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knittyreader's review against another edition
3.0
The story of 'Tower of Mud and Straw' is amazing, as are the characters - they were really interesting, and clearly well thought out.
So why only the three stars? That all has to do with the pacing. For me this novella was too fast-paced on one hand, and too slow on the other. Sounds weird, right? Well, that's how it felt too. It was like being in the passenger seat of an amazing car, it feels amazing, and it is, but the driver keeps showing he can accelerate to 100 km/h in 5 seconds and then how well the brakes work. Sometimes there was a part that was all about amazing character development, and then suddenly I sat thinking 'okay, wtf just happened?'
It still is an amazing novella though! I guess it's just that it would have been better as a full length novel, with enough room for both character and plot.
I want to thank Netgalley and Metaphorosis Publishing for the chance to read this book.
So why only the three stars? That all has to do with the pacing. For me this novella was too fast-paced on one hand, and too slow on the other. Sounds weird, right? Well, that's how it felt too. It was like being in the passenger seat of an amazing car, it feels amazing, and it is, but the driver keeps showing he can accelerate to 100 km/h in 5 seconds and then how well the brakes work. Sometimes there was a part that was all about amazing character development, and then suddenly I sat thinking 'okay, wtf just happened?'
It still is an amazing novella though! I guess it's just that it would have been better as a full length novel, with enough room for both character and plot.
I want to thank Netgalley and Metaphorosis Publishing for the chance to read this book.
caryndi's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
At the end of this book, I think maybe in the author's notes, the author says something about how it was based on a dream and that was a real, "oh, yeah, that tracks" moment for me. Because it felt like a dream, in that way where you have a GREAT dream and then you wake up an think on it and notice all the holes in whatever your brain was doing while you were asleep.
I would have DNFed this were it not an insomnia read (if I gave up on it I would have had to find another book and I didn't feel like sorting through my TBR at the time). There were a lot of things about this book that didn't hit for me. It was vaguely steampunk/fantasy with the requisite genre conventions (airships, another humanoid species) but the world seemed very thinly thought out.
I also had a hard time figuring out what the author wanted us to think about the main character. Minor spoilers for his political arc:He was part of a government that was wiling to gas protestors (bad!). But then when he was in charge of "defending" against a protest he made the decision not to do that (good!). So now he's being punished and he's upset because he liked being part of that government (sympathetic?). But he's not actually being punished, he's being tested as a future ruler because he speaks his own mind (good?). So maybe someday he can be in charge of that horrible government (???)!
Then there were the women. Oh boy. Aside from those who were offscreen (I believe we had a ruler who was a woman) we had a) the protagonist's dead sister, who he still talked to in his head/we got some flashbacks to but was mostly a plot device that helped him understand his name; 2) the sexy other-species woman with the SAME NAME as his sister who was the lover of another political figure beforeshe fell in love with our protagonist (I have no idea why tbh, but it could have been because he gave her the absolute minimum attention) , and the chief engineer of the titular tower, who the protagonist weirdly assumed was in love with him (?) but she was not, but she did fuck up big with the tower and needed his help to save her ass . They rarely felt like real people. Mostly they just felt like they existed to need the protagonist so he could feel important.
And THEN we had the....progression? of the protagonist through the book. Obvious spoilers here:He went to this outer province to help build a tower for defense against enemy airships. Then he spent his time waffling between whether it should be built or not. He threatened to report that it was failing, then he figured out it had been sabotaged and offered solutions, then he decided to sabotage it for his sexy lover, then he decided to NOT sabotage it so he could be in charge someday, then he blew the whole thing up. It felt like a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth—at the end of the book, he mentioned doing a political "dance" so maybe it was supposed to be that? But to me it just made him feel indecisive and not like he was driven by anything.
As a whole, this book was strange in that it kept introducing "conflicts" that were way too easy to solve. An example: Early on in the book, the MC faces an assassination attempt, that he's able to escape. And then no one tries to assassinate him again because the first guy failed? It would have made more sense for this to be an ongoing conflict rather than the MC's wavering overwhat to do with the tower and the magic that was powering it .
Anyway, that was a lot of words to say that I didn't enjoy this book and wouldn't recommend it.
I would have DNFed this were it not an insomnia read (if I gave up on it I would have had to find another book and I didn't feel like sorting through my TBR at the time). There were a lot of things about this book that didn't hit for me. It was vaguely steampunk/fantasy with the requisite genre conventions (airships, another humanoid species) but the world seemed very thinly thought out.
I also had a hard time figuring out what the author wanted us to think about the main character. Minor spoilers for his political arc:
Then there were the women. Oh boy. Aside from those who were offscreen (I believe we had a ruler who was a woman) we had a) the protagonist's dead sister, who he still talked to in his head/we got some flashbacks to but was mostly a plot device that helped him understand his name; 2) the sexy other-species woman with the SAME NAME as his sister who was the lover of another political figure before
And THEN we had the....progression? of the protagonist through the book. Obvious spoilers here:
As a whole, this book was strange in that it kept introducing "conflicts" that were way too easy to solve. An example: Early on in the book, the MC faces an assassination attempt, that he's able to escape. And then no one tries to assassinate him again because the first guy failed? It would have made more sense for this to be an ongoing conflict rather than the MC's wavering over
Anyway, that was a lot of words to say that I didn't enjoy this book and wouldn't recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Death
hindessm's review against another edition
4.0
Clever non-linear story. Reminded me a little of Ted Chiang stories.
abrittlebee's review against another edition
1.0
Despite some good ideas, Tower of Mud and Straw never took time to breathe and its plot and characters suffered for it.
There were some very good details in this book. The imagery between the two groups of people, and the parallels to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel were really well done. The similarity was close enough to see the connection, but subtle enough to not be derivative. However, the overall impression of the novel fell short due to some strange narrative decisions.
Immediately, when you begin reading you are sort of dropped into a story and world with no context. While cold starts obviously aren’t unheard of, they are usually accompanied with a gradual reveal of context and world building. Tower of Mud and Straw would continually add elements to the world without explaining how they functioned. The result was a little like starting to watch a mystery movie halfway through, in that it was very difficult to understand what was happening and why. On a similar note, the relationships and bonds between the characters also felt out of place. Connections were formed instantaneously to the point where it felt like complete strangers were crying on each other’s shoulders. I also had a bit of a hard time finding the female characters very believable. They seemed to only be there as a plot device to validate the protagonist’s inner monologue and emotional conflicts, and in no way felt very self motivated.
Ultimately, I do not feel this book was my cup of tea, and I would not recommend it.
There were some very good details in this book. The imagery between the two groups of people, and the parallels to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel were really well done. The similarity was close enough to see the connection, but subtle enough to not be derivative. However, the overall impression of the novel fell short due to some strange narrative decisions.
Immediately, when you begin reading you are sort of dropped into a story and world with no context. While cold starts obviously aren’t unheard of, they are usually accompanied with a gradual reveal of context and world building. Tower of Mud and Straw would continually add elements to the world without explaining how they functioned. The result was a little like starting to watch a mystery movie halfway through, in that it was very difficult to understand what was happening and why. On a similar note, the relationships and bonds between the characters also felt out of place. Connections were formed instantaneously to the point where it felt like complete strangers were crying on each other’s shoulders. I also had a bit of a hard time finding the female characters very believable. They seemed to only be there as a plot device to validate the protagonist’s inner monologue and emotional conflicts, and in no way felt very self motivated.
Ultimately, I do not feel this book was my cup of tea, and I would not recommend it.
caitlina's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fallona's review against another edition
4.0
I received an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.
The premise of this novella appealed to me immediately. The protagonist is a disgraced government minister, sent off from the capital to oversee the construction of a possibly-cursed tower in a not-entirely-peaceful borderland. Each of the component chapters tells an important part of the story, which covers a surprising amount of ground in relatively few pages. In some ways, short length is this novella's greatest weakness. There's enough plot for a full-length novel here, and in a longer form I think the worldbuilding and characterization could have been stronger.
At times it feels like a novella meant to be read within an already-established world (actually, to the point that I double-checked Goodreads halfway through to make sure that there was not a previous book that I'd missed), rather than a freestanding work. It's a neat world, though, and I would have loved to see more of what makes it tick.
The italicized notes that represent Shea's thoughts and "conversations" with his sister are often the most evocative and touching sections. He's a compelling character, one that would be interesting to see develop over a longer span of time. The same is true of many of the secondary characters--I would especially have liked to see more of Brielle and Aidan, who have such distinct backgrounds and motives and merit a deeper look. I'd read a novella centered on either of them.
There's a strong dreamlike quality throughout, which I noticed well before I came to the author's note at the end describing it as having come from a dream.
All in all, my biggest complaint is that characterization and worldbuilding are more often sketched than painted with depth. But what's here is a fun read, and I hope to see more from this author in the future!
The premise of this novella appealed to me immediately. The protagonist is a disgraced government minister, sent off from the capital to oversee the construction of a possibly-cursed tower in a not-entirely-peaceful borderland. Each of the component chapters tells an important part of the story, which covers a surprising amount of ground in relatively few pages. In some ways, short length is this novella's greatest weakness. There's enough plot for a full-length novel here, and in a longer form I think the worldbuilding and characterization could have been stronger.
At times it feels like a novella meant to be read within an already-established world (actually, to the point that I double-checked Goodreads halfway through to make sure that there was not a previous book that I'd missed), rather than a freestanding work. It's a neat world, though, and I would have loved to see more of what makes it tick.
The italicized notes that represent Shea's thoughts and "conversations" with his sister are often the most evocative and touching sections. He's a compelling character, one that would be interesting to see develop over a longer span of time. The same is true of many of the secondary characters--I would especially have liked to see more of Brielle and Aidan, who have such distinct backgrounds and motives and merit a deeper look. I'd read a novella centered on either of them.
There's a strong dreamlike quality throughout, which I noticed well before I came to the author's note at the end describing it as having come from a dream.
All in all, my biggest complaint is that characterization and worldbuilding are more often sketched than painted with depth. But what's here is a fun read, and I hope to see more from this author in the future!
plot_head's review against another edition
4.0
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
“I hope you don’t suffer from vertigo.”
“No, but I do suffer from this stupid wish to live.”
Tower of Mud and Straw is a novella that wears it influences on its sleeve and in many ways that is exactly what makes it work so well for me. The obvious influences include the USSR and the Cold War era Iron Curtain that Barsukov himself was born behind. There are parallels that can be drawn between the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the politicians of Red Hill and Owenbeg and the race to build the biggest building in history and man it with anti-aircraft weapons to defend against an attack that they are certain will one day come sounds an awful lot like our own worlds’ arms race. All of these things serve to make Tower of Mud and Straw feel real, as if this is not just a fantasy, but something torn from the pages of our own history (or maybe our future).
Barsukov's prose is simply beautiful. It is clever, darkly evocative, and oftentimes reminiscent of some of the genre greats, like Mervyn Peake or Roger Zelazny. In fact, it reads so much like Zelazny that once I nailed down who his writing reminded me of, I had to go to my shelf and take down Nine Princes in Amber just to make sure. I also really enjoyed the way in which Barsukov played with repetition. There are certain threads that are interwoven throughout the whole novella, popping up only a handful of times, that hearken back to similar moments in the story. It was extremely satisfying to come upon these instances of repetition and search back through the text to see how it tied together.
The hound ran to the middle of the street. It barked and leaped in place, snapping its jaws at something it couldn’t quite reach.
For me, the worldbuilding was one area of the novel that left me feeling polarized. On the one hand, Barsukov plays with several really interesting and cleverly written ideas. For instance, the way in which he blends the fantastical elements with those of the mundane. The Drakiri technology is the one major fantastical construct in the story outside of the Drakiri people themselves. It is in many ways the linchpin of the whole story, being the only way in which the tower can be built to the great height they envision for it. However, it is used so sparingly throughout the narrative that when it does pop up, a Drakiri woman leaping from the tower to escape unscathed for instance, it is used to great effect. I really enjoyed this aspect. On the other hand, there was so much left begging to be explored, such as the Drakiri diaspora and culture, or simply the way in which they are discriminated against. And, maybe that is more a failing of the format in which it is presented than the author himself, because when Barsukov gets a chance to stretch his legs and reach his full stride, he is capable of really stirring exploration.
Tower of Mud and Straw feels like a step forward for the genre, while also firmly acknowledging its roots. Like our hero Shea, we all feel at times like we’re constantly reaching for something just out of reach. That promotion, the recognition we feel we deserve, justice. Buried within a gaslamp fantasy story with superhuman beings and anti-gravity technology, Barsukov has written a meditation on what it means to be free, to challenge one’s fate, and what the cost of reaching too high can be.
I’m like a cart on a track, he thought, I’ve got no choice. The only thing I can do is press forward.
“I hope you don’t suffer from vertigo.”
“No, but I do suffer from this stupid wish to live.”
Tower of Mud and Straw is a novella that wears it influences on its sleeve and in many ways that is exactly what makes it work so well for me. The obvious influences include the USSR and the Cold War era Iron Curtain that Barsukov himself was born behind. There are parallels that can be drawn between the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the politicians of Red Hill and Owenbeg and the race to build the biggest building in history and man it with anti-aircraft weapons to defend against an attack that they are certain will one day come sounds an awful lot like our own worlds’ arms race. All of these things serve to make Tower of Mud and Straw feel real, as if this is not just a fantasy, but something torn from the pages of our own history (or maybe our future).
Barsukov's prose is simply beautiful. It is clever, darkly evocative, and oftentimes reminiscent of some of the genre greats, like Mervyn Peake or Roger Zelazny. In fact, it reads so much like Zelazny that once I nailed down who his writing reminded me of, I had to go to my shelf and take down Nine Princes in Amber just to make sure. I also really enjoyed the way in which Barsukov played with repetition. There are certain threads that are interwoven throughout the whole novella, popping up only a handful of times, that hearken back to similar moments in the story. It was extremely satisfying to come upon these instances of repetition and search back through the text to see how it tied together.
The hound ran to the middle of the street. It barked and leaped in place, snapping its jaws at something it couldn’t quite reach.
For me, the worldbuilding was one area of the novel that left me feeling polarized. On the one hand, Barsukov plays with several really interesting and cleverly written ideas. For instance, the way in which he blends the fantastical elements with those of the mundane. The Drakiri technology is the one major fantastical construct in the story outside of the Drakiri people themselves. It is in many ways the linchpin of the whole story, being the only way in which the tower can be built to the great height they envision for it. However, it is used so sparingly throughout the narrative that when it does pop up, a Drakiri woman leaping from the tower to escape unscathed for instance, it is used to great effect. I really enjoyed this aspect. On the other hand, there was so much left begging to be explored, such as the Drakiri diaspora and culture, or simply the way in which they are discriminated against. And, maybe that is more a failing of the format in which it is presented than the author himself, because when Barsukov gets a chance to stretch his legs and reach his full stride, he is capable of really stirring exploration.
Tower of Mud and Straw feels like a step forward for the genre, while also firmly acknowledging its roots. Like our hero Shea, we all feel at times like we’re constantly reaching for something just out of reach. That promotion, the recognition we feel we deserve, justice. Buried within a gaslamp fantasy story with superhuman beings and anti-gravity technology, Barsukov has written a meditation on what it means to be free, to challenge one’s fate, and what the cost of reaching too high can be.
I’m like a cart on a track, he thought, I’ve got no choice. The only thing I can do is press forward.
will_bee's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this Novella. I picked it up when I saw that it was shortlisted for a Nebula and wasn't disappointed, the author very quickly sold me on the concepts and built up a mystery with multiple twists and surprises. My only complaint is, as others have mentioned, it felt a bit too short. Some of the characters needed more room to grow and to allow the tension to build up.
Overall very happy with the read and look forward to see if Barsukov releases a full length book at some point.
Overall very happy with the read and look forward to see if Barsukov releases a full length book at some point.
annakelly's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The plot centers on our main character Shea Ashcroft, who after refusing to gas a group of protestors, is being sent to the farthest reaches of the empire to oversee the construction of an anti-airship tower. This engineering marvel is a matter of pride for the nation, and one the Queen sees as part of her lasting legacy. Shea arrives to find a mysterious (and potentially dangerous) foreign technology being used in the construction, and as a result, he must build up his own set of moral principles which will determine the fate of his career, the tower, and possibly even his life.
This book just showed me that I have been being continuously gaslit for years into believing that a novella will inevitably feel underdeveloped or lacking in some way. I was initially hesitant to pick this up BECAUSE it was classed as a novella and I was afraid I would be left wanting at the end. This was a more developed story, with an interesting plot, and great world-building than I have seen in many fully fleshed out (often 500+ page) novels.
First, as I'm sure others will mention, Barsukov is a fantastic writer. I often found myself rereading sentences simply because I liked the way they sounded. The author has a very fluid writing style without being overly wordy, giving the novella an easy, engaging flow. Some of the most beautiful sections were when Ashcroft would speak to his sister Lena in his mind. Just gorgeous prose all the way through!
As the main protagonist, Shea had an understandable moral dilemma, and it was interesting to watch his resolve waver and ultimately harden over the course of the story. His tragic backstory slowly unwinds for the reader, giving his character added depth and complexity.
The romance in the story jarred me a bit. Not because it didn't fit into the plot, but because I genuinely didn't see it coming and felt like it happened very quickly. While it felt abrupt to me, I wonder upon a reread if I would feel the same way. There are quite a few plot points in these short 200 pages so the hints leading to a romance may have slipped my notice until I was slapped in the face with it!
Overall, great story with fantastic writing that SF/F readers will enjoy. I for one will now be following the author in the hope that he writes a full on novel soon because I loved his writing style that much.
The plot centers on our main character Shea Ashcroft, who after refusing to gas a group of protestors, is being sent to the farthest reaches of the empire to oversee the construction of an anti-airship tower. This engineering marvel is a matter of pride for the nation, and one the Queen sees as part of her lasting legacy. Shea arrives to find a mysterious (and potentially dangerous) foreign technology being used in the construction, and as a result, he must build up his own set of moral principles which will determine the fate of his career, the tower, and possibly even his life.
This book just showed me that I have been being continuously gaslit for years into believing that a novella will inevitably feel underdeveloped or lacking in some way. I was initially hesitant to pick this up BECAUSE it was classed as a novella and I was afraid I would be left wanting at the end. This was a more developed story, with an interesting plot, and great world-building than I have seen in many fully fleshed out (often 500+ page) novels.
First, as I'm sure others will mention, Barsukov is a fantastic writer. I often found myself rereading sentences simply because I liked the way they sounded. The author has a very fluid writing style without being overly wordy, giving the novella an easy, engaging flow. Some of the most beautiful sections were when Ashcroft would speak to his sister Lena in his mind. Just gorgeous prose all the way through!
As the main protagonist, Shea had an understandable moral dilemma, and it was interesting to watch his resolve waver and ultimately harden over the course of the story. His tragic backstory slowly unwinds for the reader, giving his character added depth and complexity.
The romance in the story jarred me a bit. Not because it didn't fit into the plot, but because I genuinely didn't see it coming and felt like it happened very quickly. While it felt abrupt to me, I wonder upon a reread if I would feel the same way. There are quite a few plot points in these short 200 pages so the hints leading to a romance may have slipped my notice until I was slapped in the face with it!
Overall, great story with fantastic writing that SF/F readers will enjoy. I for one will now be following the author in the hope that he writes a full on novel soon because I loved his writing style that much.
booksnacks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Yaroslav Barsukov for the advanced copy of Tower of Mud and Straw. This is a voluntary review.
Wow, this novella packed a world-building punch! Adventure, interesting history, dynamic characters, and a fantastic climax left me smiling. There is a lot of ground covered here in a short amount of time, and it is done well. Throughout Shea's journey, we witness scenes and dialogue of racism, discrimination, and cultural differences that are undercurrents of the political history. The building of the haunting, ominous tower brings these issues to a head as multiple people attempt to sabotage one another for their own gain, or for their cause.
In some ways I wish this novella was longer because I was so interested in the history and I wanted to learn more about the Drakiri. There is a magical, fantastical element at play that wraps into the world so well, but it can be shallow at times because the story is so fast-paced. Some of the characters don't have as much impact because of the length also, and I felt they could have done extremely well if they were fleshed out more. However, Barsukov's writing was beautiful. It was descriptive without being overwhelming, melodic but concise. Very easy to read and enjoy.
Overall this was a story that was easy to fall into. I am looking forward to reading more from Yaroslav Barsukov.
Wow, this novella packed a world-building punch! Adventure, interesting history, dynamic characters, and a fantastic climax left me smiling. There is a lot of ground covered here in a short amount of time, and it is done well. Throughout Shea's journey, we witness scenes and dialogue of racism, discrimination, and cultural differences that are undercurrents of the political history. The building of the haunting, ominous tower brings these issues to a head as multiple people attempt to sabotage one another for their own gain, or for their cause.
In some ways I wish this novella was longer because I was so interested in the history and I wanted to learn more about the Drakiri. There is a magical, fantastical element at play that wraps into the world so well, but it can be shallow at times because the story is so fast-paced. Some of the characters don't have as much impact because of the length also, and I felt they could have done extremely well if they were fleshed out more. However, Barsukov's writing was beautiful. It was descriptive without being overwhelming, melodic but concise. Very easy to read and enjoy.
Overall this was a story that was easy to fall into. I am looking forward to reading more from Yaroslav Barsukov.