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xan_van_rooyen 's review for:
The Genesis of Misery
by Neon Yang
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly, this was quite a slog. While I found the universe and world-building fascinating (if confusing), the narrative structure and style made for a rather slow and repetitive read. I didn't really see the need for the interludes, which mostly just recapped what had already happened without providing any new insights. The writing was also verbose and sometimes got bogged down in details at the expense of the story. I ended up skimming pages at some point, trying to get past description.
I loved Yang's Tensorate series and I wish this novel had been broken down into a series of novellas rather. Given that the novel was broken into parts anyway, I think the story could've been told quite successfully in novellas.
I didn't much care for Misery as the main character. Yes, they're an unreliable narrator but I just never really felt much emotional connection with them. My favourite character was actually Ruin - all so mysterious and manipulative. I think hir arc could've been so much more compelling had there been more hints at hir true nature throughout the book instead of just dropped in as a major reveal at the very end. Minor gripe - cremoline. This is an actual thing used in baking and yet it was used repeatedly as the name of an alcohol, I think, as well as the name of Misery's brother which seemed like an odd choice and began to irk me (totally just my own pet peeve and irritation, lol).
I did love that this book was super queer, I loved the mech tech, and really enjoyed the magical aspects tied into what is otherwise ostensibly a space opera.
I loved Yang's Tensorate series and I wish this novel had been broken down into a series of novellas rather. Given that the novel was broken into parts anyway, I think the story could've been told quite successfully in novellas.
I didn't much care for Misery as the main character. Yes, they're an unreliable narrator but I just never really felt much emotional connection with them. My favourite character was actually Ruin - all so mysterious and manipulative. I think hir arc could've been so much more compelling had there been more hints at hir true nature throughout the book instead of just dropped in as a major reveal at the very end. Minor gripe - cremoline. This is an actual thing used in baking and yet it was used repeatedly as the name of an alcohol, I think, as well as the name of Misery's brother which seemed like an odd choice and began to irk me (totally just my own pet peeve and irritation, lol).
I did love that this book was super queer, I loved the mech tech, and really enjoyed the magical aspects tied into what is otherwise ostensibly a space opera.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, War