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syinhui's reviews
51 reviews
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This novel is as much about how far we dare go in the dark - to venture into the deep space in search for a new home - as it is about its title, How High We Go in the Dark, wherein the third story, Through the Garden of Memory, a mass of humanity found themselves trapped in a void of semi-darkness. With only the guidance of voices and the touch of other people, they come together to construct a human pyramid, reaching upward into the abyss in hopes of finding a way out.
I am astounded by how imaginative and tragic this book is while at the same time incredibly thought-provoking, hopeful and even intimate. The prose is rich and beautifully written and at times jarring by how death is normalized, by how death had become a way of life. I must say this is an awfully tough book to read, one I had to steel through by how devastating and hard hitting each stories are. The themes of death and grief are all over the pages, one chapter after another.
The prescience in 30,000 years beneath a Eulogy left me terrified. I was sobbing at the end of Pig Son. I've had some questions regarding the science and possibility of a micro singularity, the sudden leap in space technology which enabled an expedition expected to last for thousands of years and how exactly was the plague cured. And then the final chapter blew me away.
However, some of these stories were just a slightly different version of the other (about people estranged from their families, falling in love with a dying patient/client) and for a book about pandemic, I don't quite understand the choice for a wholly Japanese American cast of characters. Sure, it's interesting but it feels limiting and a bit ridiculous that we mostly get to see the aftermath from their perspectives.
I am astounded by how imaginative and tragic this book is while at the same time incredibly thought-provoking, hopeful and even intimate. The prose is rich and beautifully written and at times jarring by how death is normalized, by how death had become a way of life. I must say this is an awfully tough book to read, one I had to steel through by how devastating and hard hitting each stories are. The themes of death and grief are all over the pages, one chapter after another.
The prescience in 30,000 years beneath a Eulogy left me terrified. I was sobbing at the end of Pig Son. I've had some questions regarding the science and possibility of a micro singularity, the sudden leap in space technology which enabled an expedition expected to last for thousands of years and how exactly was the plague cured. And then the final chapter blew me away.
However, some of these stories were just a slightly different version of the other (about people estranged from their families, falling in love with a dying patient/client) and for a book about pandemic, I don't quite understand the choice for a wholly Japanese American cast of characters. Sure, it's interesting but it feels limiting and a bit ridiculous that we mostly get to see the aftermath from their perspectives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, Death, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Suicide, Child death, Cursing, and Death of parent
Minor: Body horror and Cancer
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
I enjoyed this second novella for the most part. Murderbot and ART's interactions are fascinating and honestly super adorable.
Murderbot calls it 'asshole' because, aside from being extremely introverted and painfully awkward, they can be surprisingly petty and ill-tempered too. Thus, the occasional f-bombs and voiced-out sarcasm. Hooray for free will!
I particularly liked the first half, but then again when the humans got involved, it all fell a bit flat for me. The conclusion was a tad underwhelming, though dear Murderbot managed to kick some ass, which was pretty cool of them.
It's a little disappointing that the human characters seem to take a step back, allowing Murderbot's endearing personality to shine even more. I'm not sure if that's intentional, but this could've been a lot better were the human characters not as averagely written and portrayed as stupid (suicidal and irrational) as Murderbot often thinks they are. Still, I'm following. It's short and fun, a sci-fi series easy enough to digest in one sitting.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The systems of constructs are inherently inferior to advanced bots, but you aren’t stupid.
Yeah, well, fuck you, too, I thought, and initiated a shutdown sequence.
I enjoyed this second novella for the most part. Murderbot and ART's interactions are fascinating and honestly super adorable.
Murderbot calls it 'asshole' because, aside from being extremely introverted and painfully awkward, they can be surprisingly petty and ill-tempered too. Thus, the occasional f-bombs and voiced-out sarcasm. Hooray for free will!
I particularly liked the first half, but then again when the humans got involved, it all fell a bit flat for me. The conclusion was a tad underwhelming, though dear Murderbot managed to kick some ass, which was pretty cool of them.
It's a little disappointing that the human characters seem to take a step back, allowing Murderbot's endearing personality to shine even more. I'm not sure if that's intentional, but this could've been a lot better were the human characters not as averagely written and portrayed as stupid (suicidal and irrational) as Murderbot often thinks they are. Still, I'm following. It's short and fun, a sci-fi series easy enough to digest in one sitting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma
Minor: Kidnapping
Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This tide is rising, and there are scant few who would stand before it.
I was considering rating this a little lower than House of Chains because… let’s admit it, it’s good but it gets a little too clunky and slow (same could be said in HoC but at least we spend time with familiar characters). Also, I do have one other complaint.
I’m fine with it in the first four books, even as I sometimes rolled my eyes, I thought it was necessary to convey the depth of a character’s mind and the profoundness of all that is happening. I mean, the obfuscation (hope this is the right word) of concepts and complex emotions got a little too much for me in Midnight Tides. I know this is a Steven Erikson thing. Nothing is ever explained in a straightforward manner. He excels in creating extraordinarily convoluted conversations to the point that it becomes irritating and if you don't get it, that's your fault for you're not paying attention. I love how Erikson doesn't spoonfeed but sometimes I hate him for it.
Thoughts and feelings are often written in a way as if you’re reading a paper on philosophy or psychology instead of simply experiencing it with the characters. No other book series does it better in this aspect and that is the beauty of Malazan Book of the Fallen. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite work for me in Midnight Tides. I feel that a lot of these “obfuscations” aren’t that relevant or essential to drive the plot. For the first time, I feel that these mini studies on complex emotions and ideas are just only there to fill the pages. For the first time, I skimmed read sections of the book and didn't regret it. (I never skim read Malazan. I don't recommend it. This is a first for me.) In short, certain parts could’ve been better trimmed down.
I'm rambling here. Now that's out of the way, let's go back a little. I’ve given Midnight Tides the same rating as HoC, - though I didn’t love it as much - because I’m constantly in awe at how each installment never fails to be as immersive as the previous ones. I may consider this a weaker book (entirely due to preference) compared to DhG or MoI but it’s nothing short of fantastic.
Unpopular opinion: At this stage, rating MBotF lower than 4 stars is a crime.
The sheer epicness of this series overshadows any issues I might have in the previous books or will have in the next ones. I said this in my review of House of Chains and I will stand by these words: The character development alone more than make up for the flaws in writing.
Speaking of characters, I will mention a notable few.
Trull walked to a nearby boulder and sat down on it.
He lowered his head into his hands and began to weep.
Trull Sengar. I wanted to weep with him too.
He's stuck in a nightmare, completely isolated and helpless against the tide of madness that has poisoned his people.
No-one wanted to listen. Independent thought had been relinquished, with appalling eagerness, it seemed to him, and in its place had risen a stolid resolve to question nothing.
I liked him in House of Chains, I like him even more now
My heart breaks for him. For the Sengar brothers. For the Tiste Edur.
We were fallen, and the emperor proclaims that we shall rise again. He is insane, for we are not rising. We are falling, and I fear there will be no end to that descent. Until someone gave answer.
Rhulad Sengar. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... except... for young Rhulad here. Oh I don't hate him, I just really feel sorry for him. He was a fool and a brat. He might've desired power and recognition but the price he must pay is beyond terrible.
I am not an evil man ... yet I have just vowed to stand at his side. Errant take me, what have I done?
Udinaas. He's one of the characters that stood out for me the most. I am always anticipating how he'd respond to the situations forced upon him.
He'd done well. I think he's such an incredible character. He knew his place.
A Letherii slave. A tool. Blood tainted. Gifted with wisdom. He'd unwittingly become an important presence to Rhulad. His anchor. His guide back to sanity.
...the history of this decade, for our dear Letheras, can be most succinctly understood by a faithful recounting of the three Beddict brothers. And, as is clear, the tale's not yet done.
Tehol Beddict and Bugg. And friends. A lot of people love this master and manservant duo for the comic relief they offer. I love them for that too. But at times, the humor feels forced and repetitive. Perhaps I just prefer the macabre duo Korbal Broach and Bauchelain or the dark fatalistic humor of the Bridgeburners, either way I think people are giving too much credit on Tehol and Bugg's banters. Don't get me wrong, they're also my favorites. How can I not, when they're so charming together? Sharing questionable if not, outright disgusting meals and beverages. A diet consisting of the hardly edible sorts. This and that. Living like paupers when they could probably own the whole city. Impressive duo. The humor though? Much less so.
The half-blood women Shand, Hejun and Rissarh. The two quirky undead, Shurq Elalle and Harlest with their half-Tarthenal criminal Ublala Pung. The eccentric Rat Catcher's Guild. Tehol's associates. While I find them all amusing, I'm quite disappointed by their lack of direct contribution during the conquer of Letheras. I was expecting them to affect some change or at least create more chaos to complicate matters. Of course, their interests lie elsewhere at that moment so I guess it makes sense.
Brys Beddict. The youngest of Beddict brothers. A phenomenal swordsman, modest and loyal too. I wish we could've seen more of his formidable skills. I wish he'd been one of the key players but oh well...
Turudal Brizad. By the Errant! The First Consort...
If I'd known this was going to be a day for killing gods, I might have paced myself better.
Iron Bars. Corlo and company.
Did I just become a fan of the Crimson Guard? Absolutely.
Kettle. Rud Ellalle. Kids you might want to adopt except if you ain't nice they might murder you.
Silchas Ruin. I'm starting to suspect that besides the enigmatic vibe, being late to the party is a trait shared by the sons of Mother Dark.
You still don't understand, do you? The more pain you deliver to others, god, the more shall be visited upon you. You sow your own misery, and because of that whatever sympathy you might rightly receive is swept away.
Withal, the Nachts, Sindalath Dukorlat and The Crippled God.
The exchange of words between the Meckros swordsmith and the Crippled God were very interesting. My favorite part of the book, actually.
Build a nest.
Kick it down.
Build a nest.
Kick...it...down!
How enlightening.
Withal's incessant praying has paid off. No doubt, it bugged the Elder god of the seas. And that ending... so good.
5 gargantuan books done! Half-way through. I'm so excited for The Bonehunters. But I will either take a long break after this or read the next a few pages at a time because at this rate I feel like I might actually finish the whole series by end of the year (which i will surely regret) and I'm not ready to feel that sense of emptiness that always comes after finishing a great book.
He saw the sea for what it was, the dissolved memories of the past witnessed in the present and fertile fuel for the future, the very face of time. He saw the tides in their immutable susurration, the vast swish like blood from the cold heart moon, a beat of time measured and therefore measurable. Tides one could not hope to hold back.
I’m fine with it in the first four books, even as I sometimes rolled my eyes, I thought it was necessary to convey the depth of a character’s mind and the profoundness of all that is happening. I mean, the obfuscation (hope this is the right word) of concepts and complex emotions got a little too much for me in Midnight Tides. I know this is a Steven Erikson thing. Nothing is ever explained in a straightforward manner. He excels in creating extraordinarily convoluted conversations to the point that it becomes irritating and if you don't get it, that's your fault for you're not paying attention. I love how Erikson doesn't spoonfeed but sometimes I hate him for it.
Thoughts and feelings are often written in a way as if you’re reading a paper on philosophy or psychology instead of simply experiencing it with the characters. No other book series does it better in this aspect and that is the beauty of Malazan Book of the Fallen. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite work for me in Midnight Tides. I feel that a lot of these “obfuscations” aren’t that relevant or essential to drive the plot. For the first time, I feel that these mini studies on complex emotions and ideas are just only there to fill the pages. For the first time, I skimmed read sections of the book and didn't regret it. (I never skim read Malazan. I don't recommend it. This is a first for me.) In short, certain parts could’ve been better trimmed down.
I'm rambling here. Now that's out of the way, let's go back a little. I’ve given Midnight Tides the same rating as HoC, - though I didn’t love it as much - because I’m constantly in awe at how each installment never fails to be as immersive as the previous ones. I may consider this a weaker book (entirely due to preference) compared to DhG or MoI but it’s nothing short of fantastic.
Unpopular opinion: At this stage, rating MBotF lower than 4 stars is a crime.
The sheer epicness of this series overshadows any issues I might have in the previous books or will have in the next ones. I said this in my review of House of Chains and I will stand by these words: The character development alone more than make up for the flaws in writing.
Speaking of characters, I will mention a notable few.
Trull walked to a nearby boulder and sat down on it.
He lowered his head into his hands and began to weep.
Trull Sengar. I wanted to weep with him too.
He's stuck in a nightmare, completely isolated and helpless against the tide of madness that has poisoned his people.
No-one wanted to listen. Independent thought had been relinquished, with appalling eagerness, it seemed to him, and in its place had risen a stolid resolve to question nothing.
I liked him in House of Chains, I like him even more now
My heart breaks for him. For the Sengar brothers. For the Tiste Edur.
We were fallen, and the emperor proclaims that we shall rise again. He is insane, for we are not rising. We are falling, and I fear there will be no end to that descent. Until someone gave answer.
Rhulad Sengar. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... except... for young Rhulad here. Oh I don't hate him, I just really feel sorry for him. He was a fool and a brat. He might've desired power and recognition but the price he must pay is beyond terrible.
I am not an evil man ... yet I have just vowed to stand at his side. Errant take me, what have I done?
Udinaas. He's one of the characters that stood out for me the most. I am always anticipating how he'd respond to the situations forced upon him.
He'd done well. I think he's such an incredible character. He knew his place.
A Letherii slave. A tool. Blood tainted. Gifted with wisdom. He'd unwittingly become an important presence to Rhulad. His anchor. His guide back to sanity.
...the history of this decade, for our dear Letheras, can be most succinctly understood by a faithful recounting of the three Beddict brothers. And, as is clear, the tale's not yet done.
Tehol Beddict and Bugg. And friends. A lot of people love this master and manservant duo for the comic relief they offer. I love them for that too. But at times, the humor feels forced and repetitive. Perhaps I just prefer the macabre duo Korbal Broach and Bauchelain or the dark fatalistic humor of the Bridgeburners, either way I think people are giving too much credit on Tehol and Bugg's banters. Don't get me wrong, they're also my favorites. How can I not, when they're so charming together? Sharing questionable if not, outright disgusting meals and beverages. A diet consisting of the hardly edible sorts. This and that. Living like paupers when they could probably own the whole city. Impressive duo. The humor though? Much less so.
The half-blood women Shand, Hejun and Rissarh. The two quirky undead, Shurq Elalle and Harlest with their half-Tarthenal criminal Ublala Pung. The eccentric Rat Catcher's Guild. Tehol's associates. While I find them all amusing, I'm quite disappointed by their lack of direct contribution during the conquer of Letheras. I was expecting them to affect some change or at least create more chaos to complicate matters. Of course, their interests lie elsewhere at that moment so I guess it makes sense.
Brys Beddict. The youngest of Beddict brothers. A phenomenal swordsman, modest and loyal too. I wish we could've seen more of his formidable skills. I wish he'd been one of the key players but oh well...
Turudal Brizad. By the Errant! The First Consort...
If I'd known this was going to be a day for killing gods, I might have paced myself better.
Iron Bars. Corlo and company.
Did I just become a fan of the Crimson Guard? Absolutely.
Kettle. Rud Ellalle. Kids you might want to adopt except if you ain't nice they might murder you.
Silchas Ruin. I'm starting to suspect that besides the enigmatic vibe, being late to the party is a trait shared by the sons of Mother Dark.
You still don't understand, do you? The more pain you deliver to others, god, the more shall be visited upon you. You sow your own misery, and because of that whatever sympathy you might rightly receive is swept away.
Withal, the Nachts, Sindalath Dukorlat and The Crippled God.
The exchange of words between the Meckros swordsmith and the Crippled God were very interesting. My favorite part of the book, actually.
Build a nest.
Kick it down.
Build a nest.
Kick...it...down!
How enlightening.
Withal's incessant praying has paid off. No doubt, it bugged the Elder god of the seas. And that ending... so good.
5 gargantuan books done! Half-way through. I'm so excited for The Bonehunters. But I will either take a long break after this or read the next a few pages at a time because at this rate I feel like I might actually finish the whole series by end of the year (which i will surely regret) and I'm not ready to feel that sense of emptiness that always comes after finishing a great book.
He saw the sea for what it was, the dissolved memories of the past witnessed in the present and fertile fuel for the future, the very face of time. He saw the tides in their immutable susurration, the vast swish like blood from the cold heart moon, a beat of time measured and therefore measurable. Tides one could not hope to hold back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, War, Rape, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Body horror, Colonisation, Grief, Xenophobia, and Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse, Incest, and Excrement
The Fallen Duke and the Knight Who Hated Him, Season 1 by Manta Comics, POISSON
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fantasy regression/rebirth bl manhwa with fairly decent plot and pretty art.
Actually it reads more like the typical straight romance or villainess manhwas out there, even the MC and ML's looks are quite generic (especially Carlton lol, he's so familiar, the hot and dark-haired ml types in every romance manhwa) BUT I enjoyed season 1 nonetheless.
The atmosphere is lighthearted and I love the silly interactions between Louison and Carlton. They went from being mutually distasteful and cautious to slowly gaining trust and understanding of each other as they spend more time together.
Likeable MC and ML. A slow burn romance with mild enemies to lovers trope. It's cliche. A pretty average story but I'm giving this a 4 star rating in consideration for the lovely art and my overall enjoyment. The novel however, is a different case. It's also worth noting that the events following Louison's regression feels natural and realistic and I honestly prefer it that way unlike a lot of isekai/rebirth stories with ridiculous
character changes or over-the-top transformation.
Hopefully there won't be any long flashbacks to delay the story's progression in Season 2 but I guess we'll see.
Actually it reads more like the typical straight romance or villainess manhwas out there, even the MC and ML's looks are quite generic (especially Carlton lol, he's so familiar, the hot and dark-haired ml types in every romance manhwa) BUT I enjoyed season 1 nonetheless.
The atmosphere is lighthearted and I love the silly interactions between Louison and Carlton. They went from being mutually distasteful and cautious to slowly gaining trust and understanding of each other as they spend more time together.
Likeable MC and ML. A slow burn romance with mild enemies to lovers trope. It's cliche. A pretty average story but I'm giving this a 4 star rating in consideration for the lovely art and my overall enjoyment. The novel however, is a different case. It's also worth noting that the events following Louison's regression feels natural and realistic and I honestly prefer it that way unlike a lot of isekai/rebirth stories with ridiculous
character changes or over-the-top transformation.
Hopefully there won't be any long flashbacks to delay the story's progression in Season 2 but I guess we'll see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War, Blood, and Death
Minor: Kidnapping and Chronic illness
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
This was nice and fun. I just didn't find the plot particularly exciting or gripping. The other characters were bland and I didn't feel much for them. The concept of sentient bots, planetary explorations and corporate political entities controlling space travels were interesting though hardly original.
What I enjoyed a lot were Murderbot's snarky, pessimistic, and deadpan commentaries on itself, its human clients and the stupid company it belonged.
Murderbot is loveable and endearing enough for me to want to know more of its adventures/developments so I'll be continuing the series.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
And in their corner all they had was Murderbot, who just wanted everyone to shut up and leave it alone so it could watch the entertainment feed all day.
This was nice and fun. I just didn't find the plot particularly exciting or gripping. The other characters were bland and I didn't feel much for them. The concept of sentient bots, planetary explorations and corporate political entities controlling space travels were interesting though hardly original.
What I enjoyed a lot were Murderbot's snarky, pessimistic, and deadpan commentaries on itself, its human clients and the stupid company it belonged.
Murderbot is loveable and endearing enough for me to want to know more of its adventures/developments so I'll be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Medical trauma
Minor: Suicide attempt
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
As someone who also has an affinity for kitchens and loves cooking, I found myself inevitably drawn to the titular story, Kitchen. I’ve always had a certain fondness for books that offer exquisite descriptions and appreciation of food and eating. While the prose is rather simplistic and I think the approach to character dynamics and relationships is sometimes a bit too shoujo-esque or slice-of-life for my tastes, some lines relating to food and the transformative power of shared meals - turning ordinary into something extraordinary and deeply touching really resonated with me.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Cold and gloomy. Whimsical and serene. Charming and quirky characters.
The quiet melancholy and gentle but sorrowful atmosphere of these two novellas seem to be a perfect read for cold nights or rainy afternoons. While the themes of death and loss are central in Kitchen and Moonlight Shadow, it’s also about the process of healing and finding comfort in the most mundane things. The kitchen becomes a place of solace. Good food is like a soothing balm for a tired and wounded spirit.
The quiet melancholy and gentle but sorrowful atmosphere of these two novellas seem to be a perfect read for cold nights or rainy afternoons. While the themes of death and loss are central in Kitchen and Moonlight Shadow, it’s also about the process of healing and finding comfort in the most mundane things. The kitchen becomes a place of solace. Good food is like a soothing balm for a tired and wounded spirit.
As someone who also has an affinity for kitchens and loves cooking, I found myself inevitably drawn to the titular story, Kitchen. I’ve always had a certain fondness for books that offer exquisite descriptions and appreciation of food and eating. While the prose is rather simplistic and I think the approach to character dynamics and relationships is sometimes a bit too shoujo-esque or slice-of-life for my tastes, some lines relating to food and the transformative power of shared meals - turning ordinary into something extraordinary and deeply touching really resonated with me.
Truly happy memories always live on, shining. Over time, one by one, they come back to life. The meals we ate together, numberless afternoons and evenings.
When was it that Yuichi said to me, "Why is it that everything I eat when I'm with you is so delicious?"
"It's amazing how good this is," I said. The tempura on rice we were eating, seated at the counter in this new little shop smelling of fresh wood, was so good it revived my appetite.
"Isn't it?" said Hiiragi.
"Yes. It's delicious. So delicious it makes me grateful I'm alive."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Heartless by Mado Fuchiya (Nishin)
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A relatively short bl horror manga with great art and very dark but intriguing plot. Some scenes are utterly repulsive and the depiction of graphic sexual violence can be quite disturbing. Still a good, quick read though if you're looking for human x incubus trope that is not mainly smut, with interesting characters, some depth to its story, and is also absolutely vile and twisted with the flavor of severe childhood trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Torture, Body horror, Violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Sexual content
House of Chains by Steven Erikson
I'm with the Liosans on this one. After everything that has happened...the excruciatingly long and fraught journey, what exactly did it achieve? A few things, I guess. But in the end, nowhere near satisfying. More mysteries. Forgotten histories. Betrayals. Schemes upon schemes.
The world of the MBotF has expanded once more and even as invested as I am right now, I've come to the point where the multitudes of plotlines have become frustrating enough - though of course not in a bad way - that the moment I finished this 1000+ page long book, I was overcome with a huge sense of relief. Gods! It's done! And now, all I want to do is relax but I know stuff will continue to gnaw at my mind for a few days or so. I really feel for those Liosans, wanting to go home.
I won't say that House of Chains is a downgrade after the previous book and it doesn't feel like that for me at all. The superb worldbuilding and character development more than make up for the flaws that might be present in the plot.
I would agree that the end is quite underwhelming. Anticlimactic, uh huh. But this is Steven Erikson we're talking about, it's to be expected from him, more or less. He'd done it in the earlier books. Rake didn't get to battle the Jaghut Tyrant. Icarium was practically useless, especially during the assault on the Azath House. Nobody managed to stick a knife in the Pannion Seer's dark heart. To name a few.
After so many pages read, here we are waiting for an epic battle to play out only to be replaced by silent wars, a terribly sad one-sided duel, and an awakening of powers unimaginable. I get why this is disappointing to some people, doing it this way (subverting expectations) while weaving a lot of subplots at the same time, well, it's a slippery slope. It either works magnificently or fails catastrophically. There is also a limit on the amount of information people can digest and the patience that can be mustered while reading these books - and that limit varies depending on the person. Malazan, alas, is not for everyone and it's understandable.
In terms of new characters, I've grown to like L'oric a lot. I think I was drawn to the kindness in him as well as his vulnerability. He's just one of those characters I feel I could trust. I could be wrong about this because nothing in this world is what it seems. The line between good and evil is never made clear. Motivations are often obscured and ambiguous. No one is entirely innocent, nor can they afford to be. Walking a path without the trail of blood and violence is almost next to impossible. The struggle for balance and symmetry seems to be the overarching theme, encompassing all destinies, powers, and timelines.
That being said, my heart breaks for Cutter and Apsalar. For Sha'ik and Tavore.
Granted that House of Chains lacks the emotional punch delivered by DhG and MoI. Still, it has its own host of tragedies and surprises.
Trull Sengar and Onrack's friendship, gained over the course of their journey is just beautiful. Karsa Orlong's character arc is a solid one, and though I've come to respect the guy it would take more for me to fully like him. So we shall witness. And those poor Tiste Liosans... good thing they're tough!
I loved most of the recurring characters. Oh, Cotillion did great here. What a cool uncle!
I'm glad I got to see more of him, for some reason, I've always liked the shadow rulers.
Kalam and Fiddler's storylines were my favorite. The assassin really has a knack for dealing with demons. The sapper and his banter with his squad and the marines throughout their march to Raraku were always something to look forward to. That scorpion fight was such a joy!
Iskaral Pust's nauseating diatribes and Mogora's tirade will always be, from now on, a welcome read. There is very little humor to be found in this installment, after all, only more and more deaths, savagery, and brutality. That's why the brief comic reliefs are all the more appreciated in this grim grim world.
A shame because I could do with a few more cackles, for that, I sorely miss the rest of the Bridgeburners.
And with Midnight Tides set on another continent, I will be missing practically, all of them. But I'm pretty confident that I would find someone to like among this new set of characters. So it's all good.
Addtl TW: female genitalia mutilation
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
"Brother Jorrude?"
"Yes?"
"I want to go home."
Jorrude said nothing.
It would not do, after all, to utter a hasty, heartfelt agreement, despite their present circumstance.
I'm with the Liosans on this one. After everything that has happened...the excruciatingly long and fraught journey, what exactly did it achieve? A few things, I guess. But in the end, nowhere near satisfying. More mysteries. Forgotten histories. Betrayals. Schemes upon schemes.
The world of the MBotF has expanded once more and even as invested as I am right now, I've come to the point where the multitudes of plotlines have become frustrating enough - though of course not in a bad way - that the moment I finished this 1000+ page long book, I was overcome with a huge sense of relief. Gods! It's done! And now, all I want to do is relax but I know stuff will continue to gnaw at my mind for a few days or so. I really feel for those Liosans, wanting to go home.
I won't say that House of Chains is a downgrade after the previous book and it doesn't feel like that for me at all. The superb worldbuilding and character development more than make up for the flaws that might be present in the plot.
I would agree that the end is quite underwhelming. Anticlimactic, uh huh. But this is Steven Erikson we're talking about, it's to be expected from him, more or less. He'd done it in the earlier books. Rake didn't get to battle the Jaghut Tyrant. Icarium was practically useless, especially during the assault on the Azath House. Nobody managed to stick a knife in the Pannion Seer's dark heart. To name a few.
After so many pages read, here we are waiting for an epic battle to play out only to be replaced by silent wars, a terribly sad one-sided duel, and an awakening of powers unimaginable. I get why this is disappointing to some people, doing it this way (subverting expectations) while weaving a lot of subplots at the same time, well, it's a slippery slope. It either works magnificently or fails catastrophically. There is also a limit on the amount of information people can digest and the patience that can be mustered while reading these books - and that limit varies depending on the person. Malazan, alas, is not for everyone and it's understandable.
In terms of new characters, I've grown to like L'oric a lot. I think I was drawn to the kindness in him as well as his vulnerability. He's just one of those characters I feel I could trust. I could be wrong about this because nothing in this world is what it seems. The line between good and evil is never made clear. Motivations are often obscured and ambiguous. No one is entirely innocent, nor can they afford to be. Walking a path without the trail of blood and violence is almost next to impossible. The struggle for balance and symmetry seems to be the overarching theme, encompassing all destinies, powers, and timelines.
That being said, my heart breaks for Cutter and Apsalar. For Sha'ik and Tavore.
Granted that House of Chains lacks the emotional punch delivered by DhG and MoI. Still, it has its own host of tragedies and surprises.
Trull Sengar and Onrack's friendship, gained over the course of their journey is just beautiful. Karsa Orlong's character arc is a solid one, and though I've come to respect the guy it would take more for me to fully like him. So we shall witness. And those poor Tiste Liosans... good thing they're tough!
I loved most of the recurring characters. Oh, Cotillion did great here. What a cool uncle!
I'm glad I got to see more of him, for some reason, I've always liked the shadow rulers.
Kalam and Fiddler's storylines were my favorite. The assassin really has a knack for dealing with demons. The sapper and his banter with his squad and the marines throughout their march to Raraku were always something to look forward to. That scorpion fight was such a joy!
Iskaral Pust's nauseating diatribes and Mogora's tirade will always be, from now on, a welcome read. There is very little humor to be found in this installment, after all, only more and more deaths, savagery, and brutality. That's why the brief comic reliefs are all the more appreciated in this grim grim world.
A shame because I could do with a few more cackles, for that, I sorely miss the rest of the Bridgeburners.
And with Midnight Tides set on another continent, I will be missing practically, all of them. But I'm pretty confident that I would find someone to like among this new set of characters. So it's all good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Grief, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Abortion
The Houseguest: And Other Stories by Amparo Dávila
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
While I liked the ambiguity and bizarreness of these short stories - and I don’t mind them being open-ended - it’s just that overall, it’s lackluster and pretty much forgettable.
“It’s not my imagination, it’s not a dream, it’s not my nerves as you call them, it’s a reality so terrifying that it’s driving me insane, it’s being so close to death that you start to feel its chill in your bones.”
It’s not as chilling as I thought it would be though. Strange and nightmarish? Yes. Very. But somehow nothing quite managed to unnerve me in a visceral way. The tension and air of mysticism dissipate towards the end of each story (because it’s always cut short!) leaving little to no impression. However, I do think that it perfectly captured the anguish that comes from the feeling of prolonged dissatisfaction and painful monotony of life, implacable despair – the remote hopelessness and helplessness that so afflicts the characters and severe paranoia of the unknown, pushing them to the brink of madness.
Giving this a bonus .50 stars for the cover which I find to be the most remarkable thing in this book. Also, I wasn't sorely disappointed. Actually, I quite liked a few of the stories: Musique Concrète and Oscar, mainly because their resolutions were a bit more satisfying than the others and Haute Cuisine was oddly funny (or is it just me?)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Murder
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Infidelity, and Stalking