic to the science to the gods is off my check list of YAY THAT'S IN THIS BOOK!!
But after the climax of the story... the end just draaaaaaaaaaags. I feel like the resolution of the story being told was reached at around 85% of the book. And then there was more book to get through. And I'd had a good time thus far, so why would the end be any different, but I was truly puzzled at where else we had to go. And yes, I see how the end sets up for the next book in the series, which I am totally reading when it comes out, but it was a way longer ending to the book than the book really needed. I don't feel like the ending did the book any favors or any justice to the goodness that had come before. So here's hoping the next in the series tightens that up.
Overall, really had a good time reading this and would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, scifi, adventure, and good writing.
The characters are interesting and compelling, the story moves along at a good pace, the writing is clever and engaging, the world is different and marvelous, there are weird creatures and there are androids and aliens and flying ships. It's one of those books that makes me think: you knew what I wanted in a story and then made it happen! Bravo! All of the elements of story, from the characters to the world to the magic to the science to the gods is off my check list of YAY THAT'S IN THIS BOOK!!
But after the climax of the story... the end just draaaaaaaaaaags. I feel like the resolution of the story being told was reached at around 85% of the book. And then there was more book to get through. And I'd had a good time thus far, so why would the end be any different, but I was truly puzzled at where else we had to go. And yes, I see how the end sets up for the next book in the series, which I am totally reading when it comes out, but it was a way longer ending to the book than the book really needed. I don't feel like the ending did the book any favors or any justice to the goodness that had come before. So here's hoping the next in the series tightens that up.
Overall, really had a good time reading this and would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, scifi, adventure, and good writing.
mhairib's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
critterbee's review
3.0
Flotsam was a fun read, although a little too all over the place for me, and could have benefited from a bit more editing. Talis, our heroine, was capable and believable. The elements of Steampunk were there, although it wasn't entirely steampunk, with strong rather sci-fi and fantasy elements. If the excess was trimmed, and the action was allowed to shine, it would be a very exciting read.
*eARC Netgalley*
*eARC Netgalley*
scriptrix's review against another edition
I actually really love the writing in this one - the descriptions are awesome and the worldbuilding seems really cool. But I just...don't have a concept of the characters at all. They are big question marks in my head. I dithered back and forth about whether to DNF or keep trying with this one, but I think I'm going to put it down for now.
endlessmidnight's review
2.0
Well, I was initially interested. But afterwards, I just couldn’t find anything which was memorable. And became another book which I lost interest in and eventually just went on to complete through skimming.
The story is about the galaxy, but I didn’t feel anything really special about this story. Other than something happened here which drove the ship’s captain to going on something. And the setting which did have some redeemable features about it.
I guess I just don’t care about any of the characters. Which otherwise will have really intrigued me to the world as it was, and the writing was nothing memorable at all. Just a lot of description and world building which flew over my head. It was just too dry, and it really hampered my ability to love and understand the story as it was.
Overall, I just didn’t like the story because it didn’t have any characters which I found common ground with. Neither did I find anything which truly intrigued me at all.
The story is about the galaxy, but I didn’t feel anything really special about this story. Other than something happened here which drove the ship’s captain to going on something. And the setting which did have some redeemable features about it.
I guess I just don’t care about any of the characters. Which otherwise will have really intrigued me to the world as it was, and the writing was nothing memorable at all. Just a lot of description and world building which flew over my head. It was just too dry, and it really hampered my ability to love and understand the story as it was.
Overall, I just didn’t like the story because it didn’t have any characters which I found common ground with. Neither did I find anything which truly intrigued me at all.
thepageunfolds's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thanks to the publisher -Chipped Cup Collective, Robot Dinosaur Press for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
3/5 stars
It started off well! Well enough to keep me engaged from the very first page. I was hoping I have found a good adventure for myself through Flotsam. My love for fantasy compelled me to pick this one as I wanted to see how reading a less famous book impacts my opinion. Having said that, there are many such books I've read that many people haven't heard of year, that impressed me to the core. It just didn't happen with this one. Sadly, I was disappointed.
Flotsam talked about airships. How cool is that? There is this ring Talis has that everyone is ready to trade for. I haven't read any of her books prior to Flotsam. It's not that I was very disappointed with her writing, I'm still open to reading books written by her. She looks to be having great potential.
Let me start with the things that impressed me. One, the story had great world-building with airships(Yes, I know I have already mentioned that) which got better and better as the story progressed. So yes, I kept reading. The thing that I didn't like in the story was that there was no character development. All the characters felt a little flat to me. Also, the story was flooded with descriptions of every little thing that came across. There was more of the telling than of the showing. This made the story too long.
I will recommend this book to fantasy lovers who are looking for something new to read.
Release Date : 01 Feb 2022.
Review Posted : 05 Feb 2022.
3/5 stars
It started off well! Well enough to keep me engaged from the very first page. I was hoping I have found a good adventure for myself through Flotsam. My love for fantasy compelled me to pick this one as I wanted to see how reading a less famous book impacts my opinion. Having said that, there are many such books I've read that many people haven't heard of year, that impressed me to the core. It just didn't happen with this one. Sadly, I was disappointed.
Flotsam talked about airships. How cool is that? There is this ring Talis has that everyone is ready to trade for. I haven't read any of her books prior to Flotsam. It's not that I was very disappointed with her writing, I'm still open to reading books written by her. She looks to be having great potential.
Let me start with the things that impressed me. One, the story had great world-building with airships(Yes, I know I have already mentioned that) which got better and better as the story progressed. So yes, I kept reading. The thing that I didn't like in the story was that there was no character development. All the characters felt a little flat to me. Also, the story was flooded with descriptions of every little thing that came across. There was more of the telling than of the showing. This made the story too long.
I will recommend this book to fantasy lovers who are looking for something new to read.
Release Date : 01 Feb 2022.
Review Posted : 05 Feb 2022.
bookshelvesandtealeaves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This. Book.
RJ Theodore has built such a vivid, vibrant, captivating world with Flotsam. The writing style and attention to detail is phenomenal. Where a lot of writers tend to tell rather than show to make sure the reader see’s and understands everything they want to convey, Theodore shows you everything, bit by bit, to let the picture slowly form inside your mind, like a puzzle being put together. Absolutely beautiful.
And the characters are interesting and varied and fully-formed. I felt as though I understood where everyone was coming from, whether I agreed with them or not. I felt a lot of love for Sophie and Tisker in particular. These two are just such beautiful souls.
I think one of my favourite things about this book is the way that queerness and the use of neopronouns are completely normalised. The scene where the crew introduce themselves and exchange pronouns with the alien gave me so much queer joy.
I can’t recommend reading this book enough, and I especially can’t wait for the next installment!
asza's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't a bad read. I thought the world was really interesting and on the surface the characters seemed to be too. The writing was easily readable and the editing was sound. All in all, I'd recommend it.
However, it did seem overly long, dragging in the middle. I never felt I really got to know the characters, especially the crew and primary antagonist. And the fate of the world was left unresolved in favor of the reader learning the fate of a few.
Lastly, I'm torn about the use of the Xe pronouns. Part of me appreciates a genderless character and the effort it takes to introduce what are likely unfamiliar pronouns to a lot of readers. Another part of me was bothered that the character was presented as so very alien.
I was reminded of an interview I recently read with (I think) David J. Peterson, who has a job of creating fictional languages. The interviewer essentially asked him if he'd ever take an existing, but not well known language, and use it for, say, Elvish. Who would know, the interview joked. Peterson basically rephrased the question as "Are you asking me if I'd ever use someone's culture? No."
There was a real part of me that thought using what is the actual identity of real people to represent, not just a fictional character, but a character presented as so much more alien than any other other character that no one in the book could relate to them, was uncomfortable. How might it feel to people who themselves use Xe to read about that character?
I actually feel a little bad bringing it up, because I see from other reviews that there were earlier issues with the character being genderless and the author and publisher took them into account and improved it. Choosing to go with Xe/Xi, instead of whatever it was before. I guess I just wish they'd made a pronoun up, instead of going with a real world one, for a character that was presented as so very non-human by the other characters in the book. (Keeping in mind none are wholly human, but they have a sense of WE that Scrimshaw is denied.)
However, it did seem overly long, dragging in the middle. I never felt I really got to know the characters, especially the crew and primary antagonist. And the fate of the world was left unresolved in favor of the reader learning the fate of a few.
Lastly, I'm torn about the use of the Xe pronouns. Part of me appreciates a genderless character and the effort it takes to introduce what are likely unfamiliar pronouns to a lot of readers. Another part of me was bothered that the character was presented as so very alien.
I was reminded of an interview I recently read with (I think) David J. Peterson, who has a job of creating fictional languages. The interviewer essentially asked him if he'd ever take an existing, but not well known language, and use it for, say, Elvish. Who would know, the interview joked. Peterson basically rephrased the question as "Are you asking me if I'd ever use someone's culture? No."
There was a real part of me that thought using what is the actual identity of real people to represent, not just a fictional character, but a character presented as so much more alien than any other other character that no one in the book could relate to them, was uncomfortable. How might it feel to people who themselves use Xe to read about that character?
I actually feel a little bad bringing it up, because I see from other reviews that there were earlier issues with the character being genderless and the author and publisher took them into account and improved it. Choosing to go with Xe/Xi, instead of whatever it was before. I guess I just wish they'd made a pronoun up, instead of going with a real world one, for a character that was presented as so very non-human by the other characters in the book. (Keeping in mind none are wholly human, but they have a sense of WE that Scrimshaw is denied.)