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A review by 2treads
Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Bancroft makes of the Tower of Babel a rising, stacked mass of capitalism, greed, oppression, thievery, masquerading, authoritarianism, manipulation, and much more. He examines the two-sided coin of relationships, survival, and determination.
I enjoyed the changing experiences as Tom ascended the tower, each level bringing its own difficulties and pushing our characters past their usual limits, encouraging them to adapt to every new experience and difficulty.
The tower is not what is advertised and the longer you stay the more you change. I enjoyed the portrayal of Marya, Tom's lost wife, who shows a wit and survivalism that most authors would not write when the main character is the husband and the main plotline his journey to find her.
The writing is engaging, the characters interesting, and the world-building is well done and the intricacies of the power structure and hierarchy familiar and complex.
I enjoyed the changing experiences as Tom ascended the tower, each level bringing its own difficulties and pushing our characters past their usual limits, encouraging them to adapt to every new experience and difficulty.
The tower is not what is advertised and the longer you stay the more you change. I enjoyed the portrayal of Marya, Tom's lost wife, who shows a wit and survivalism that most authors would not write when the main character is the husband and the main plotline his journey to find her.
The writing is engaging, the characters interesting, and the world-building is well done and the intricacies of the power structure and hierarchy familiar and complex.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore and Murder