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talenyn's review
4.0
This book had all the action that the first installment lacked, but somehow it still felt like a slow burn. Unlike the driving hero narrative of Bear's last trilogy, this one focuses on complex character interactions and motivations. It's the difference between a fantasy YA adventure and an adult rumination on life / social philosophies that just happens to have fantasy plot occurring simultaneously. I appreciate both, but I do wish the plot was centered (and therefore polished) just a smidge more.
katybug25's review
5.0
This sequel was faster paced than the first book in the series, and I loved every minute of it. Elizabeth Bear’s prose is a delight to read. The bits of philosophy and wisdom that come from the characters is captivating, and added to my enjoyment of the novel. The world Bear created is fantastic. We learn a little more on the Alchemical Emperor’s creations, as well as the other lands. I love how imaginative this book is, and the dragon mythology was really interesting. The characters and their relationships were well developed. Mrithuri’s character development was satisfying, and I started liking her more. Sayeh is still one of my favorite characters, as well as the Gage and The Dead Man. I am looking forward to reading the next book (even if I don’t get to it right away).
kiiouex's review
3.0
It was pretty good, but unfortunately also quite Middle Book-y
I appreciate it all the more after slogging through another Richard Morgan novel, and I like the characters and the setting and the prose; but I really missed the Dead-Man-And-Gage friendship from the first novel, and while reading it the feeling that nothing was really going to resolve in time mounted until it was impossible to ignore. There's going to be another book. I'll definitely read that one! But this one was.... book two out of three.
I can appreciate it solved one arc, at least, but I feel like there was a certain amount of Faff and I wish this trilogy could've been a bit tighter
I appreciate it all the more after slogging through another Richard Morgan novel, and I like the characters and the setting and the prose; but I really missed the Dead-Man-And-Gage friendship from the first novel, and while reading it the feeling that nothing was really going to resolve in time mounted until it was impossible to ignore. There's going to be another book. I'll definitely read that one! But this one was.... book two out of three.
I can appreciate it solved one arc, at least, but I feel like there was a certain amount of Faff and I wish this trilogy could've been a bit tighter
onceandfuturelaura's review
3.0
War has come to a shattered empire. One queen holds the magically raised Peacock Throne that only the rightful emperor can ascend. She rules from its shadow. One queen has a shattered city, a poet, a broken leg, and the only rightborn heir in a generation. One king has the pox and the armies. Another has the kidnapped heir. Wizards, or something like them, are stirring them up against each other. There are those beasts that feed on war.
Very much a second book. I enjoyed it, though man, there were too many characters who all had the same voice and it irked me a how much of the story is driven by characters concealing information from each other. Also, I don't know why they sent a cyborg a very long way to talk to a dragon he didn't know was there, why no one told me about nasty extractive industries based on debt slavery, and where all the zombies came from, other than there was world-building to be done.
Very much a second book. I enjoyed it, though man, there were too many characters who all had the same voice and it irked me a how much of the story is driven by characters concealing information from each other. Also, I don't know why they sent a cyborg a very long way to talk to a dragon he didn't know was there, why no one told me about nasty extractive industries based on debt slavery, and where all the zombies came from, other than there was world-building to be done.
ginganinja2507's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
curgoth's review
4.0
Book 2! I think Bear writes some of the best dragons this side of Barbara Hambly or Ursula LeGuin, and I love the radioactive dragons of this setting.
Bear also really digs villains who don't believe themselves to be bad guys, really, and who have clear, understandable motivations, even when they're behaving like monsters.
I also very much want to know what happens next.
Bear also really digs villains who don't believe themselves to be bad guys, really, and who have clear, understandable motivations, even when they're behaving like monsters.
I also very much want to know what happens next.
ju_shi's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5