Scan barcode
A review by nineteen_adze
Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard
3.0
I went in expecting to adore this one after how much I liked [b:The Tea Master and the Detective|36686547|The Tea Master and the Detective (The Universe of Xuya)|Aliette de Bodard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511987651l/36686547._SX50_.jpg|58480498]. My main issue with that one was that it felt a little compressed, and this one is longer, but it just doesn't have the same spark-- I found myself setting it down and struggling to finish even though it's so short.
Sunless Woods should be a fun character, and Vân is both an excellent foil and a person with secrets in her own right, but they're both a little flat individually and the chemistry between them didn't land. Where every word between Long Chau and The Shadow's Child felt charged with potential in the previous book, this couple seems more weighed down with insecurity and busy directly explaining their motivations and fears to the reader every other page. The weirdly instant passion on both sides doesn't feel rooted in much of anything, and I'm sorry for any cultural ignorance, but seeing the lovers call each other "big'sis" and "lil'sis" directly after sex was a burst of cold water on whatever sensuality you've built up. Hard pass for me.
I was expecting a mystery with rich characterization, but it's more of an uneven character study with excitement around the edges. The mystery/thriller elements weren't as strong as I'd like: the initial "why is this person dead in a locked room" resolves too quickly in favor of "but do we care about each other," a tedious side concern I could find almost anywhere. I wanted to see more about Uyên, Vân's student, but she's relegated to the background and having her messages ignored when important things are happening (and also left alone so the grown-ups can go explore deep space just after someone died in her room, a decision that still baffles me). I'd love to see a novella centered on her in the future.
The worldbuilding was still great, though, and I'll keep an eye out for other Xuya works-- it was just that these two main characters and their relationship didn't work for me.
Other recommendations:
-If you haven't read [b:The Tea Master and the Detective|36686547|The Tea Master and the Detective (The Universe of Xuya)|Aliette de Bodard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511987651l/36686547._SX50_.jpg|58480498], go back and hit that one-- it's much crisper. Check out my review.
-[b:A Memory Called Empire|37794149|A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan #1)|Arkady Martine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526486698l/37794149._SY75_.jpg|59457173] has some similar elements, particularly in parallel to Vân's mem implant of a scholar who helps her succeed in her teaching. Mahit Dzmare is dealing with a similar device, though one with a more specific personality. The high cultural value of poetry also highlights the resemblance, and it's lovely to see art advance the plot.
Sunless Woods should be a fun character, and Vân is both an excellent foil and a person with secrets in her own right, but they're both a little flat individually and the chemistry between them didn't land. Where every word between Long Chau and The Shadow's Child felt charged with potential in the previous book, this couple seems more weighed down with insecurity and busy directly explaining their motivations and fears to the reader every other page. The weirdly instant passion on both sides doesn't feel rooted in much of anything, and I'm sorry for any cultural ignorance, but seeing the lovers call each other "big'sis" and "lil'sis" directly after sex was a burst of cold water on whatever sensuality you've built up. Hard pass for me.
I was expecting a mystery with rich characterization, but it's more of an uneven character study with excitement around the edges. The mystery/thriller elements weren't as strong as I'd like: the initial "why is this person dead in a locked room" resolves too quickly in favor of "but do we care about each other," a tedious side concern I could find almost anywhere. I wanted to see more about Uyên, Vân's student, but she's relegated to the background and having her messages ignored when important things are happening (and also left alone so the grown-ups can go explore deep space just after someone died in her room, a decision that still baffles me). I'd love to see a novella centered on her in the future.
The worldbuilding was still great, though, and I'll keep an eye out for other Xuya works-- it was just that these two main characters and their relationship didn't work for me.
Other recommendations:
-If you haven't read [b:The Tea Master and the Detective|36686547|The Tea Master and the Detective (The Universe of Xuya)|Aliette de Bodard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511987651l/36686547._SX50_.jpg|58480498], go back and hit that one-- it's much crisper. Check out my review.
-[b:A Memory Called Empire|37794149|A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan #1)|Arkady Martine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526486698l/37794149._SY75_.jpg|59457173] has some similar elements, particularly in parallel to Vân's mem implant of a scholar who helps her succeed in her teaching. Mahit Dzmare is dealing with a similar device, though one with a more specific personality. The high cultural value of poetry also highlights the resemblance, and it's lovely to see art advance the plot.