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juushika 's review for:
The Reader
by Traci Chee
An orphaned young woman is in possession of something her world has never seen: a book. This has an engaging premise which deserves to be spoiled: individuals with the magical ability to "read" their surroundings, the future, the past; an illiterate world wherein exists an infinitely long book containing every human story. It's an evocative, if occasionally effusive, metaphor for the value of reading and storytelling, and opens the door to diverse and creative worldbuilding, from magical assassins to a sea voyage to the end of the earth. But the craft leaves much to be desired; the headhopping is excessive, the plotting tropey and transparent, and these things would slow any book but are especially disappointing in view of this one's subject and themes. I disliked this from page one, but it grew on me--but not enough. Chee has potential, though. Perhaps the sequels will be better?