Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

16 reviews

turrean's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.5

I need to know what happened next! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sparklefarm's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Here's what I love about Ann Leckie. Everything I've read from her seems to be the product of her going, Hmm, what well-known assumption can I turn on its head today? In the Imperial Radch series, it's gender. And in The Raven Tower, it's gods. I don't want to say too much to ruin the slow reveal over the course of the book, but I found it so interesting. I'm not sure that the plot ever got where I wanted it to, but I enjoyed the telling. And the main character. And the ending! That's all I'll say.

Audiobook notes - this might have been the one time where Adjoa Andoh had too many voices. But she's so skilled, so I won't begrudge her.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

badbadwolf's review

Go to review page

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

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

iane_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

adelita18's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Each year, my husband and I each pick a book we've read and enjoyed and swap with each other. I love this arrangement because we both have very different tastes in books and it helps us both grow outside our literary comfort zones and sparks some wonderful discussions. "The Raven Tower" was a book my husband gave me to read for 2024. I was shocked at how much I loved this book and thoroughly enjoyed Ann Leckie's narrative style and writing. This book is profound. 

  • I love the two main characters - Eolo and Strength and Patience of the Hills. Both are extremely introspective, thoughtful, reflective, non-reactionary characters. They observe. They wait. They act prudently. They are the calm in the storms around them. 
  • The narrative style was a bit hard for me to grasp at first and buy into but once the plot really began to move and Ms. Leckie began to flesh out the world she created, I found that I loved the narration by Strength and Patience. 
  • Additionally, I loved the motifs and themes throughout the book - the power of words - especially the spoken word, the value of reflection versus reaction, the value of patience, the nature of being and being who you are. 

"The Raven Tower" is exceedingly rich in detail and the layered language, I feel like this is a book I can return to often and still glean new information and insights. The audiobook narration by Adjoa Andoh was spectacular! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hanz's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kryg's review

Go to review page

mysterious reflective slow-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

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bookishlucy's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

secondhandbookshelves's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

3.75

A very slow burn. Things didn't really get moving until 80% of the way through - and at first flipping between the narrator and "you" was very disconcerting. 
Once I got the hang of how it was written.... I still struggled. The entire book is backstory & build up to book two. 
There are many gods in this land, typically they focus on a specific thing (weapons, food, weather, etc) but others are more broad (the Forest protects the town from sickness)
This story follows Strength & Patience of the Hill, who is a rock god & her story over time. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mpbookreviews's review

Go to review page

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

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings