A review by jiji_
The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I wish this had been a duology! De Bodard starts building a world that yearns to be fully fleshed out. While some of the pacing is a bit confusing, the intrigue and the story are very unique. The character of Rice Fish, a sentient ship, (and truly the entire idea around and execution of this idea) is superb. She's lovable and charming, complex and flawed. The second lead was a bit flat to me, but the overall uniqueness of the world and characters makes up for its small flaws. The Vietnamese inspirations are beautifully worked in. There are strong female leads you really root for and a world I wanted to learn much more about.