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crimsoncor's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this but didn't love it and it is completely immemorable a week later.
kiayaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
songwind's review
5.0
Safe to say I loved this.
It's big, it's complex, and it's imaginative. Despite being notionally science fiction there's no "hard sci-fi" to it. Despite the cavalier way in which the book treats the laws of physics, it's never suggested that these things are magic.
It's an epic quest, and like the best epic quests it combines periods of action and daring-do with quieter times of introspection, growth and humanity. It's something of a travelogue, as Viv and her companions drift from place to place, looking for allies, weapons and/or safety.
In the other Gladstone works I've read, he has shined the most in characterization, and mythbuilding. This book is no different. All of the main characters are well fleshed out. They also grow and change throughout the story in important ways. The setting is full of ideas, and full of larger than life events and characters. In particular, the fuzzy boundary between 4D space and the hyperspaces of cloud is a fertile ground for mythic characters and impossibilities.
Much like the Craft Sequence, this book straddles a lot of genres. That may make it difficult for some people to approach. In particular, I have seen it described as a "feminist Guardians of the Galaxy." It is not that. This is not a two hour thrill ride, easy-to-understand adventure. Those elements are in there, but there's also 2001, Dune and Hyperion in there.
In fact, there are elements and moments that specifically made me think of those other works. Not in a coarsely derivative sense, but rather it's clear that the text and imagery was informed by them.
It's big, it's complex, and it's imaginative. Despite being notionally science fiction there's no "hard sci-fi" to it. Despite the cavalier way in which the book treats the laws of physics, it's never suggested that these things are magic.
It's an epic quest, and like the best epic quests it combines periods of action and daring-do with quieter times of introspection, growth and humanity. It's something of a travelogue, as Viv and her companions drift from place to place, looking for allies, weapons and/or safety.
In the other Gladstone works I've read, he has shined the most in characterization, and mythbuilding. This book is no different. All of the main characters are well fleshed out. They also grow and change throughout the story in important ways. The setting is full of ideas, and full of larger than life events and characters. In particular, the fuzzy boundary between 4D space and the hyperspaces of cloud is a fertile ground for mythic characters and impossibilities.
Much like the Craft Sequence, this book straddles a lot of genres. That may make it difficult for some people to approach. In particular, I have seen it described as a "feminist Guardians of the Galaxy." It is not that. This is not a two hour thrill ride, easy-to-understand adventure. Those elements are in there, but there's also 2001, Dune and Hyperion in there.
In fact, there are elements and moments that specifically made me think of those other works. Not in a coarsely derivative sense, but rather it's clear that the text and imagery was informed by them.
arkyver's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cindypepper's review against another edition
3.0
Billed as a feminist Guardians of the Galaxy, Empress of Forever ticks many of the checkboxes of my favorite things: found family, female takes on predominantly male tropes, a ragtag team of misfits working together toward a common goal, last stands and Hail Marys, warriors, WOC protagonists, etc. But as I was reading this, the overall work didn't weave together as well as I had anticipated. Gladstone's worldbuilding feels shaky at best; at once, Viv is catapulted through space and time as I, the reader, have barely struggled to understand the setting as is or even get to know who Viv is. Much of my reading this novel required me to scroll back and gain my bearings as to what was going on; the worldbuilding was too abstract for me to get a keen sense of what Gladstone was trying to convey, and when the plot is deliberately moving at a breakneck speed, there's a lot to process.
As a result, I was pretty take-it-or-leave-it for Viv. But, but, we need to talk about Zanj, pirate queen of my heart. I LOVE ZANJ. I could have devoured this novel if it had been through Zanj's perspective. Hell, I could have read an entire novel of Zanj's backstory. I love me a good ol' embittered protagonist with a Past who has seen some shit, and Zanj, with her inscrutable loyalties and fury, is no exception. Gray is a fantastic gooey demigod who gives me strong Calcifer (from Howl's Moving Castle) vibes, down to their shady ties and amorphous, nebulous physical states.
Anyway, it's not a bad read, but don't try to zip through it, even in the face of its breakneck pacing. Overall, this is an example of a book that needed to be more than the sum of its parts, even if the parts are all well and good.
As a result, I was pretty take-it-or-leave-it for Viv. But, but, we need to talk about Zanj, pirate queen of my heart. I LOVE ZANJ. I could have devoured this novel if it had been through Zanj's perspective. Hell, I could have read an entire novel of Zanj's backstory. I love me a good ol' embittered protagonist with a Past who has seen some shit, and Zanj, with her inscrutable loyalties and fury, is no exception. Gray is a fantastic gooey demigod who gives me strong Calcifer (from Howl's Moving Castle) vibes, down to their shady ties and amorphous, nebulous physical states.
Anyway, it's not a bad read, but don't try to zip through it, even in the face of its breakneck pacing. Overall, this is an example of a book that needed to be more than the sum of its parts, even if the parts are all well and good.
sandygx260's review against another edition
When I keep poking at a book for two months, I know any chance of finishing it is doomed. Every other book seemed more interesting.
I adored Gladstone's Craft series until the last novel, which shocked me at how... sloppy it seemed. Characters acted randomly and I felt absolutely no connection to the story.
This book felt the same way. I tried, I really tried, but I abandoned it at page 125.
I'm starting to feel that of late Gladstone is more about world-building and flashy details than character development. I used to love his Craft characters.
I am so disappointed and sad.
I adored Gladstone's Craft series until the last novel, which shocked me at how... sloppy it seemed. Characters acted randomly and I felt absolutely no connection to the story.
This book felt the same way. I tried, I really tried, but I abandoned it at page 125.
I'm starting to feel that of late Gladstone is more about world-building and flashy details than character development. I used to love his Craft characters.
I am so disappointed and sad.
ladybrizna's review against another edition
2.0
Batiburrillo aburrido y decepcionante con algunas ideas buenas.
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Genocide, Body horror, Violence, Blood, and Torture
Minor: War, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, and Sexual content
hazelfizz's review against another edition
4.0
This was a dense, exhausting read. Leave time to savor the language and the world-building (even its occasional hapax-legomenon throwaway history). Do read the acknowledgements. Don't plan to read an epic all at once. Which is why I generally hate them: you can't summarize the episodes, or necessarily follow along. But I could see myself rereading this eventually. In retirement. It's beautiful, it's transhuman, it's transplanetary.
Nobody tell me the Journey to the West isn't too long or sweeping to give a shit. I need something bite-sized for a while.
Nobody tell me the Journey to the West isn't too long or sweeping to give a shit. I need something bite-sized for a while.