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A review by lpcowling
Wistful Ascending by J.C.M. Berne
5.0
What do I say about Wistful that hasn't already been said. I think the first thing that new readers are going to notice is a high level of character creating skill, within Berne's writing. There's a uniqueness in presentation there that really fleshes out a character and makes them really individualistic. If I'm searching for a comparison, how Joe Abercrombie weaves a narrative around interesting characters, can be used as a good example here of how Rohan is created, but naturally in a dramatically different environment. It's high praise, for that point, is what I'm trying to say.
I think world building makes or breaks a book for me. I like lore. I like fictional history. I like encyclopedias, and that is how my personal taste will be reflected in ratings, for Wistful, I think a conscious effort was made to do something different. Rather than copy paste creatures, aliens or whatever you want to call them, from the genre that audiences will accept, Wistful attempts to create its own, and to positively divert expectation. That might not sound like a big deal to some of you, but it doesn't happen as often as you might think, and it is appreciated here.
Well, what is left but narrative, and how you make a badass super-charged alien buster, and cruise him through plotline(s) to create a novel.
The book skips, in a series like fashion, so that may be a detractor if you're not a fan of that kind of method of story telling - I didn't mind it. I'm glad the book offsets the nature of the story, which is quite serious (as it should be) with some lighthearted additions. They're not overdone or too often, as to make you cringe for trying to hard, they are woven together with a plot that I would say, with a fair amount of effort not to spoil anything, is based on intrigue and inner conflict. The weaving here is so, so important.
What does this mean? Well it prevents the narrative from being bogged. It provides a uniqueness to any story format. And it provides an opportunity for the author to stretch their legs, and flex their muscles, in an attempt to maintain your attention span to the last page.
For managing to maintain my interest to the very end, I've given Wistful five stars.
I think world building makes or breaks a book for me. I like lore. I like fictional history. I like encyclopedias, and that is how my personal taste will be reflected in ratings, for Wistful, I think a conscious effort was made to do something different. Rather than copy paste creatures, aliens or whatever you want to call them, from the genre that audiences will accept, Wistful attempts to create its own, and to positively divert expectation. That might not sound like a big deal to some of you, but it doesn't happen as often as you might think, and it is appreciated here.
Well, what is left but narrative, and how you make a badass super-charged alien buster, and cruise him through plotline(s) to create a novel.
The book skips, in a series like fashion, so that may be a detractor if you're not a fan of that kind of method of story telling - I didn't mind it. I'm glad the book offsets the nature of the story, which is quite serious (as it should be) with some lighthearted additions. They're not overdone or too often, as to make you cringe for trying to hard, they are woven together with a plot that I would say, with a fair amount of effort not to spoil anything, is based on intrigue and inner conflict. The weaving here is so, so important.
What does this mean? Well it prevents the narrative from being bogged. It provides a uniqueness to any story format. And it provides an opportunity for the author to stretch their legs, and flex their muscles, in an attempt to maintain your attention span to the last page.
For managing to maintain my interest to the very end, I've given Wistful five stars.