A review by bibliomania_express
Or What You Will by Jo Walton

adventurous funny informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Or What You Will by Jo Walton is a fascinating novel about life, stories, death, the act of creation, and love. It's a bit metafictional, as our narrator is a spark of inspiration, or maybe something more, that loves inside the head of Sylvia Harrison. A renowned fantasy author, Sylvia is particularly attached to the world of Illyria, which she based on Renaissance Firenze in Italy. Now our narrator has a daring plan to move himself and an aged Sylvia into Illyria. To do so he must tell their stories. Alongside this, he must weave together a story in Illyria to aid their escape. 

I wasn't sure about this book at first. For all it's intriguing premise, it starts rather slow. But once the story shifted to the first parts in Illyria, I was hooked. I enjoyed the fantastical Illyrian sections, where characters live forever but do not progress unless they choose to, and where characters like Miranda from the Tempest and the major players from Twelfth Night mingle with real people from Italian history. 

Once that got going, I was also more interested in Sylvia's story. I love that Walton shapes the narrative to show us who Sylvia is, what her life was like, and yet also challenges cycles of abuse and explores different types of love. It's really a meditation on life, legacy, and the power of stories.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings