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slowreaderpeter's Reviews (212)
adventurous
hopeful
informative
tense
fast-paced
This book was genuinely a lot of fun! The beginning portion of the book was a bit messy, paced too quick to try and get through the introduction. But once we got to the main location of the story and settled in, the story and the writing found their groove.
Compared to a YA version of Babel set in Bletchley Park, with dragons, this is an immensely accurate description. A Language of Dragons tries its best not to skimp on theme or concept throughout, really breathing life into the world and mechanics of language it has built.
At times the main character, Vivien, feels overly ignorant or oblivious, and at other times it feels very natural. When you sit and think, or observe the state of the world, her reactions and actions often make total sense. They surprisingly believable.
All-in-all, this is a very accessible book that explores the power of language and the struggles to overcome propaganda and conditioning you’ve always known. I would definitely recommend this book.
Compared to a YA version of Babel set in Bletchley Park, with dragons, this is an immensely accurate description. A Language of Dragons tries its best not to skimp on theme or concept throughout, really breathing life into the world and mechanics of language it has built.
At times the main character, Vivien, feels overly ignorant or oblivious, and at other times it feels very natural. When you sit and think, or observe the state of the world, her reactions and actions often make total sense. They surprisingly believable.
All-in-all, this is a very accessible book that explores the power of language and the struggles to overcome propaganda and conditioning you’ve always known. I would definitely recommend this book.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This might be an unpopular opinion, but after reading the first three books of The Dandelion Dynasty, I believe The Veiled Throne is the best so far.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is its exploration of past and present, of interpretation of events across time and between different peoples. Seeing how parents or grandparents remember events and eras compared to how youth (can) look at a similar time, one they never experience, through rose-tinted glasses of a bygone era, a better one.
I also think the way this book examines the notion of “you don’t know until you know,” or “once you see you can’t unsee” something. Using these ideas to explore propaganda and censorship, or waking up from a propagandized state, but also of the greys that exist and often prevent strictly good or evil narratives.
Seeing how closely it draws inspiration from current or other historic events is truly impressive and, at times, a bit overwhelming when you can make the comparisons.
I’d say my biggest complain of this book is the length. I think there are prices in the first half that drag on too long. Not that they aren’t important, but they could have been trimmed down. As it was, I was losing steam before I hit the competition gave me a jolt of energy. I enjoyed the final third of the book probably more than the rest of it combined.
All-in-all, a great read and I cannot wait to finish the series.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is its exploration of past and present, of interpretation of events across time and between different peoples. Seeing how parents or grandparents remember events and eras compared to how youth (can) look at a similar time, one they never experience, through rose-tinted glasses of a bygone era, a better one.
I also think the way this book examines the notion of “you don’t know until you know,” or “once you see you can’t unsee” something. Using these ideas to explore propaganda and censorship, or waking up from a propagandized state, but also of the greys that exist and often prevent strictly good or evil narratives.
Seeing how closely it draws inspiration from current or other historic events is truly impressive and, at times, a bit overwhelming when you can make the comparisons.
I’d say my biggest complain of this book is the length. I think there are prices in the first half that drag on too long. Not that they aren’t important, but they could have been trimmed down. As it was, I was losing steam before I hit the competition gave me a jolt of energy. I enjoyed the final third of the book probably more than the rest of it combined.
All-in-all, a great read and I cannot wait to finish the series.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Okay, I found this book to be delightful, a bit of a mess, and with a bunch of promise for both the series and the author.
The first thing I’ll say is that of all the characters, only Eva is truly fleshed out and developed thoroughly. We have bits and pieces of other characters, but they all feel a bit “stand-in,” to some extent? Like, the family members feel a bit generic-y family based on tropes or archetypes, the various crew members largely feel like they’re just filling the role of “you are pilot, you are spunky best friend,” etc. Which doesn’t give us a whole lot of depth, but at least they are loosely established for hopefully more development later.
I also thought that occasionally the author would just sort of not explain things or describe them, which I found odd and a smidge frustrating. Throughout the book we are treated to a large variety of alien species, sometimes only in passing, others in more extended spurts. But for the most part they aren’t really described much. So, we know these aliens exist, but we don’t have a thorough understanding of what most of them look like. I also thought similar problems came up in moments of action, where the descriptions were just sort of lacking or incomplete, and it made situating action pieces and scenes to be challenging at times.
Now, all of that said, this was a fun book, and I felt the author actually had a lot of technically well-written moments. You can really see the promise in her ability to grow. The story never once slowed down, and a couple moments felt a bit nonsensical. But I had a very enjoyable time reading this book and definitely plan to continue on with the series.
The first thing I’ll say is that of all the characters, only Eva is truly fleshed out and developed thoroughly. We have bits and pieces of other characters, but they all feel a bit “stand-in,” to some extent? Like, the family members feel a bit generic-y family based on tropes or archetypes, the various crew members largely feel like they’re just filling the role of “you are pilot, you are spunky best friend,” etc. Which doesn’t give us a whole lot of depth, but at least they are loosely established for hopefully more development later.
I also thought that occasionally the author would just sort of not explain things or describe them, which I found odd and a smidge frustrating. Throughout the book we are treated to a large variety of alien species, sometimes only in passing, others in more extended spurts. But for the most part they aren’t really described much. So, we know these aliens exist, but we don’t have a thorough understanding of what most of them look like. I also thought similar problems came up in moments of action, where the descriptions were just sort of lacking or incomplete, and it made situating action pieces and scenes to be challenging at times.
Now, all of that said, this was a fun book, and I felt the author actually had a lot of technically well-written moments. You can really see the promise in her ability to grow. The story never once slowed down, and a couple moments felt a bit nonsensical. But I had a very enjoyable time reading this book and definitely plan to continue on with the series.
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
I want to preface my review by stating, I really did enjoy this book.
I’ll start by saying that Son of the Storm was a significant improvement over Okungbowa’s previous novel, David Mogo Godhunter, which I found fascinating was terribly structured and bloated. It is genuinely so exciting to see an author improve from one book to the next. That said, some of the same issues I had in that previous book came back again.
First, I think the pacing of this book was a bit messy. The first 100 pages or so were on the slow side, and the final 70 pages felt like a rush to cram a lot in before the end. The 270 pages in the middle were quite excellent and enjoyable, but those beginning and ending parts still needed some work. The end especially. At times it felt like that final 70 pages was structured like a history textbook, just glossing through events to make sure they got covered and we knew they happened, but without a good flow to get in and out of events or between pieces of action.
Additionally, I found some of the character work to be a bit inconsistent. I think Danso, Lilong, Esheme, and Nem were all done quite well! They all had arcs and motivations that made sense, and we could follow along with what they did. But other characters, Zaq in particular, I just was very dissatisfied with his arc. It just felt incomplete and like it never quite knew where it was going. There were also a couple professor’s I very much wish we had had more exposure to, some perspective from, namely the two university mentors for Danso and Esheme. I think not expanding them more in this book was honestly a missed opportunity.
That said, I really quite enjoyed this book. I found the world interesting and the themes to be well executed (even if at times they were a bit on-the-nose). They were clear, but it never felt like we were being bashed over the head with messaging.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
I’ll start by saying that Son of the Storm was a significant improvement over Okungbowa’s previous novel, David Mogo Godhunter, which I found fascinating was terribly structured and bloated. It is genuinely so exciting to see an author improve from one book to the next. That said, some of the same issues I had in that previous book came back again.
First, I think the pacing of this book was a bit messy. The first 100 pages or so were on the slow side, and the final 70 pages felt like a rush to cram a lot in before the end. The 270 pages in the middle were quite excellent and enjoyable, but those beginning and ending parts still needed some work. The end especially. At times it felt like that final 70 pages was structured like a history textbook, just glossing through events to make sure they got covered and we knew they happened, but without a good flow to get in and out of events or between pieces of action.
Additionally, I found some of the character work to be a bit inconsistent. I think Danso, Lilong, Esheme, and Nem were all done quite well! They all had arcs and motivations that made sense, and we could follow along with what they did. But other characters, Zaq in particular, I just was very dissatisfied with his arc. It just felt incomplete and like it never quite knew where it was going. There were also a couple professor’s I very much wish we had had more exposure to, some perspective from, namely the two university mentors for Danso and Esheme. I think not expanding them more in this book was honestly a missed opportunity.
That said, I really quite enjoyed this book. I found the world interesting and the themes to be well executed (even if at times they were a bit on-the-nose). They were clear, but it never felt like we were being bashed over the head with messaging.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I don’t have much of a review for this one. This series is genuinely just charming and fun and delightful. I have a great time whenever I return to the world and the characters, and thoroughly enjoyed the twists in this entry! Can’t wait to finish the series!
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book was a difficult read and a fascinating one. At times cold and clinical, and others heart wrenching and filled with emotion.
Perhaps the most difficult part of this read, and what took me the longest to adjust to, was the way the author bounced around in time a bit. And I don’t mean how each chapter is largely set in a different year. I mean how within each chapter, that character we focus on drifts from “present” to memory to other memory at will, and we just have to keep up. Keeping timelines straight, or just what time we are in, proved challenging at times.
Beyond that, this was a brutal book about the little ordinary things humans do, focusing primarily on the cruel and the sad. And how these acts linger over time and between people. How single events can persist in our memories, and how they can affect people differently. It is a book about collective trauma, and how even if we put the work in to heal, there are no guarantees.
Despite this, I would not call this a bleak book. Sad, most definitely. But there is something encouraging in seeing time elapse and people finding ways to cope.
Perhaps the most difficult part of this read, and what took me the longest to adjust to, was the way the author bounced around in time a bit. And I don’t mean how each chapter is largely set in a different year. I mean how within each chapter, that character we focus on drifts from “present” to memory to other memory at will, and we just have to keep up. Keeping timelines straight, or just what time we are in, proved challenging at times.
Beyond that, this was a brutal book about the little ordinary things humans do, focusing primarily on the cruel and the sad. And how these acts linger over time and between people. How single events can persist in our memories, and how they can affect people differently. It is a book about collective trauma, and how even if we put the work in to heal, there are no guarantees.
Despite this, I would not call this a bleak book. Sad, most definitely. But there is something encouraging in seeing time elapse and people finding ways to cope.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Oh, this was a fascinating book to read. Set on the eve of a revolution, we follow various characters as events unfold in a city under occupation.
Following the last priest of a god, a tavern keeper, an immigrant sorcerer/antiquities dealer, a student, an academic, a factory foreman, and a gang member as Ilmar inches closer and closer to rebellion. The writing in this book feels unique. At times it is both immaculate and precise, other times it feels vague and lacking. But it all seems to fit with the narrative being built. All the various players around the city, their motivations, their goals, their dreams. The students spout romanticized ideas of revolution, the factory foreman is grounded and logical, and aristocrats want to maintain control. All the perspectives twist and turn to make sure we know what is happening, but never what will happen, or to whom.
The themes in this book are not always the most subtle (more so than some of the naming conventions at least), but neither are they slapping you in the face to make sure you understand. The story expects you to keep up with it. And the way the world is built gradually, and through all the different perspectives, gives you almost an intimate viewing of the city and its factions.
This book is far from perfect, but it is one of the more fascinating fantasy reads I’ve had over the past few years. It also feels very topical and timely considering world events. I would definitely recommend this book to almost anyone, but especially those who have a keen interest in politics and the power of people.
Following the last priest of a god, a tavern keeper, an immigrant sorcerer/antiquities dealer, a student, an academic, a factory foreman, and a gang member as Ilmar inches closer and closer to rebellion. The writing in this book feels unique. At times it is both immaculate and precise, other times it feels vague and lacking. But it all seems to fit with the narrative being built. All the various players around the city, their motivations, their goals, their dreams. The students spout romanticized ideas of revolution, the factory foreman is grounded and logical, and aristocrats want to maintain control. All the perspectives twist and turn to make sure we know what is happening, but never what will happen, or to whom.
The themes in this book are not always the most subtle (more so than some of the naming conventions at least), but neither are they slapping you in the face to make sure you understand. The story expects you to keep up with it. And the way the world is built gradually, and through all the different perspectives, gives you almost an intimate viewing of the city and its factions.
This book is far from perfect, but it is one of the more fascinating fantasy reads I’ve had over the past few years. It also feels very topical and timely considering world events. I would definitely recommend this book to almost anyone, but especially those who have a keen interest in politics and the power of people.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
This was such a comforting book, and I enjoyed reading it start to finish! My only criticism was that, perhaps, there might have been a little too much in terms of lore and figures in the court and places and titles and formal uses of language and families. It was all a lot to absorb. That said, it was only occasionally a hindrance, and did not affect my enjoyment of the book (I almost wrote “our enjoyment,” which will make more sense once you read the novel). All-in-all, I very much recommend this book. I would say that if you are a fan of the works of Becky Chambers, this might scratch a similar itch, if more fantasy-inspired than science fiction.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
This is such a difficult book to review by itself, so I am choosing to review it as a review of the whole trilogy instead. Each book is a fascinating and interesting experiment in creativity, plausibility, and existentialism. But they are each lacking in a specific and individual way, though each of those is hard to articulate or quantify. The culmination of the trilogy is truly greater than the sum of its individual parts, and that it why I choose to give it 5 stars.
The scope of this trilogy is almost baffling, beginning from finite and contained, to galaxy spanning, to…well, I won’t say for spoilers sake. But the ideas and concept outlines through each, and they way they all logically build on themselves is truly amazing to read.
Throughout the trilogy, Cixin Liu seems to be torn between hopefully optimism and existential dread. Ultimately, I’m still not sure how to classify him. But the ride was truly an experience that I recommend, especially for those who love science fiction.
The scope of this trilogy is almost baffling, beginning from finite and contained, to galaxy spanning, to…well, I won’t say for spoilers sake. But the ideas and concept outlines through each, and they way they all logically build on themselves is truly amazing to read.
Throughout the trilogy, Cixin Liu seems to be torn between hopefully optimism and existential dread. Ultimately, I’m still not sure how to classify him. But the ride was truly an experience that I recommend, especially for those who love science fiction.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Honestly, this trilogy was phenomenal start to finish almost across the board. Super creative and unique in both the world and the specific choices in language made by Barker. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a unique and innovative fantasy.
That said, I think the final third of the book, at times, dragged a smidge. Nothing drastic mind you, but at times it belabored and reiterated a couple thoughts, ideas, or character changes perhaps a bit more than was necessary. That said, still wonderfully done.
That said, I think the final third of the book, at times, dragged a smidge. Nothing drastic mind you, but at times it belabored and reiterated a couple thoughts, ideas, or character changes perhaps a bit more than was necessary. That said, still wonderfully done.