Reviews

Stories of the Raksura: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below: Volume Two: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below by Martha Wells

leeleet's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

woolyllamareads's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition

4.0

A good combinations of stories short and long. There was even a story in the world but not with anyone we've met before, which was pretty good. The strength of this series is with the complicated world setting and all the different types of beings. The weakness is primarily the lack of depth of all but our absolute main characters. And even then, we don't see enough of a connection between Moon's earlier life and his current one. Still, a good add to the series which left me wanting to read the next works. 3.5 of 5.

jvilches's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-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? No

4.25

zober's review against another edition

adventurous

3.75

thalassa_reading's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

snazel's review against another edition

5.0

I just love this series and would like an entire nother series that is just stories of Stone adventures, and fledgling adventures please.

kiiouex's review against another edition

3.0

Lots of variety in this collection of stories; I don't have too much to say about it, it's More Raksura, I enjoyed it but it didn't have that big emotional punch I was looking for. It's a nice read if you already like these characters and this world. TBH I keep picking out the Cloud Roads which is a real standout, and while I like the series, I think the first entry was far and away the strongest.

spoke_spider's review against another edition

5.0

A fascinating episode from Moon's past, and kids?! What more could we ask for, really? <3

mousie_books's review against another edition

3.0

The Dead City - 3/5 - After Moon flees Saraseil, he stumbles across another groundling conflict.

Spoiler

Moon is in shock and despair after Saraseil. As he says, he may or may not have a death wish, but he certainly doesn't have a life wish. The inn at which he stays becomes pulled into a conflict between a queen/drone insect-like species protecting their dead in their long dead city, and spider-like miners eating the remains for 'power'. He rescues and protects the inn owner, her friends, and the insect-like tribe, but is forced to reveal himself and is betrayed by the leader of the insects. This experience reinforces those of his past. He makes excuses and slips away after saying good bye to the inn owner.

I couldn't quite get into the story. Moon's inner conflict and interactions were compelling, but the mystery of the miners was meh.

Mimesis - 3/5 - "This story takes places three months after the end of The Siren Depths." (book 3) Like a cut scene. Fun.

Spoiler

Fair gets lured by a giant predator with a groundling decoy tendril on a hunting trip. Jade rescues him.

Trading Lesson - 4/5 - "This story takes place once month after the end of Mimesis."

Spoiler

A groundling trader comes with a group from Sunset Water, and Moon stops him from taking advantage of his fellow Raksura in trades for his pretty green (common as dirt) amber.

The Almost Last Voyage of the Wind-Ship Escarpment - 3/5 - "This story is set in another part of The Three Worlds, with a different cast of characters." A bit hard to get into, but I liked the ending.

Spoiler

A mercenary? wind-ship is sent with a ransom to rescue a sea ship held hostage by sealing raiders. Upon delivery, the raiders try to capture the wind-ship. The crew of the wind-ship discover that the box they were given was empty, and that they, in fact, were the ransom. The B plot is that the man who hired the crew is the estranged father of the wind-ship's first officer. Though his father abandoned him and left him to die, he still desperately wants his approval and to go home.

The Dark Earth Below - 4/5 - "This novella takes place a turn and a half after the events of The Siren Depths." (book 3) Kek hunters go missing, and the village seeks help from Indigo Cloud. Meanwhile, Jade is about ready to pop out her first clutch. Very sweet interactions, and an interesting mystery. I was kinda meh on the ending of the A plot, but the B plot more than made up for it.

Spoiler

The Onde are invisible to most species, and 'skin-hunters' use their hide to create camouflage. An Onde sneaks into the colony, and a skin-hunter stages attacks in attempts to retrieve it. Meanwhile, Moon and Jade are going out of their minds waiting on their first clutch to be born.