A review by rodneywilhite
A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar

4.0

As much as I loved this book, I will admit the first hundred pages are a bit of a chore. The focus on the anthropology of this created world, although fascinating, is extraordinarily dense.

Oh, but when the story kicks in, the story kicks in--and it assumes a dizzying pace that never relents until the end. I will admit I was sometimes lost, but the language is so gorgeous, the world-building so complex, I was happily lost.

I read The Winged Histories first and, although the two novels can stand alone, there are a number of things that would've been much clearer if I had read this one first. But, by all means, read them both because they are wonderful!