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lucardus's review
4.0
Wie schon bei "A Stranger in Olondria" ist Samatars Stil oft poetisch, dann wiederum verwirrend in seinem Detailreichtum, dann wiederum einfach schön, gegen Ende enorm bewegend und traurig. Zwischendurch, im Mittelteil, hatte ich einen Hänger, bin mit den einzelnen Personen und deren Verbindungen untereinander nicht mehr zurande gekommen. Das ist kein Buch für zwischendurch, für häppchenweise Lektüre, aber ein sehr lesenwertes, wenn man einen sehr ruhigen literarischen Stil schätzt und sich die Zeit nimmt.
Ein Wiederlesen könnte die 5 bedeuten, mit einem Spickzettel und viel Ruhe beim Lesen.
Ein Wiederlesen könnte die 5 bedeuten, mit einem Spickzettel und viel Ruhe beim Lesen.
timinbc's review against another edition
2.0
Many people liked this book. I didn't.
I thought as I started this review that perhaps I should have read "A Stranger in Olondria." I was surprised to find in my notes that I have! The notes included "dull, wordy, little plot," and golly, I can re-use them here.
This one feels to me as if Samatar planned to write a beautifully-crafted, complex examination of four approaches to love, secrets, commitment, etc. Indeed she has done so, but she forgot the important part: tell me a story!
Tavis and Siski showed great promise, but after their introduction they were set aside while we met some deadly dull characters. And the plot slows to a crawl. I gave up after the 2.5 pages of infodump, presented as an excerpt from a history book.
There are dozens of characters and many made-up words for uninteresting things. I quickly forgot who was who and what was what.
After a while I just didn't care what happened to these people. From what I've seen in peeking at a few spoilers about the ending, I made a wise choice.
I thought as I started this review that perhaps I should have read "A Stranger in Olondria." I was surprised to find in my notes that I have! The notes included "dull, wordy, little plot," and golly, I can re-use them here.
This one feels to me as if Samatar planned to write a beautifully-crafted, complex examination of four approaches to love, secrets, commitment, etc. Indeed she has done so, but she forgot the important part: tell me a story!
Tavis and Siski showed great promise, but after their introduction they were set aside while we met some deadly dull characters. And the plot slows to a crawl. I gave up after the 2.5 pages of infodump, presented as an excerpt from a history book.
There are dozens of characters and many made-up words for uninteresting things. I quickly forgot who was who and what was what.
After a while I just didn't care what happened to these people. From what I've seen in peeking at a few spoilers about the ending, I made a wise choice.
youmns's review against another edition
Slow-moving, disorienting, rudderless. From others' reviews, it seems the book gets better when we change perspectives, but I couldn't bring myself to care enough to power through.
steganogasaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
exist0ni's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.25
polarbear2023's review against another edition
had potential but so confusing like what's going on
taylormsinclair's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
agnodike_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-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
Such a good, complicated book. I shall come back to it, armed with a pen and a notebook.
My fave quotes (of many!):
My fave quotes (of many!):
She had a willful and hectic happiness with which she was determined to conquer the world.
Hope, stubborn and bitter to the taste. That hides water. That bears the drought. An ugly plant with the power to heal.
bearsincastles's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
At times a dense and even exhausting read, but this book’s (many) moments of poetic clarity make it worth it. The explorations of the difference and distance between memory and history and the-often violent- mundanity of distilling one into the other was so well done. For those who enjoy fantasy but are ambivalent about the tropes of the genre and are interested in seeing them lovingly yet deftly upset and explored.
Looking forward to reading more by this author
Looking forward to reading more by this author