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lurable's review against another edition
5.0
I have found my new fav author!! I cannot wait to read more of their work. Stunning characters, beautiful language, thought-provoking narratives, I'm still mulling it over days later. Usually, I'd be jumping into a new book, but I cannot stop thinking about this one!
melby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
3.0
Wanted to like it more but the fungi squigged me out haha I needed more explanation before the last ten pages.
bloodmaarked's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
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? Yes
3.0
2024 seems to be a year of being disappointed by works from authors i previously liked… first faridah àbíké-íyímídé with Where Sleeping Girls Lie, then abi daré with And So I Roar, and now rivers solomon with sorrowland. i’d anticipated reading this since having 5-starred An Unkindness of Ghostsback in 2020, but it wasn’t nearly as good. from chapter one i was unimpressed and unfortunately, that just continued throughout the remainder of the book.
✧ full review on my tumblr ✧
✧ full review on my tumblr ✧
lpleitera's review against another edition
3.25
I’m so pleased to have finally read this book! Rivers Solomon is a powerful storyteller, and their ideas are brilliantly original. There was a lot about Sorrowland that I loved. In fact, the first 60% was pitch perfect: meditative and subversive, with gorgeous writing that reminded me of Southern Gothic masterworks.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get along with the resolution when compared to the setup. I don’t think I’m breaking any news when I say that the “shoot-em-up”/action movie climax, to me, did not fit with the rest of the story, thematically or stylistically. BUT the final scene DID leave me feeling quite positive about the book overall.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get along with the resolution when compared to the setup. I don’t think I’m breaking any news when I say that the “shoot-em-up”/action movie climax, to me, did not fit with the rest of the story, thematically or stylistically. BUT the final scene DID leave me feeling quite positive about the book overall.
emwoodley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
sarahboudereads's review against another edition
5.0
Been obsessed with The Deep for years and was disappointed by An Unkindness of Ghosts... Sorrowland, on the other hand, was everything I wanted and more. Riveting, thought provoking, it felt like a beautiful wonderful ethereal fever dream and I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to its characters. Solomon managed to craft my favourite "cult" book and some of my favourite characters of the year in the same story. If I thought at one point that I had guessed what would happen, I was mistaken and it was the best feeling in the world to watch the story unfold.
Rivers Solomon solidifies faer hold on me as a writer for sure - I will read EVERYTHING fae come out with.
Rivers Solomon solidifies faer hold on me as a writer for sure - I will read EVERYTHING fae come out with.
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
There's so MUCH here, so much justified anger at so many things. So much that even I, an older white male, can see how it would be hard to contain in one story. And for me, it did burst out of its container.
Early on, I struggled with the infeasibility of living in the woods with newborn twins. Somehow, as more fantastic elements got added they became easier to accept than the more ordinary stuff.
Vern's development from totally broken is remarkable, and this book deserves praise just for that.
I admired the presentation of deeply crazed people sincerely believing that the ghastly stuff they were doing was GOOD. Relates to Canada's treatment of its indigenous peoples.
As a regular SF/F reader I had no trouble at all with the whole fungus plot., It was well handled.
The pause with Ruthanne just before the climax didn't work for me, perhaps because the "climax" somehow felt as if I watched it all through the wrong end of a telescope. I put the book down not at all clear about exactly how it all ended.
But gosh, still a major work with a huge idea.
Early on, I struggled with the infeasibility of living in the woods with newborn twins. Somehow, as more fantastic elements got added they became easier to accept than the more ordinary stuff.
Vern's development from totally broken is remarkable, and this book deserves praise just for that.
I admired the presentation of deeply crazed people sincerely believing that the ghastly stuff they were doing was GOOD. Relates to Canada's treatment of its indigenous peoples.
As a regular SF/F reader I had no trouble at all with the whole fungus plot., It was well handled.
The pause with Ruthanne just before the climax didn't work for me, perhaps because the "climax" somehow felt as if I watched it all through the wrong end of a telescope. I put the book down not at all clear about exactly how it all ended.
But gosh, still a major work with a huge idea.
acbrummitt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
annastasia_will's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0