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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I liked this even more on a re-read and I *think* I even understood it more.
Still definitely one of the strangest books I've read but there are so many beautiful lines and concepts. Not for people who don't like abstract ideas and not knowing what's going on :P
I hope the sequel lives up to my hopes and dreams when I read it next...
----
Update for my third read of this - I think it might be one of my favourite books š
And on the third read, I almost think I understood it š
Still definitely one of the strangest books I've read but there are so many beautiful lines and concepts. Not for people who don't like abstract ideas and not knowing what's going on :P
I hope the sequel lives up to my hopes and dreams when I read it next...
----
Update for my third read of this - I think it might be one of my favourite books š
And on the third read, I almost think I understood it š
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was deeply atmospheric and often disturbing. I really enjoyed this, it felt like a very fresh take on the fantasy academia - all of the students are blackmailed into joining and are taught utterly incomprehensible lessons for a mysterious "special technology".
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If ānever let them know your first moveā was a book. Will have to re-read because grammar was never my strongest subject and I felt like I lost some of this bookās impact in my confusion.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first 50% and then the last 10% weāre interesting and made me more intrigued. But the middle portion did feel a little repetitive and slower plot wise.
I also am not 100% confident that I understand how it ended. Iāve never read a book and magic system so props for the uniqueness and creativity but also there were parts that I just had to pretend I understood what was happening and hope it wasnāt super essential to the plot.
I also am not 100% confident that I understand how it ended. Iāve never read a book and magic system so props for the uniqueness and creativity but also there were parts that I just had to pretend I understood what was happening and hope it wasnāt super essential to the plot.
5- strange in the best of ways with a bizarre magic system, this book inspires and encompasses obsession. following its own teachings, it is impossible to explain the full extent of its abstraction to someone who has not experienced its take and shift on oneās awareness of existence. the character development and relationships are flat in probably the most realistic way iāve seen it done despite the bizarre evolutions that take place. the concepts proposed grow more abstract as the story progresses. the world is a product of human language.
definitely NOT for everyone and while people keep comparing it to Harry Potter, the greater comparison is Babel. By a long shot.
definitely NOT for everyone and while people keep comparing it to Harry Potter, the greater comparison is Babel. By a long shot.
Did I like this?
There was too much and could have been condensed and should have been condensed
I know itās supposed to be a weird book but there was a lot of telling not much showing and the monotony mixed with what the fuck is going on was not as compelling as it could have been
Nothing gets answered
Kids have questions, teenagers have questions, adults donāt answer any questions, the young adults start morphing into the obedient status quo, who listen, do, and donāt question, being a wonderful little drone. The young adults start becoming like the adults and then at the end Sasha is like āfuck it, fuck youā
And yeah, bare bones, you grow up and your individuality is taken away. Donāt let it.
The characters meant nothing to me, I was attached to no one, and it felt like the writing didnāt explore characters and didnāt go in depth which like, thereās a lot of characters. I mean, fuck Sasha, I didnt really care about her, there was nothing to attach to. Sasha is the main character, and you know sheās the main character, but Sasha doesnāt have any characterā¦because she is a wordā¦jk no, we were following her and Iām thinking what are the other charters going through since theyāre all a different part of language, what does their metamorphosis look like, but also, I didnāt care.
It was said a few times that Yegor is such a good, kind, strong man. Fucking where? We donāt see it at all. And he was acting like a little bitch when Sasha wouldnāt open the door? How about communicating bud instead of thinking sheās with another guy. And Kostya- also little bitch. Sasha doesnāt want to put out? Keys go find someone who will. Ffs. These characters sucked when they were given personality
Iām going to read book 2 out of spite and curiosity now that the story doesnāt have to be so secretive anymore
Cosmic horror
Psychological horror
Fantasy/ fantastical horror
Transformative dark academia
There was too much and could have been condensed and should have been condensed
I know itās supposed to be a weird book but there was a lot of telling not much showing and the monotony mixed with what the fuck is going on was not as compelling as it could have been
Nothing gets answered
Kids have questions, teenagers have questions, adults donāt answer any questions, the young adults start morphing into the obedient status quo, who listen, do, and donāt question, being a wonderful little drone. The young adults start becoming like the adults and then at the end Sasha is like āfuck it, fuck youā
And yeah, bare bones, you grow up and your individuality is taken away. Donāt let it.
The characters meant nothing to me, I was attached to no one, and it felt like the writing didnāt explore characters and didnāt go in depth which like, thereās a lot of characters. I mean, fuck Sasha, I didnt really care about her, there was nothing to attach to. Sasha is the main character, and you know sheās the main character, but Sasha doesnāt have any characterā¦because she is a wordā¦jk no, we were following her and Iām thinking what are the other charters going through since theyāre all a different part of language, what does their metamorphosis look like, but also, I didnāt care.
It was said a few times that Yegor is such a good, kind, strong man. Fucking where? We donāt see it at all. And he was acting like a little bitch when Sasha wouldnāt open the door? How about communicating bud instead of thinking sheās with another guy. And Kostya- also little bitch. Sasha doesnāt want to put out? Keys go find someone who will. Ffs. These characters sucked when they were given personality
Iām going to read book 2 out of spite and curiosity now that the story doesnāt have to be so secretive anymore
Cosmic horror
Psychological horror
Fantasy/ fantastical horror
Transformative dark academia
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes