Scan barcode
kaithutch18's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kivt's review
5.0
I don’t think I put this down all day. Great read.
Second read: not as good as I remembered, mostly for technical reasons. Dickinson's writing gets a lot better by the third book, which makes sense. Still a good read, though.
Second read: not as good as I remembered, mostly for technical reasons. Dickinson's writing gets a lot better by the third book, which makes sense. Still a good read, though.
carlyxdeexx's review
5.0
Oh, I really loved this one! It’s the kind of book you don’t want to end—as I saw the unread pages dwindling I kept hoping for more and more story, for an ending that wouldn’t come so soon, a promise of a book two. I don’t think there will be one, but jeez, if there is, I’m reading it!
We follow a single protagonist’s journey to obtain power, enough power to protect those she cares about, to stop suffering, to shape a more just world, all things that are very salient in today’s political climate. How do you stop injustice? How much sacrifice is necessary—is it always too much? What are we willing to do to prevent injustice, to preserve freedom? Or is contentment obtained solely through control?
Despite being a powerful tale of intrigue and strategy (it was hard to put this down every time I picked it up), Dickinson manages to make all of his characters so emotionally rich and deep and compelling. His writing style is pointed, sometimes lyrical, and just very, very smart. I love that he doesn’t give too much away—there were some moments I didn’t quite fully understand, but I felt I lost nothing for it, that it was okay for Baru to be sharper and cleverer than me.
The relationships in this book are authentic and charged between enemies, friends, and lovers alike. No more excuses when it comes to representation in fantasy on every front, because this book does it well: so many sexual orientations, skin tones, family configurations, body types. Disabilities weren’t really featured here, but perhaps that’s more due to the nature of the Masquerade than anything else. These choices aren’t last-minute or inconsequential, and these characters aren’t props: they’re people.
I wish I could know the rest, and I’m grateful I saw a friend recommend this book on Facebook or I may not have ever found it. Now, it’s definitely a core part of my elaborately arranged, overflowing bookshelf, to be returned to again and again.
I guess I should mention one reservation I have about the end. I’m ambivalent about its cutoff point. I want to come away with an answer, but all I finished with were questions, all the same questions. Perhaps that was Dickinson’s goal, though: to keep us thinking about these questions in terms of our own world and the powers we know are at play. How will we make change? What does Baru’s journey look like for us?
UPDATE: THERE’S A SEQUEL AAAAH I’M SO EXCITED! 💛
We follow a single protagonist’s journey to obtain power, enough power to protect those she cares about, to stop suffering, to shape a more just world, all things that are very salient in today’s political climate. How do you stop injustice? How much sacrifice is necessary—is it always too much? What are we willing to do to prevent injustice, to preserve freedom? Or is contentment obtained solely through control?
Despite being a powerful tale of intrigue and strategy (it was hard to put this down every time I picked it up), Dickinson manages to make all of his characters so emotionally rich and deep and compelling. His writing style is pointed, sometimes lyrical, and just very, very smart. I love that he doesn’t give too much away—there were some moments I didn’t quite fully understand, but I felt I lost nothing for it, that it was okay for Baru to be sharper and cleverer than me.
The relationships in this book are authentic and charged between enemies, friends, and lovers alike. No more excuses when it comes to representation in fantasy on every front, because this book does it well: so many sexual orientations, skin tones, family configurations, body types. Disabilities weren’t really featured here, but perhaps that’s more due to the nature of the Masquerade than anything else. These choices aren’t last-minute or inconsequential, and these characters aren’t props: they’re people.
I wish I could know the rest, and I’m grateful I saw a friend recommend this book on Facebook or I may not have ever found it. Now, it’s definitely a core part of my elaborately arranged, overflowing bookshelf, to be returned to again and again.
I guess I should mention one reservation I have about the end. I’m ambivalent about its cutoff point. I want to come away with an answer, but all I finished with were questions, all the same questions. Perhaps that was Dickinson’s goal, though: to keep us thinking about these questions in terms of our own world and the powers we know are at play. How will we make change? What does Baru’s journey look like for us?
UPDATE: THERE’S A SEQUEL AAAAH I’M SO EXCITED! 💛
wgadd's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nobody7734's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Easily and immediately one of my most favourite books I've ever read
Almost cried at work like 3 times
Highly recommend
Worth noting it's kind of heavy and not for everyone
Almost cried at work like 3 times
Highly recommend
Worth noting it's kind of heavy and not for everyone
cardboard_triptych's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gbalcazar's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0