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A review by mary_soon_lee
The Ascent to Godhood by Neon Yang
4.0
This is the fourth novella in the Tensorate series, a series that I'd call silkpunk science fantasy. It's a ferociously impressive series that explores themes of gender, revolution, and tyranny. The world Yang creates is its own vividly imagined place, but has more of an Asian character than one derived from Western sources (Homer, Tolkien, et al).
Though each novella can be read alone, they add up to more than their individual parts. I appreciated these connections despite having read the first two novellas nearly three years before the last two. That said, a reader with a more retentive memory, or one who read all four novellas in a row, would undoubtedly appreciate the connections more.
I particularly admire how the novellas are written in different styles and with different tones--for instance, the third novella, "The Descent of Monsters," is largely told through official reports, interview transcripts, and diary entries. This fourth novella is presented as a first person monologue delivered to a stranger over drinks. I found it a compelling, page-turning read, albeit one that contains considerable darkness. The characters are both victims and perpetrators of various evils.
I note that I was slightly disconcerted by an apparent inconsistency. Chapter three says that "The Protector is succeeded by the first child of the next generation of royals." Yet, in chapter five and again in chapters seven/eight, the succession appears to stay in the same generation without explanation. I may well have missed a detail or misunderstood something, but it did confuse me.
Overall: I highly recommend the Tensorate series in general, this fourth novella included.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Though each novella can be read alone, they add up to more than their individual parts. I appreciated these connections despite having read the first two novellas nearly three years before the last two. That said, a reader with a more retentive memory, or one who read all four novellas in a row, would undoubtedly appreciate the connections more.
I particularly admire how the novellas are written in different styles and with different tones--for instance, the third novella, "The Descent of Monsters," is largely told through official reports, interview transcripts, and diary entries. This fourth novella is presented as a first person monologue delivered to a stranger over drinks. I found it a compelling, page-turning read, albeit one that contains considerable darkness. The characters are both victims and perpetrators of various evils.
I note that I was slightly disconcerted by an apparent inconsistency. Chapter three says that "The Protector is succeeded by the first child of the next generation of royals." Yet, in chapter five and again in chapters seven/eight, the succession appears to stay in the same generation without explanation. I may well have missed a detail or misunderstood something, but it did confuse me.
Overall: I highly recommend the Tensorate series in general, this fourth novella included.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).