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meanieinspace's review
4.5
Admirably violent, only the resolution in the final book of the series is a bit too clean for my taste.
indefinitelyme_reads's review
3.0
Aggressive world building, no romance. The world is vast there are many differencing races, magic, politics going on. War may be coming. All in all i did not enjoy it felt very heavy as the world building and than there was mention of marriage but not romance aside from one character saying she would rather be home F**** he husband.
claire_loves_books's review
1.0
I actually only got about a third of the way through the book before giving up, I wasn't enjoying it much and just found all the different characters, cultures and worlds really confusing, but the thing that made me put the book down was the sexual abuse/violence and rape, the fact that it was women doing this to men rather than men abusing women doesn't make it any better, I still can't respect or root for anybody who abuses another person in such a manner.
lesbrary's review
4.0
The Worldbreaker Saga is a brutal, brilliant series. It is emphatically queer: it examines gender and sexuality from multiple angles, polyamorous configurations of genders are the norm for relationships, there are multiple non-binary point of view characters, and the main character is attracted to women. It boasts a huge cast of point of view characters and an ever-expanding setting made up of distinct, detailed cultures. It is complex and ambitious, and it challenged me at every turn. This is grimdark epic fantasy, so it’s far from a comfortable read–but it’s so very worth it.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
5.0
The Mirror Empire is that rarest of fantasy beasties – a successful mainstream epic fantasy that is also boldly, brashly, and brazenly diverse.
It all begins with a harsh, post-apocalyptic fantasy universe that is fully aware of its own mirror worlds. These are not just mirror worlds into which individuals accidentally slip, but worlds that wage war upon one another to survive the latest apocalyptic cycle. What is really interesting here is that everyone has a mirror counterpart, with whom they cannot coexist, leading to a sometimes confusing game of murder and usurpation. Most of the conflict centres upon a pacifist empire known as the Dhai, which just happens to be situated on the marching path of mirror conquerors.
As for that post-apocalyptic fantasy landscape, there is a strong theme of environmental awareness buried within it. Kameron Hurley avoids any long-winded speeches about the madness of foolishness of humanity, and does not bore the reader with details about we destroyed the world. Instead, she moves past all that, simply acknowledges that it happened, and shows us just how resilient –and vengeful – nature can be. This is a hostile environment with which humanity is constantly at war, fighting back carnivorous vegetation, including ‘bone trees’ that incorporate human bone shards into their bark.
In terms of gender, gender roles, and sexuality, this is certainly the most diverse epic fantasy I have ever encountered. Gender is as much about roles as it is biology, with both passive and assertive males and females, as well as truly gender fluid individuals. I found myself confused by the diversity of pronouns at times, so I can only imagine how a mainstream reader might feel. Despites those gender differences, this is largely a world of matriarchal societies, where masculine rulers are almost unheard of, and the very idea of a male warrior is laughed at. It is the women who make the decisions, who fight the battles, and who enjoy the spoils. Assertive men generally serve as clerics and scribes, while passive men serve as the equivalent of the stereotypical housewife, performing domestic chores and providing sexual release for their polyamorous marriage partners.
Despite the diversity and the imagination involved here, this is a very dark and very violent epic fantasy. Kameron Hurley ploughs through her story about as quickly, almost dragging the reader along in her wake, so that we do not truly appreciate what she has accomplished until the very end. There are a lot of characters and a lot of points-of-view, which only adds to the confusion, but it does personalize much of the diversity and really allow us to experience the world of the Worldbreaker Saga.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/the-mirror-empire-by-kameron-hurley/
It all begins with a harsh, post-apocalyptic fantasy universe that is fully aware of its own mirror worlds. These are not just mirror worlds into which individuals accidentally slip, but worlds that wage war upon one another to survive the latest apocalyptic cycle. What is really interesting here is that everyone has a mirror counterpart, with whom they cannot coexist, leading to a sometimes confusing game of murder and usurpation. Most of the conflict centres upon a pacifist empire known as the Dhai, which just happens to be situated on the marching path of mirror conquerors.
As for that post-apocalyptic fantasy landscape, there is a strong theme of environmental awareness buried within it. Kameron Hurley avoids any long-winded speeches about the madness of foolishness of humanity, and does not bore the reader with details about we destroyed the world. Instead, she moves past all that, simply acknowledges that it happened, and shows us just how resilient –and vengeful – nature can be. This is a hostile environment with which humanity is constantly at war, fighting back carnivorous vegetation, including ‘bone trees’ that incorporate human bone shards into their bark.
In terms of gender, gender roles, and sexuality, this is certainly the most diverse epic fantasy I have ever encountered. Gender is as much about roles as it is biology, with both passive and assertive males and females, as well as truly gender fluid individuals. I found myself confused by the diversity of pronouns at times, so I can only imagine how a mainstream reader might feel. Despites those gender differences, this is largely a world of matriarchal societies, where masculine rulers are almost unheard of, and the very idea of a male warrior is laughed at. It is the women who make the decisions, who fight the battles, and who enjoy the spoils. Assertive men generally serve as clerics and scribes, while passive men serve as the equivalent of the stereotypical housewife, performing domestic chores and providing sexual release for their polyamorous marriage partners.
Despite the diversity and the imagination involved here, this is a very dark and very violent epic fantasy. Kameron Hurley ploughs through her story about as quickly, almost dragging the reader along in her wake, so that we do not truly appreciate what she has accomplished until the very end. There are a lot of characters and a lot of points-of-view, which only adds to the confusion, but it does personalize much of the diversity and really allow us to experience the world of the Worldbreaker Saga.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/the-mirror-empire-by-kameron-hurley/
fantasyfunk's review
2.0
I had a really hard time getting into this book. I put it down and stepped away for awhile. Everything was so different, names and cultures, that it was really hard to understand what was going on.
Finally I began to like enough of the characters that I could make it through the chapters of the characters I wasn't as big a fan of. Although saying I ever liked any of the characters might be generous. I don't think I really connected or felt like there was a character I couldn't wait to read about. It was more of a "oh at least I remember who this person is/what they're doing and why."
I don't know that I can say I every really truly understood the different cultures but it did get easier to have an idea in my head as time went on. Granted I was definitely in probably the last 1/3 before I was had an "oh!" moment to realize at least how the kingdoms were connected. I spent far too much time lost and just sort of reading it to get through it than being excited.
I can see why people were excited for this book and it got the reviews it did. It just didn't do it for me.
Finally I began to like enough of the characters that I could make it through the chapters of the characters I wasn't as big a fan of. Although saying I ever liked any of the characters might be generous. I don't think I really connected or felt like there was a character I couldn't wait to read about. It was more of a "oh at least I remember who this person is/what they're doing and why."
I don't know that I can say I every really truly understood the different cultures but it did get easier to have an idea in my head as time went on. Granted I was definitely in probably the last 1/3 before I was had an "oh!" moment to realize at least how the kingdoms were connected. I spent far too much time lost and just sort of reading it to get through it than being excited.
I can see why people were excited for this book and it got the reviews it did. It just didn't do it for me.
cameronkc's review
2.0
OK. The story is interesting. I like the characters and the world that Hurley has created. I feel like I could read a multi-book series about it...except there are some issues I have. You may get it. I struggled with a number of issues, mostly who was a male/female/both, who was attracted to whom, do people still have kids? Is everyone polyamorous in the future? It was discussed but so briefly I was unable to get a good hold on who was what. I also didn't understand the "satellite" reference. Were those starts, did they love astrology, are they satellites? Is this post-apocalyptic? How long have gifted people been around? There was enough confusion that I struggled to read through much of the book. I did like the last few chapters thou.
rocketiza's review against another edition
1.0
Gave it a hundred pages and was kind of able to follow the characters but had no idea of the ranks and relationships and didn't see that changing soon enough to enjoy the book.