Scan barcode
A review by killersloth
The Tyrant Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
4.0
The best part about this series by far is the plot. It's sapphic Game of Thrones with wonderfully woven plot threads that all tie up neatly at the end for a satisfying conclusion. (I actually just learned that there's a 4th book planned, but if not for the very last chapter in the book I honestly thought that book 3 would be a totally reasonable way to wrap up the series). But generally I really liked how well the underlying themes of imperialism and nature vs nurture were explored. I liked Baru's ploting and scheming- i always enjoy when smart characters have a grand master plan that's meticulously thought out and executed, so it was really fun to see it all play out. I'm excited to find out how it all works in the 4th book.
I also thought that there were some really interesting concepts throughout the series. The different cultures in this world and how they view things like gender, the history that we learn bit by bit, the idea of Trim, that crazy lightning stuff at the very end, all super interesting. The concept of the Cancrioth especially is really cool, with the whole idea of immortality through cancer. I thought it could have been explored more though, and there were some plot-device inconsistencies that took away from it a bit. Like the cancrioth is simultaneously an ancient "immortal" secret society with weath and resources to bankroll Abdumasi's fleet, but also they all live in this one boat that's like falling apart and shitty. People are terrified of them and they're built up as this mysterious technologically advanced force, but then they're basically taken down by a single falcrest ship. Would have also liked a bit more explanation about what exactly their "magic" is, like what the green glowy stuff is all about and what exactly Iraji did against the Brain, that kind of thing. I'm sure it's supposed to be left vague so the reader wonders whether there is actually any magic happening or if it's just the power of belief and superstition. But I was left wanting more concrete answers. Maybe I'm just spoiled by reading so much Sanderson.
I thought the characters were the weakest aspect. Or ok, I liked some of them. Tau-indi and Xate Yawa were my favorites by the end. But most of the rest fell flat for me to be honest. The added perspectives in books 2-3 did help give some characters more life, but I never felt like I really got to know most of them. For instance I felt like all the navy people in books 2-3 suffered the same way the dukes in book 1 did, where I felt like you could have switched around all the names and the story wouldn't change. Tain Shir was also pretty cringe, to be honest. Baru's arc was pretty good though, I appreciated that she had to become quite unlikeable in book 2 to get a satisfying redemption, and it was a fun journey to read.
I thought her tendency to fall in love/lust with literally every moderately attractive woman she met was a little unrealistic and kind of annoying tbh though! I also kept thinking about how if Baru was a male character with all the same thoughts it would come off as a bit creepy. that could be taken as an interesting commentary on how we as a society view male vs female gaze, but for me it gave me the same feeling as if it was a male character objectifying the women's bodies in the same way, which was kinda just gross and unlikable. The gender of the observer doesn't make the objectification less weird to read about as a woman. But maybe that says more about me than about the book, idk!
Finally, the writing. In general, I liked the style of the prose, Dickinson clearly has a talent for metaphors and creative descriptions. However, some of the book is written in such a smug voice that i could not shake the feeling that he thinks he's the smartest person in the room and he wants to show off how much he knows or how clever he is. Maybe that's just because it's written mostly from Baru's perspective though and that's generally her outlook. But I thought that at some points he sacrificed clarity of plot for flowery prose, and it disrupted the flow of the story for me.
But overall, I liked it and I will probably read book 4 once it comes out!
I also thought that there were some really interesting concepts throughout the series. The different cultures in this world and how they view things like gender, the history that we learn bit by bit, the idea of Trim, that crazy lightning stuff at the very end, all super interesting. The concept of the Cancrioth especially is really cool, with the whole idea of immortality through cancer. I thought it could have been explored more though, and there were some plot-device inconsistencies that took away from it a bit. Like the cancrioth is simultaneously an ancient "immortal" secret society with weath and resources to bankroll Abdumasi's fleet, but also they all live in this one boat that's like falling apart and shitty. People are terrified of them and they're built up as this mysterious technologically advanced force, but then they're basically taken down by a single falcrest ship. Would have also liked a bit more explanation about what exactly their "magic" is, like what the green glowy stuff is all about and what exactly Iraji did against the Brain, that kind of thing. I'm sure it's supposed to be left vague so the reader wonders whether there is actually any magic happening or if it's just the power of belief and superstition. But I was left wanting more concrete answers. Maybe I'm just spoiled by reading so much Sanderson.
I thought the characters were the weakest aspect. Or ok, I liked some of them. Tau-indi and Xate Yawa were my favorites by the end. But most of the rest fell flat for me to be honest. The added perspectives in books 2-3 did help give some characters more life, but I never felt like I really got to know most of them. For instance I felt like all the navy people in books 2-3 suffered the same way the dukes in book 1 did, where I felt like you could have switched around all the names and the story wouldn't change. Tain Shir was also pretty cringe, to be honest. Baru's arc was pretty good though, I appreciated that she had to become quite unlikeable in book 2 to get a satisfying redemption, and it was a fun journey to read.
I thought her tendency to fall in love/lust with literally every moderately attractive woman she met was a little unrealistic and kind of annoying tbh though! I also kept thinking about how if Baru was a male character with all the same thoughts it would come off as a bit creepy. that could be taken as an interesting commentary on how we as a society view male vs female gaze, but for me it gave me the same feeling as if it was a male character objectifying the women's bodies in the same way, which was kinda just gross and unlikable. The gender of the observer doesn't make the objectification less weird to read about as a woman. But maybe that says more about me than about the book, idk!
Finally, the writing. In general, I liked the style of the prose, Dickinson clearly has a talent for metaphors and creative descriptions. However, some of the book is written in such a smug voice that i could not shake the feeling that he thinks he's the smartest person in the room and he wants to show off how much he knows or how clever he is. Maybe that's just because it's written mostly from Baru's perspective though and that's generally her outlook. But I thought that at some points he sacrificed clarity of plot for flowery prose, and it disrupted the flow of the story for me.
But overall, I liked it and I will probably read book 4 once it comes out!