A review by ramunepocky
The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco

adventurous dark mysterious
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In short, I really, really hecking enjoyed this book. I was a bit nervous at first when I realised it was four switching perspectives, but I found that they were distinct enough that it was easy to tell who was speaking, and it didn’t hinder the storytelling at all. In fact, I think it helped add to it as it gave us an insight into each of our four protagonists, and gave a nice back and forth between the two halves of the world and each of those who were there. I really liked that we got to see each situation from two different points of view too, like Arjun’s experience of the desert half of Aeon was very different from Haidee’s experience of it, and I loved learning about what they’d been through, and how it had impacted them, and made them into the people they were. I absolutely adored the world building in this book, I thought it was extremely fascinating, and I liked that we learned about it as the story went on, and everything became clearer instead of info dumping at the beginning. I also really loved the magic system, I thought it was very individual and unique, and really, really cool!! I loved that their gates could be a combination of things that made them into a certain kind of magic user, and that the goddess’ got to harness all the kinds of magic. I also loved that Aeon was a world with predominantly women in power, they were the goddess’, they were the rulers, they were the people in power, it was glorious and empowering. Also, there seems to be a distinct lack of homophobia, which we just stan tbh. As the story was told, I really enjoyed the parallels between the twins, like them both breaking out/running away at roughly the same time to start their journey to the same place. I also really liked learning about the history of Aeon, and the rites, and figuring out what that would mean for our twins. Goddamn the book ending on a cliffhanger, but lucky me, I have The Ever Cruel Kingdom right on hand to continue.

my favourite characters, as it stands, are Tianlan, Noelle and Haidee

I really love Tianlan; she’s been to hell and back, she suffers from so much trauma and was manipulated onto returning to places she literally lost her squad, her love, suffer and die, and yet she still goes, bravely fights on and does her best to stay alive to protect Odessa, to keep her alive, and to try and limit the suffering of others. I think it’s super sad that she thinks she doesn’t deserve to be alive, and that she doesn’t deserve the title of “Lady” anymore, just because she lived whilst they did not. It breaks my heart because she does deserve to live, and she does deserve to have a title. She’s a good healer, a kind-hearted person and incredibly strong. I love her.

Odessa makes me sad. I really loved her to begin with, I loved that she had her little acts of rebellion to obtain books, to have a life of her own outside of the tower and her illness, I love that she snuck away on the ship, and was kind to the scholars whilst the Devoted were not. Her destiny is just,,, sad. The fact that she receives these “gifts” and is too blinded by her new courage and abilities to recognise what she’s losing, to not even notice how much she’s changing as she loses her kindness, her control, her foresight, her mercy and modesty. The more she lost, the less I started to like her. She just became cruel and bitter, corrupted by hate, and in some cases, jealousy, her perspectives became more and more about how much she didn’t trust anyone, how much hatred she had for them, how much she wanted them dead. Even poor Noelle, who had done absolutely nothing to harm anyone or show her loyalties elsewhere, and Sumiko, who was a strong healer and doing everything she could to help Tianlan with her trauma and heal her. Some of her cruelty was justified; the Devoted /mostly/ had what was coming to them. The ones who abused and took advantage of the scholars and those of lower class to them deserved
to have their status and gates taken,
they had what was coming to them. But it just makes me so sad seeing Odessa’s POV become the way they are, so full of hatred and destruction and less the kind and excited person she was. Also, when she lost her self control, and Tianlan was holding onto her, so the galla taking that had the effect on Tianlan too,,, that part was just grim. So I wasn’t really sure how I felt about Odessa for a while, I kinda despised her, just a bit, but I was still scared for what the last sacrifice and gift would entail.
when she refused to sacrifice Tianlan, when she refused the last gift/sacrifice and therefore refused them all and became herself again, it was a giant relief, and she instantly regretted almost everything she’d done, bless her

I absolutely adore Noelle, she’s so !!! goddamn !!! badass !!! The fact that she doesn’t have a gate of her own, that she has no magic and is a steward, she’s so goddamn BADASS!!! time and time again she’s came through with her weapons and slayed some monsters, shown absolutely no fear. Also, I absolutely adore her loyalty and friendship with Tianlan, she offers what Tianlan needs and accepts, whether she realises it and wants it or not. I JUST REALLY LOVE NOELLE !!!!
if odessa had followed through and killed her, i never would have forgiven her for it, believe me

Also Haidee !!! Haidee is so sweet and precious !!! Her love for the dolugongs, the fact she names every animal she comes into contact with (including a big dead whale she was desperately trying to revive) is just so so sweet !!! I love that she’s a badass mechanika, I love when she completely modified and fortified their ride in 3 hours and Arjun was just blown away by all she managed to do with a couple of hours and some metal !! She’s so incredibly courageous, always doing what she believes to be right, even when others disagree with her, and without having anything /supernatural/ added, or taken away, to make her more so. I also loved her banter with Arjun, it often made me giggle. 

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I’m so so so glad because it was a highly anticipated read, and it didn’t let me down at all !!!
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