A review by stadkison
The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Gene Wolfe is dabbing on us now. Starting by ignoring and never properly addressing the cliffhanger.  Classic pulp tropes alongside gothic castles, fantastical prophecies, and some good old fashioned witches. Both a fictional story within the story and a fictional play within the story, told as a play’s script (eat your heart our Joyce), either of which could be either irrelevant to the plot or the keys to interpreting the whole thing. And just when you think you have a grasp on it, the slippery eel Wolfe wriggles, twists his way out, and transforms into a different animal entirely.