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A review by hsinjulit
The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg
3.0
Content warnings: heavy theme of trans rejection (misgendering, deadnaming, general transphobia), blood, death, bones, loss of spouse
This story deserves a better rating for its theme and execution, but given that I was close to DNFing due to the heavy transphobia one of the main characters was going through, it was a very uncomfortable read that I simply couldn’t rate it higher.
The Four Profound Weaves is an adventure of Uiziya e Lali (63, trans) searching for her aunt Benesret to teach her the craft of weaving from death and the nameless man (64, trans, polyam?), nen-sasaïr, wanting Benesret to name him after his change.
Being transgender is one of the most important things in this novella. While the word “trans” is never used in the fantasy setting, it is clear that both characters are binary transgender. Told in both first-person POV, neither character is particularly likable, and at times, reactions to events and dialogues were slightly abrupt, yet the narration was very slow. Though this is part of a series, reading it as a standalone, as I did, wasn’t confusing.
I admit that I reached my limit a little before the 50% mark and semi-skimmed the rest of the book. It also took me two more days than I had anticipated because I had trouble pushing through. The misgendering and trans rejection running throughout the whole story had made it painful and discomforting to read. The worst thing is that there is no found family, only the two mains who accept each other. It certainly doesn’t help that nen-sasaïr couldn’t/didn’t do much about that. He delayed his transition for a woman he loved, someone who couldn’t accept him for who he is, and I am still very angry about this.
The struggle of socially growing into who one is meant to be is very real and strong in The Four Profound Weaves. I love that this story with two trans main characters in a fantasy setting exists, but reading it was too upsetting for me to rate it as it deserves. I rate on the enjoyment and love I have for a book, and honestly, it probably should be lower. Yet this story is important, a depiction of trans struggle, that I do not want to rate it solely on rereadability. Read at your discretion.
The Four Profound Weaves is about finding one’s true self, Uiziya for her craft and the nameless man for his manhood, within oneself and not seeking validation from the outside. While the journey is difficult, everything is guaranteed to come full circle.
I received an e-ARC from Tachyon Publications via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Are you ready to weave from death?” — Benesret
This story deserves a better rating for its theme and execution, but given that I was close to DNFing due to the heavy transphobia one of the main characters was going through, it was a very uncomfortable read that I simply couldn’t rate it higher.
The Four Profound Weaves is an adventure of Uiziya e Lali (63, trans) searching for her aunt Benesret to teach her the craft of weaving from death and the nameless man (64, trans, polyam?), nen-sasaïr, wanting Benesret to name him after his change.
Being transgender is one of the most important things in this novella. While the word “trans” is never used in the fantasy setting, it is clear that both characters are binary transgender. Told in both first-person POV, neither character is particularly likable, and at times, reactions to events and dialogues were slightly abrupt, yet the narration was very slow. Though this is part of a series, reading it as a standalone, as I did, wasn’t confusing.
The Four Profound Weaves. A carpet of wind, a carpet of sand, a carpet of song, and a carpet of bones. Change, wanderlust, hope, and death.
I admit that I reached my limit a little before the 50% mark and semi-skimmed the rest of the book. It also took me two more days than I had anticipated because I had trouble pushing through. The misgendering and trans rejection running throughout the whole story had made it painful and discomforting to read. The worst thing is that there is no found family, only the two mains who accept each other. It certainly doesn’t help that nen-sasaïr couldn’t/didn’t do much about that. He delayed his transition for a woman he loved, someone who couldn’t accept him for who he is, and I am still very angry about this.
“You see other lives as easy because you don’t see them. You see your story as complex and hard because you know it best.” — Uiziya
The struggle of socially growing into who one is meant to be is very real and strong in The Four Profound Weaves. I love that this story with two trans main characters in a fantasy setting exists, but reading it was too upsetting for me to rate it as it deserves. I rate on the enjoyment and love I have for a book, and honestly, it probably should be lower. Yet this story is important, a depiction of trans struggle, that I do not want to rate it solely on rereadability. Read at your discretion.
The Four Profound Weaves is about finding one’s true self, Uiziya for her craft and the nameless man for his manhood, within oneself and not seeking validation from the outside. While the journey is difficult, everything is guaranteed to come full circle.
I received an e-ARC from Tachyon Publications via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.