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third_bookworm's Reviews (135)
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Truly loved this book. Deeply bizarre, quite upsetting at points. I love and respect Seth Dickinson's ability to introduce a horrible possibility that all the characters work to try to avoid, and then to investigate what happens if that comes true. Deeply compelling relationships between characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Rape, Death of parent
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very excited to read the next one when it comes out.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was so good... Absolutely adored the main character. Not nearly as large-scale as The Goblin Emperor, but a really lovely book with really well-developed characters. Not super plot-driven, very much about the characters and their relationships.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was fine... My main complaint was that only the British perspective on this was ever shown, though I admit this is may be due to limited primary sources, and it seemed like the author was including some really virulent racism from the primary sources with minimal commentary/criticism or contradicting points of view. The Chinese intermediaries and servants that Fortune hired were a substantial, influential part of the story, but they were never portrayed sympathetically.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Yes
Very very good conclusion to this duology. I loved the greater number of perspectives that we got to see in this book compared to the first; it was fun to see into everyone's heads. Also loved that Ma got to be foregrounded for the end. My one complaint was that one of the character arcs was not resolved as satisfyingly as it could have been; as much as Ouyang's ending made sense for him, it really seemed for a bit in the middle like he was going to find a way to live past his revenge. I think it would have been more consistent with the ending tone of forgiveness + letting people grow past things if he had been able to overcome his suicidal revenge ideation... But I also don't know how that could have worked in the plot. Still, I am sad for him as a character.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a gorgeous book.
I am very amused that Dorian is named after Dorian DragonAge and not Dorian Gray.
I am very amused that Dorian is named after Dorian DragonAge and not Dorian Gray.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Way more fun and whimsical than I expected; really delightful cast of characters. Gorgeous imagery throughout.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was fun! I enjoyed the twist on fairytale tropes. It was fun to have a cast of characters who were all sensible and clever about their problems. And the dust-wife seemed very Granny Weatherwax inspired, so that was fun.
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that I think I tend to rate things as 5 stars or 1 star and I need to start exploring the middle ground a bit. This was very good though! I think it would have been especially powerful when it was initially published, as the societal Cold War nuclear annihilation fear has subsided a little bit. It was a very interesting idea executed very well, though. They put those monks in space!