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A review by brandoneckroth
The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Alright, Gene. I see what you're doing here.
You truly cannot read the first book alone. If you don't immediately move from Shadow of the Torturer into Claw of the Conciliator, you'll be lost. Book one was basically an extra long introduction into the characters and hints at the world Gene Wolfe is building. It isn't until book two that everything starts to fall into place.
Don't get me wrong, there are still parts that even after rereading three times I'm still confused by. But the intrigue, the intellectual challenge, the metaphors within metaphors are what kept me turning page after page. And once again, Gene Wolfe's prose is beautiful and gruesome and perfect. Already can't wait to continue along with Severian on his journey.
You truly cannot read the first book alone. If you don't immediately move from Shadow of the Torturer into Claw of the Conciliator, you'll be lost. Book one was basically an extra long introduction into the characters and hints at the world Gene Wolfe is building. It isn't until book two that everything starts to fall into place.
Don't get me wrong, there are still parts that even after rereading three times I'm still confused by. But the intrigue, the intellectual challenge, the metaphors within metaphors are what kept me turning page after page. And once again, Gene Wolfe's prose is beautiful and gruesome and perfect. Already can't wait to continue along with Severian on his journey.