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A review by allegriana
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Ow oof ow my feelings.
Do I recommend this? Yes. But this is not a *fun* book. It's one of the best hard fantasy books I've read about the quiet horror of colonialism beyond just war and violence and conquest, the subtle and insidious ways that one country infiltrates and enforces its cultural norms upon another. Not a light read. Also at times it feels a bit like a primer on economics; I learned a lot about currency. The main character is fascinating and agonizing, the worldbuilding is convincing and realistic, and you're going to need to lie down for a bit after you finish this.
Do I recommend this? Yes. But this is not a *fun* book. It's one of the best hard fantasy books I've read about the quiet horror of colonialism beyond just war and violence and conquest, the subtle and insidious ways that one country infiltrates and enforces its cultural norms upon another. Not a light read. Also at times it feels a bit like a primer on economics; I learned a lot about currency. The main character is fascinating and agonizing, the worldbuilding is convincing and realistic, and you're going to need to lie down for a bit after you finish this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Colonisation, and War