Scan barcode
A review by spacewhombus
The Black Coast by Mike Brooks
adventurous
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The main thing I loved about this book was the world-building (especially the linguistic aspect). At its core, this is a book about people with different worldviews and cultures coming together and learning to not only live with each other, but respect and value each other too. I am a sucker for this type of story! Fans of The Galaxy, and the Ground Within or any other Becky Chambers books, for example, would probably love this one too as they have a similar vibe- just fantasy instead of sci-fi.
There are three main groups of people in this book: the Alabans, Naridans, and Tjakorshi, and the storyline jumps between these different places and characters within each group. Each of the groups is presented in a way that they each have interesting and positive cultural aspects, but are each not without their own flaws as well. Together, they can bring out the best and the worst in each other.
The main part of the story takes place in the coastal city of Black Keep in Narida, where a group of Tjakorshi have recently come ashore hoping to settle, after fleeing rising danger in their remote, cold island home to the south. Traditionally, the Tjakorshi have raided Naridan settlements and so there is much conflict as the Daimon of Blackkeep and Saana Sattistutar of the Tjakorshi must learn to trust each other. The Tjakorshi bring with them much more progressive ideals about women in society and as leaders than the Naridans possess, and the Naridan language is much more specific and intentional about referring to oneself by one's position in relation to the other person. That made the cultural evolution as these societies met quite fascinating!
Some parts of the story take place in Tjakorsha, where a new threat to the entire world is growing. However, most of the rest of the story takes place in the northern tropical islands of Alaba. I loved this setting the most, mainly because the author made such a cool choice with their language. Alabans represent their gender through different diacritics over their pronouns (ex: me, mé, mē, mê, mè and më) and it is considered very intimate to share your gender identity at all with someone. This society was also very blended, due to the islands serving as a central port and crossing-point for the lands of this world. Here we follow street kid Jeya as shé befriends someone surprising, and the King's sister Tila as she plots an assassination.
This might sound like a lot going on, and it was, but it was really well written and thought out! However, if you don't like books with multiple viewpoints and storylines then steer clear of this one.
The only reason it was not a five star read for me was that I just didn't feel the tension of the plot that much, and didn't feel super strongly for the characters. It was interesting, but not to the point that I couldn't put it down. However, I would really recommend this as a progressive and feminist fantasy!
There are three main groups of people in this book: the Alabans, Naridans, and Tjakorshi, and the storyline jumps between these different places and characters within each group. Each of the groups is presented in a way that they each have interesting and positive cultural aspects, but are each not without their own flaws as well. Together, they can bring out the best and the worst in each other.
The main part of the story takes place in the coastal city of Black Keep in Narida, where a group of Tjakorshi have recently come ashore hoping to settle, after fleeing rising danger in their remote, cold island home to the south. Traditionally, the Tjakorshi have raided Naridan settlements and so there is much conflict as the Daimon of Blackkeep and Saana Sattistutar of the Tjakorshi must learn to trust each other. The Tjakorshi bring with them much more progressive ideals about women in society and as leaders than the Naridans possess, and the Naridan language is much more specific and intentional about referring to oneself by one's position in relation to the other person. That made the cultural evolution as these societies met quite fascinating!
Some parts of the story take place in Tjakorsha, where a new threat to the entire world is growing. However, most of the rest of the story takes place in the northern tropical islands of Alaba. I loved this setting the most, mainly because the author made such a cool choice with their language. Alabans represent their gender through different diacritics over their pronouns (ex: me, mé, mē, mê, mè and më) and it is considered very intimate to share your gender identity at all with someone. This society was also very blended, due to the islands serving as a central port and crossing-point for the lands of this world. Here we follow street kid Jeya as shé befriends someone surprising, and the King's sister Tila as she plots an assassination.
This might sound like a lot going on, and it was, but it was really well written and thought out! However, if you don't like books with multiple viewpoints and storylines then steer clear of this one.
The only reason it was not a five star read for me was that I just didn't feel the tension of the plot that much, and didn't feel super strongly for the characters. It was interesting, but not to the point that I couldn't put it down. However, I would really recommend this as a progressive and feminist fantasy!