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syinhui's reviews
52 reviews
The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1 by Mokumokuren
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
17 Chapters and 3 full volumes out. Mokumokuren got a new fan here. Or should I say umbrella?
This is actually really good. One of the best seinen manga I’ve read this year. Not much on the bl side since the shounen-ai category was scrapped from the official release.
This is actually really good. One of the best seinen manga I’ve read this year. Not much on the bl side since the shounen-ai category was scrapped from the official release.
The art style is great and I really appreciate the hard work and effort put into creating each chapter which is evident in the skillful shading and incredibly detailed background. I, in particular, love the fish-eye lens effect incorporated in some panels. The colored pages and extra art are both stunning and expressive. There’s even a nod to Junji Ito’s Uzumaki in one of the art featuring Yoshiki and Hikaru. A parallel to the mysterious and disturbing events happening around the town, the distortions, and the inevitable spiral descent to madness if things continue as it is.
Mokumokuren also effectively uses the unique medium of manga in enhancing the narrative. In the very first chapter, the buzzing of insects depicted in text as repetitive sfx, builds up the atmosphere of the countryside in summer but as it progressively becomes more prominent almost taking up a whole panel and then abruptly ceasing altogether. You can tell that something is not quite right at that moment. A presence. Enough to drown the surrounding noises.
Yoshiki knows it’s not Hikaru. I’m glad that it’s made very clear from the start, straying from the usual trope of brooding over/slowly finding out whether my friend who came back different is a monster or not. So instead, what’s left is Yoshiki's internal struggles - how he would process the turmoil of emotions that came from that confirmation. Yoshiki is tottering at the very edge of the precipice torn between longing, love, guilt and fear while this Hikaru desperately clings to him, the only person who accepts him for who and what he is.
A refreshing take on body possession, combined with the yokai of Japanese folklore, hints of homoeroticism and coming to terms with loss at the same time working out your feelings for an entity similar to those in Eldtrich horror. With all of these elements rolled up into one manga, I think this going to be a personal favorite.
A refreshing take on body possession, combined with the yokai of Japanese folklore, hints of homoeroticism and coming to terms with loss at the same time working out your feelings for an entity similar to those in Eldtrich horror. With all of these elements rolled up into one manga, I think this going to be a personal favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, and Grief
Moderate: Murder and Gore
Minor: Child death
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Not with Quick Ben scheming, Captain Paran being dragged along and manhandled at times, by the wizard. Loving the dynamic between these two.
Not with Kruppe and his insufferable dialogues or monologues. Perfectly understandable why Brood lost his cool.
Not with Lady Envy being her gorgeous and wonderful self, as always.
Not with Rake being his enigmatic self, a solid presence that undoubtedly evokes both fear and wonder. And in his absence, left everyone deeply disturbed, panic got them playing the "Where is Anomander Rake?" game. Sure likes picking his timing and entrances. Always a little bit late to the party.
Not with Bauchelain and Korbal Broach being this wandering, creepy necromancer duo.
Oh, poor Mancy.
Not with Toc and Itkovian's extraordinary storylines. Grief and pain-filled as they were.
Though sprinkled throughout different chapters and POVs, I'm absolutely delighted with how humor was amped up by several degrees. Dry and dark as they may be. I had a few good chuckles and cackles. Now, I can truly say that I enjoyed this book way more than its predecessor.
Despite the deaths, oh so many deaths.
While DHG had me reeling as if I'd been gutted or punched in the stomach, Memories of Ice... well, drained me. It was exhausting, in its scope and complexity but also satisfying in the way it resolved conflicts and ultimately, how it subverted expectations. The bittersweet resolution to some of the characters made me so damn emotional. The epilogue neatly tied back to the events in DHG, the resurrected Imperial Historian, Duiker, recounting his heartbreaking journey with Coltaine and the Chain of Dogs.
So far, the time invested in the world of MBotF has proven to be worthwhile. The hundreds of thousand years of history, the journey of every character, their experiences, motivations, growth, and inner struggles stirred up a lot of emotions in me.
At this point, I am fully prepared and eager to embrace whatever the rest of this epic tale has to offer.
Like these memories of ice, raining, raining down upon us.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
When frozen between life and death, in the glacial in-between, what can exist of mortal feeling?
Not even an echo. Only memories of ice, of ice, and no more than that. Gods below. . . such sorrow. . .
Wow. That was one hell of a ride. This became increasingly unputdownable as the events unfold on all sides. I didn't know I had it in me to stay so focused on reading during my hours-long of commute. I'm the type who usually reads at home - where there are the least distractions but with Memories of Ice, I couldn't help myself. I had to keep reading. I had to know.
Everything was so intricately woven and multi-layered.
IT. IS. INSANE. I have no other words.
I don't think there was even a dull moment in this book.
Unlike the first two installments - GoTM, I admit was difficult - slogged my way through the first half. Some parts in DHG as well, particularly, Felisin's storyline which was my least favorite. But nope. Not here. Not with all the actions and revelations.
Not with the Bridgeburners being a dark-humored, miserable, suicidal bunch.
Not even an echo. Only memories of ice, of ice, and no more than that. Gods below. . . such sorrow. . .
Wow. That was one hell of a ride. This became increasingly unputdownable as the events unfold on all sides. I didn't know I had it in me to stay so focused on reading during my hours-long of commute. I'm the type who usually reads at home - where there are the least distractions but with Memories of Ice, I couldn't help myself. I had to keep reading. I had to know.
Everything was so intricately woven and multi-layered.
IT. IS. INSANE. I have no other words.
I don't think there was even a dull moment in this book.
Unlike the first two installments - GoTM, I admit was difficult - slogged my way through the first half. Some parts in DHG as well, particularly, Felisin's storyline which was my least favorite. But nope. Not here. Not with all the actions and revelations.
Not with the Bridgeburners being a dark-humored, miserable, suicidal bunch.
"Will this take long?" Lady Envy asked, her voice somehow cutting through the tumult to echo in Picker's ears as she pushed into the press.
"No", she grated, as two more Bridgeburners crumpled, "it won't..."
Not with Quick Ben scheming, Captain Paran being dragged along and manhandled at times, by the wizard. Loving the dynamic between these two.
"No one knows all that! No-one! You - you - how can you - aagh! The web!
The web of your infernal brain!"
Not with Kruppe and his insufferable dialogues or monologues. Perfectly understandable why Brood lost his cool.
"Kruppe defies all threats! Kruppe sneers at whatever demonstration bristling warlord would
attempt - "
Not with Lady Envy being her gorgeous and wonderful self, as always.
"I have an idea, a wonderful idea - as are all my ideas, of course."
Not with Rake being his enigmatic self, a solid presence that undoubtedly evokes both fear and wonder. And in his absence, left everyone deeply disturbed, panic got them playing the "Where is Anomander Rake?" game. Sure likes picking his timing and entrances. Always a little bit late to the party.
"Where is Anomander Rake? This mob could charge at any moment."
*
"You still do not grasp the gravity of this! Fool! Ox! Where is Anomander Rake?
Tell me! I must speak with him -"
*
"- oh where is Anomander Rake? They call for him, they call and call!"
Not with Bauchelain and Korbal Broach being this wandering, creepy necromancer duo.
Oh, poor Mancy.
"I confess... to a certain... confusion. Do we possess some chronic flaw, Emancipor?"
Not with Toc and Itkovian's extraordinary storylines. Grief and pain-filled as they were.
Her embrace broke bones. The more he screamed with the pain, the tighter she held him.
He had learned to suffer in silence.
"He is the Shield Anvil. Fener knows grief, so much grief that it is beyond his capacity to withstand it. And so he chooses a human heart. Armoured. A mortal soul, to assume the sorrow of the world. The Shield Anvil."
Though sprinkled throughout different chapters and POVs, I'm absolutely delighted with how humor was amped up by several degrees. Dry and dark as they may be. I had a few good chuckles and cackles. Now, I can truly say that I enjoyed this book way more than its predecessor.
Despite the deaths, oh so many deaths.
While DHG had me reeling as if I'd been gutted or punched in the stomach, Memories of Ice... well, drained me. It was exhausting, in its scope and complexity but also satisfying in the way it resolved conflicts and ultimately, how it subverted expectations. The bittersweet resolution to some of the characters made me so damn emotional. The epilogue neatly tied back to the events in DHG, the resurrected Imperial Historian, Duiker, recounting his heartbreaking journey with Coltaine and the Chain of Dogs.
So far, the time invested in the world of MBotF has proven to be worthwhile. The hundreds of thousand years of history, the journey of every character, their experiences, motivations, growth, and inner struggles stirred up a lot of emotions in me.
At this point, I am fully prepared and eager to embrace whatever the rest of this epic tale has to offer.
Like these memories of ice, raining, raining down upon us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Grief, Gore, Torture, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Animal death, Genocide, and Suicidal thoughts
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really want to give this a 4-star rating at least and pretend I thoroughly enjoyed it. I even had high hopes that this would become one of my favorite sci-fi series ever but after some time of reflection, as I went over my notes that seems to me now more like a frustrated rant than a sensible critique, made me realize I do have a lot of issues with this book.
The premise is great, it’s ambitious and staged on a scale that goes beyond imagination. I also know everything here would be in a much bleaker perspective, an existential dread-inducing view of the world and humanity. I’ve been warned and was looking forward to reading it. I think most of my complaints lie in the poor writing and the philosophies and ideologies presented by the characters. The extremists in this book deem humanity as ‘terminally ill’ and ‘incapable of solving its own problems’, thus the need for a higher force ‘to intervene’. It tells that a lot of people harbor a deep hatred for their own kind but somehow does not show the condition of the present world they’re living in or provide any insight/development as to how people got to that point. (What could’ve possessed them to hold such extreme ideals? Putting China aside, what sort of horrible things happened to the rest of the world? Is the current Earth such a hopeless place??) The lack of present societal perspective from any of the characters makes the rebellion more like a joke – a misanthrope’s wildest fantasies suddenly coming true, well I guess that’s the idea.
My honest opinion on ETO is that they’re mad, naïve, and full of crap. Their slogan is basically, “F*** humanity, long live the aliens! Why? I don’t know but I know humans.” It’s not lost on me the irony that ETO is mostly composed of intellectuals, wealthy and powerful individuals – the same people who should know better and have much to lose. I could only blame the writing for this and not the translation. Then there’s this part where the narrative was copy-pasted from an earlier chapter. I know it’s supposed to mirror Ye’s experience but for it to be completely similar is just pure lazy writing. Most of the dialogues are dry and clunky, take for example Wei Cheng’s and Mike Evans’ lengthy monologues.
Liu’s main weakness is in his characterization, evidently, his MCs are flat and unlikeable. One is too timid and bland, the other a cold-blooded sociopath. The characters are difficult to connect with because they exist solely to advance the plot. The others are horrible for the sake of being horrible. The crusty, streetwise cop happens to be the only one who got brains.
On a more positive note, and despite my complaints, I think it’s fair to say that this is still a decent read. If you can suspend disbelief throughout the entire book, then you’d probably find it more enjoyable. The sci-fi is inspired by real science. There really are some mind-boggling concepts and authentic ideas here. The bizarre in-game scenarios although dull and dragging at times are also wonderfully poignant. The introduction to the Cultural Revolution is the most solid part of the book - a rather strong opening to a series of this scope. Disappointingly, the rest fell short on me afterward. It could’ve kept the momentum instead of swinging back and forth between the present and past and using abrupt resolutions to important plot lines within chunks of exposition. It simply broke the spell for me, making the reveals less impactful.
I am very hesitant and scared to start the next book. I’ve heard good and bad things about it. I might read it for the interesting concepts and wild sci-fi stuff but then I might not for the poor writing and bad representation of women, also whatever that cringey waifu thing going on there has a high potential of souring my reading experience. In that case, I might as well dehydrate for now and come back alive once the adaptation hits Netflix!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide
Minor: Xenophobia and War
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
I picked up this book for the dark academia vibes along with the expectation that it would be as good as The Silent Patient, but this one turned out to be a downer. I find the plot twist at the end awful. The red herrings weren’t used as effectively as they could have been, which left a lot of loose ends and plot holes that will never be resolved. The plot twist, for what it’s worth, was indeed… unexpected. I had three people in mind for the identity of the second POV; all would make better and more plausible killer. None made it, to my dismay. It’s disappointing how such a reveal seemed to have been pulled out of nowhere.
I don’t buy at all the part where Theo said Zoe is merely a proxy and controlled by Sebastian the whole time, somehow making her inculpable of her actions. This kind of unsettled me because as a psychiatrist, shouldn’t he know better? She may have been a victim but she’s also old enough to know right from wrong. Like wtf.
Zoe suddenly going unhinged and murderous in front of Marianna feels so random. Fred following her and for some reason knowing she’ll be in danger is just convenient.
I think I would’ve even preferred it if Fred and Fosca were actually the secret lovers. Fred, contrary to his clumsy and boyish demeanor (the picture of him with a dog though – one of those frustrating red herrings) as the real cold-blooded murderer and Fosca as an accomplice. Both seem to have had unhappy childhoods. Turning out to be monsters themselves, like their own fathers, killing young women as a means to channel their hate as well as their desire for the love of their mothers. Sounds like classic abused/neglected-child-turned-predatory behaviors. Cliché, but at least the motive is there. Using the story of Persephone, the cult of maidens, and Greek tragedies as a backdrop.. Fred eventually betraying Fosca after finding out he’s sleeping with the girls. Uses him as a scapegoat, frames him up to take the fall. Fosca’s demise (better at the hands of Marianna or Zoe) or arrest would be an opportunity to further explore the themes of grief, regret, loss and longing. Not to mention, a potential parallel to Tennyson and Hallam. Now that I think about it, this could be a good BL fanfiction idea.
I could see Zoe as a total nutcase. Still sticking with the plan to frame up her professor. She’s suspicious from the very start and I wouldn’t mind if the second pov was actually her alternate personality/identity. With a little tweaking, it would probably make sense. Better than a kid having romantic and sexual relations with a deranged man twice her age.
Me trying to make sense of Sebastian’s role as Hades?? and how ridiculous and unbelievable it is:
"Oh, I’ve got an idea for the twist! What if we make someone who has no established motivation so far whatsoever our mysterious killer?? Remember how I’ve repeatedly alluded to the story of the Maiden, Persephone? That’s the central focus. Not those characters who I already hinted to have daddy/mummy issues. Nooo! Everything else is a mere diversion. The goal is not to weave clues together but to have readers think in retrospect. For what could be more effective than the dead? The least harmless character in the story. Plus, this serves as a sort of divine punishment or justice, y’know. I bet no one would see that coming."
Zoe suddenly going unhinged and murderous in front of Marianna feels so random. Fred following her and for some reason knowing she’ll be in danger is just convenient.
I could see Zoe as a total nutcase. Still sticking with the plan to frame up her professor. She’s suspicious from the very start and I wouldn’t mind if the second pov was actually her alternate personality/identity. With a little tweaking, it would probably make sense. Better than a kid having romantic and sexual relations with a deranged man twice her age.
"Oh, I’ve got an idea for the twist! What if we make someone who has no established motivation so far whatsoever our mysterious killer?? Remember how I’ve repeatedly alluded to the story of the Maiden, Persephone? That’s the central focus. Not those characters who I already hinted to have daddy/mummy issues. Nooo! Everything else is a mere diversion. The goal is not to weave clues together but to have readers think in retrospect. For what could be more effective than the dead? The least harmless character in the story. Plus, this serves as a sort of divine punishment or justice, y’know. I bet no one would see that coming."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Grief, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Confinement, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Abandonment
Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Meng Xi Shi
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of my all-time favourite danmei. I've read the web novel before thanks to the awesome fan translator/s. I'm not sure where Vol. 1 here ends but I remember Qian Qiu having a solid start, intriguing plotlines and captivating characters that would compel you to read more.
The whole novel is an easy 5 star for me. I just loved it.
I would read this again once I got a break from other books.
The whole novel is an easy 5 star for me. I just loved it.
I would read this again once I got a break from other books.
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Hee hee!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
It’s brilliant. It’s extraordinary.
At times, I would find myself utterly dumbfounded. My jaw slacked in shock and awe. Too thrilled and engrossed, I had to pause, and breathe, just to take it all in.
Still a difficult read but considerably way more enjoyable than Gardens of the Moon.
Did I say enjoyable? Scratch that.
DEADHOUSE GATES HURT. Hurts...
DEADHOUSE GATES HURT. Hurts...
Mappo and Icarium. Coltaine and his Chain of Dogs.
The second installment is really where the grimdark finally shines. ✨
Fun, right?
Fun, right?
As much as I want to make a *literary review* of this book, (which it definitely deserves) and I tried, but alas, I couldn’t. I’m not even sure if I could write a coherent review. But here we go… After finishing the book, my thoughts and feelings are as chaotic as the world of the Malazan Empire itself. There are already a lot of very articulate and informative reviews out there highlighting the strengths of this book. (superb worldbuilding, improved characterization, tighter plotlines and better dialogues etc…) If that’s what you’re looking for fellow reader, you might want to check those out.
I’m just going to speak from my personal reading experience. And that experience is one chock full of surprise, disbelief, wonder, outrage, grief, half-sobs and whimpers, occasional squeals and tiny shrieks of delight, and most of all – heart-wrenching pain and sorrow that established itself somewhere from the beginning to the end of the book.
I couldn’t wrap my head around the loss… the staggering loss of life. Annihilation of entire cities and peoples. Millenniums of harrowing history - obscured and forgotten only revisited through memories of tortured ghosts.
'The lesson of history is that no one learns.'
Duiker’s perspectives on the extraordinary, soul-scarring journey of the Chain of Dogs haunted me. Haunts me still…
'I saw one healer’s arm snap like a twig when he lifted a pot from the hearth. That frightened me more than anything I’ve yet to witness, Captain.'
Despite my heart being crushed by the bleak, gruesome, and grim atmosphere of the arcs, somehow, Steven Erikson is amazing and cruel enough to trample on those broken pieces with: COLTAINE. It’s almost impossible not to mention the man’s name in the same sentence as the word heartbroken. Believe me.
'The man leads an army that refuses to die. We’ve not lost a refugee to enemy action in thirty hours. Five thousand soldiers… spitting in the face of every god…'
The Jhag and the Trell. Two ancient wanderers. Companions.
One bound to an old vow. One in an unending search for answers. A tragic tale of friendship.
One bound to an old vow. One in an unending search for answers. A tragic tale of friendship.
After a time, as they walked on the plain, Icarium glanced at Mappo. ‘What would I do without you, my friend?'
The realization that came from that simple, innocent question is too terrifying.
It literally gave me goosebumps. No wonder Mappo flinched at that.
It literally gave me goosebumps. No wonder Mappo flinched at that.
Felisin’s arc (although not my favorite) is such a complex, multi-layered journey of survival and loss of innocence which profoundly shaped her character. In other books, it should be a coming-of-age story, I guess, but Deadhouse Gates twisted it into something way darker and more traumatic.
It's also very sad to see how capable characters such as Kalam and Fiddler be overwhelmed by helplessness and insignificance. I’m seeing the hero in them, but the world is just too harsh and brutal.
Heroism is stupidity. Futile even.
… the sapper was left trembling in the realization of his insignificance and that of all his kind. Humans were but one tiny, frail leaf on a tree too massive even to comprehend.
Kalam feared insignificance, he feared the inability to produce an effect, to force a change upon the world beyond his flesh.
The seemingly headlong plunge this journey had become was in truth but the smallest succession of steps, of no greater import than the struggles of a termite.
'Of course, Kalam wanted to save them! But he knew it was impossible! Only vengeance was possible!'
I love the few scenes we got with Shadowthrone. No matter how freaking shady he is. I can’t deny that the god is growing on me. Looking forward to loving and/or hating the guts out of that scheming giggly bastard. I'd also love to see more of Uncle Cotillion and the shadow folks (The Hounds, Apt and Panek, Iskaral Pust)
The god giggled again. ‘Cotillion will be so pleased, won’t he just.”
Hee hee!
I could do with a leisurely reread to catch the easter eggs and references I missed
but... I’m reeling here. Deadhouse Gates left such heaviness in my heart. I am ruined. Devastated.
YET so excited to dive into the next book! Peeking at Memories of Ice's character list, seems like we're back to the folks in Darujhistan, of course, with a plethora of new names added. Probably, key players. Yay!
On a last note,
but... I’m reeling here. Deadhouse Gates left such heaviness in my heart. I am ruined. Devastated.
YET so excited to dive into the next book! Peeking at Memories of Ice's character list, seems like we're back to the folks in Darujhistan, of course, with a plethora of new names added. Probably, key players. Yay!
On a last note,
"The Wickans! The Wickans! The Wickans!" 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Genocide, War, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual violence
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
I'd be lying if I said that I didn’t get a headache or two trying to understand what was happening.
There’s a lot going on. It’s a gargantuan mess…which makes sense in a world so steeped in magic, embroiled in the middle of an ongoing war with so many forces at play, uncertain alliances, power struggles, and unknown agendas, and just to make matters worse, gods meddling for reasons not entirely clear.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.75
The first few chapters of Gardens of the Moon make you feel as though you've been thrown into a portal straight to that world blind, and you're expected to fumble through clues, piece them together, and connect them until you can get a clearer sight of—mind you, not the whole picture but just a part of that picture. You are expected to catch up even though there is nothing to catch up with because you’ve just arrived there.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn’t get a headache or two trying to understand what was happening.
There’s a lot going on. It’s a gargantuan mess…which makes sense in a world so steeped in magic, embroiled in the middle of an ongoing war with so many forces at play, uncertain alliances, power struggles, and unknown agendas, and just to make matters worse, gods meddling for reasons not entirely clear.
So, I get why some readers get discouraged. Gardens of the Moon is uncomfortable and disorienting to read…at first.
Before I dove into this book, I watched a few non-spoiler reviews saying Malazan Book of the Fallen was not for everyone. I love fantasy books; it’s my go-to genre, and I would like to add another epic fantasy to my library. But with people saying it’s a difficult read and me being a non-native English speaker, it might just prove to be too much of a challenge to understand this book and, thus, too frustrating for me to enjoy.
However, I live for the intrigue. And the mysteries.
That’s what kept me going, and I’m very glad I did because the second half of the book, at least for me, is where things started to take shape. There were a lot of unanswered questions still but the further along I read, the more comfortable I got with being uncomfortable with not having any answers laid out for me. It seems being confused and feeling at a loss is a recurring theme for this epic book. (ha!) Both the characters and the readers are just given bits and pieces of information. That’s why when things come together, the result is just so incredibly satisfying.
On another note, I quite liked Erikson’s writing style, and I could say with certainty that I do prefer prose that is highly detailed and yet concise in the use of words. Putting my love of mysteries aside, I suppose it was the writing style that allowed me to finish the book. There are two things that could make me drop a book (into the bin, yes): 1. annoying main character; 2. annoying writing style
Thank the gods, Gardens has neither!
Thank the gods, Gardens has neither!
In terms of the characters, I find a lot of them rather fascinating. Starting with the Lord of Moon Spawn, Knight of the House Dark, Anomander Rake. It’s always such a delight to see badass and OP characters in action. Don’t you just love it when a character lives up to their reputation as a powerful and fearsome being without unnecessarily exaggerating it? Gardens of the Moon truly sets the high mark for ‘show, don’t tell.' and I’m all for it. His conversations with Baruk are also one of my favorites in the book.
I liked Kruppe too and his group, the Bridgeburners, Toc the Younger, the Great Raven Crone, and even the T’lan Imass, Tool.
I realized that I don’t have one who I pointedly hate or dislike. This came as a pleasant surprise. It tells a lot about how great the characters really are. The only one who came close to mind was Turban Orr,but he’s over and done with, and I didn’t really care much about him. (Hell, even Rake volunteered himself to be Rallick’s second just to shut him up. Talk about overkill. Poor dude didn’t stand a chance.)
I realized that I don’t have one who I pointedly hate or dislike. This came as a pleasant surprise. It tells a lot about how great the characters really are. The only one who came close to mind was Turban Orr,
Well, with the way Gardens of the Moon is presented, the preamble to this epic tale, I’m also prepared to hate characters I originally liked and grow to love those I’m not quite fond of.
Just in case. I’m keeping an open mind. My emotions, ready to be toyed with.
(In writing this review, I was compelled to read the preface (which I completely overlooked!), and now I feel silly because Steven Erikson explicitly mentioned stuff about
‘…being dropped from a great height into very deep water, right there on page one of Gardens of the Moon’ or how
‘…the first novel begins halfway through a seeming marathon – you either hit the ground running and stay on your feet or you’re toast.’ or the fact that
‘I’m writing a history and fictional or not, history has no real beginning point; even the rise and fall of civilizations are far more muddled on the front and back ends than many people might think.’
These alone explain why the book is the way it is. Though I’ve heard that it’s complicated, I would’ve properly set my expectations if I had read this bit. This review would’ve been different, perhaps. Silly, right? I really did go through Gardens considerably blind. But oh boy, was that quite a ride.)
‘…being dropped from a great height into very deep water, right there on page one of Gardens of the Moon’ or how
‘…the first novel begins halfway through a seeming marathon – you either hit the ground running and stay on your feet or you’re toast.’ or the fact that
‘I’m writing a history and fictional or not, history has no real beginning point; even the rise and fall of civilizations are far more muddled on the front and back ends than many people might think.’
These alone explain why the book is the way it is. Though I’ve heard that it’s complicated, I would’ve properly set my expectations if I had read this bit. This review would’ve been different, perhaps. Silly, right? I really did go through Gardens considerably blind. But oh boy, was that quite a ride.)
ON TO THE NEXT ONE THEN, DEADHOUSE GATES! 😊
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Piranesi explores the possibility of a scenario where you wake up one day and find yourself completely alone. You are in a strange and mystical house where an ocean seems to be imprisoned within it. The house has infinite labyrinthine halls that are filled with thousands upon thousands of marble statues.
What would you do and how would you make sense of it?
In your solitude and the absurdity of your environment, will you be overwhelmed by despair and lose all hope? Will the loneliness eat you up till it drives you mad? Will you be an unwitting victim of the tides and succumb to its sweet embrace?
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The haunting yet peaceful atmosphere of the House gives you an inexplicable sense of calm… and dread. A feeling akin to staring at the sea in the middle of the night.
I find Piranesi’s appreciation and reverence for the House very endearing. He is just the sweetest and most charming unreliable narrator (to some extent) I ever had the pleasure of reading. It’s worth noting that his unreliability is neither deliberate nor malicious! He genuinely believes in the truth of his experiences and observations which adds an additional layer of depth to the story and complexity to his character.
A unique and whimsical book. Certainly worth reading.