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A review by sambora
The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
"There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less hidden."
Claw is unquestionably great, but it undoubtedly has a few more repetitive beats than the first entry; our characters being captured, held, only to escape and flee multiple times throughout the story.
Despite this, the actual meat of the book - the lore and the world-building, as well as the characters, the riddles and set-pieces... All were fantastic!
There also seemed to be much more cryptic and subtle foreshadowing here than in Shadow, which I am aware will enhance my experience once those promises pay off, as well as on rereads, but made the page-by-page experience this first time through a bit of a waiting game, however exciting that wait is.
There are so many memorable scenes in this entry, looking back it's hard to believe how much happened in just these few hundred pages. It makes it feel so epic and dense.
A short aside; I really hope we see Jonas again! No spoilers though please! He was such an intriguing character that, while Severian was slow to pick up on the clues about his origin, I was not, and to have him whipped away before learning more was a real tease narratively.
"All time exists. That is the truth beyond the legends the epopts tell. If the future did not exist now, how could we journey towards it? If the past does not exist still, how could we leave it behind us?"
I'm am thoroughly enjoying my time with this series so far! I will certainly be starting book 3 very soon.
I also want to mention, the Folio editions are absolutely stunning, and the artwork is mesmerising and intriguing. Serious props to Sam Weber and the Folio Society for putting together such fantastic pieces.
Please can we have a Folio Edition of the Hyperion Cantos next?
Anywho. A strong 4 stars for The Claw of the Conciliator! Very very good.
Claw is unquestionably great, but it undoubtedly has a few more repetitive beats than the first entry; our characters being captured, held, only to escape and flee multiple times throughout the story.
Despite this, the actual meat of the book - the lore and the world-building, as well as the characters, the riddles and set-pieces... All were fantastic!
There also seemed to be much more cryptic and subtle foreshadowing here than in Shadow, which I am aware will enhance my experience once those promises pay off, as well as on rereads, but made the page-by-page experience this first time through a bit of a waiting game, however exciting that wait is.
There are so many memorable scenes in this entry, looking back it's hard to believe how much happened in just these few hundred pages. It makes it feel so epic and dense.
A short aside; I really hope we see Jonas again! No spoilers though please! He was such an intriguing character that, while Severian was slow to pick up on the clues about his origin, I was not, and to have him whipped away before learning more was a real tease narratively.
"All time exists. That is the truth beyond the legends the epopts tell. If the future did not exist now, how could we journey towards it? If the past does not exist still, how could we leave it behind us?"
I'm am thoroughly enjoying my time with this series so far! I will certainly be starting book 3 very soon.
I also want to mention, the Folio editions are absolutely stunning, and the artwork is mesmerising and intriguing. Serious props to Sam Weber and the Folio Society for putting together such fantastic pieces.
Please can we have a Folio Edition of the Hyperion Cantos next?
Anywho. A strong 4 stars for The Claw of the Conciliator! Very very good.