Reviews

Ice by Anna Kavan

dllman05's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

f4rce's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

vio_letta's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

sethfromabove's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ashgalwoah's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed Ice, it is a surreal commentary on war, abuse, narratives/perspectives, politics, and environmental disaster. The writing style is dream like, hallucinogenic, and intoxicating. The world is definitely influenced by Vietnam War/WW2, yet in a futuristic dystopian ice hell scape.

My favorite part about Ice was it’s morally ambiguous narrator, it was engaging to grapple with his character, weather he is evil or good, abuser or savior. 

A good read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

paulusm's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

hakimbriki's review against another edition

5.0

Hallucinatory, mesmerizing, engaging, maddening, and lyrical, Ice has to be one of the best reading experiences of my life. It reminded me of stellar drone albums, the likes of Luciferian Towers by Godspeed You! Black Emperor or Monoliths & Dimensions by Sunn O))) in that I derived immense enjoyment from the atmosphere and ambiance of the novel.

Anna Kavan's writing and rhythm is absolutely hypnotic, and the setting, which is my favorite kind of ethereal - fantastical yet not too far-fetched, is at the heart of the evocation of feelings of alienation, rejection, apathy, despair, and resignation. I might have enjoyed this so much because I am sick and feverish at the moment, but wow. 6/5.

ganzfeldstate's review against another edition

I need to process this for a while before I can even rate it! Like nothing else I’ve ever read.

kathyhope_'s review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

drj's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Well, that was weird.