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kitsuneheart's review
1.0
How to tell if I don't like a book: I sell it.
I sold this book. Without a thought.
I did put in the effort to read it all the way through, but it took YEARS. Other books I zipped through, picking this one up to read five pages here, ten there. It was a struggle, and I was glad to be done, because there's just so much I didn't like.
I had been intrigued by the notion of a steampunk Inuit story, but there is nothing really steampunk here, and Inuit is skirted by renaming the lead female's tribe to be the Aniw. It's all sort of American West with the serial numbers filed off, with the lead male being a military man involved in the settling of new lands, fighting against the already settled native population.
There's just too many events and not enough character development. I wasn't ever able to get invested in the characters. Surely better things could have been done with this concept, but every possible note was missed.
I sold this book. Without a thought.
I did put in the effort to read it all the way through, but it took YEARS. Other books I zipped through, picking this one up to read five pages here, ten there. It was a struggle, and I was glad to be done, because there's just so much I didn't like.
I had been intrigued by the notion of a steampunk Inuit story, but there is nothing really steampunk here, and Inuit is skirted by renaming the lead female's tribe to be the Aniw. It's all sort of American West with the serial numbers filed off, with the lead male being a military man involved in the settling of new lands, fighting against the already settled native population.
There's just too many events and not enough character development. I wasn't ever able to get invested in the characters. Surely better things could have been done with this concept, but every possible note was missed.
andrewliptak's review
4.0
In the summer of 2002, my friend Sam Gallagher passed me a copy of a book that he had just read, Warchild, by Karin Lowachee, which I read through quickly, and really enjoyed – I blew through the next two books in the trilogy, Burndive and Cagebird, both of which were fun reads, but nothing that really inspired me like the first one. I ended up buying a couple of copies of the book, passing one along to a college friend who shared a mutual interest in science fiction books. Then, Karin fell off the map, and for a while, I wondered if the Warchild trilogy had been a fluke. It had won a number of nominations, and it would have seemed that Lowachee was going to become one of those bigger names in the Science Fiction genre.
Karin is back this year, after a multiple year break, with The Gaslight Dogs, a fantasy/historical novel that is the first of a proposed trilogy set in an interesting new world. Captured after murdering a Kabwi soldier, a spiritwalker named Sjennonirk is compelled to teach her people’s abilities to an officer in the southern people’s army – Captain Jarrett Fawle, the son of a prominent general. The Fawle family has some secrets, and as events transpire, the younger Fawle carries the same abilities that Sjenn carries: the ability to contain part of one’s more wild side or spirit into a physical manifestation – The Dog.
Over the course of this story, Sjenn, the reluctant prisoner and teacher demonstrates and teaches Jarrett about these specific abilities, something that his father intends to wield as a sort of weapon within his army. Over the course of the story comes with it a twisted plot of familial history and drama, multi-cultural issues and the central issue of the responsibilities of power. Lowachee puts together an interesting tale that is in need of its follow up novels, with a compelling world and characters to go along with it.
We’ve seen both with Lowachee’s books: a strong sense for building worlds permeated her Warchild novels, creating a plausible space culture, in all of its different facets. The same carries over very well with the change of genre here, where Inuit culture and the historical conquest of the North American continent really informs the world that has been set up. If anything, the novel provides a great change in venue away from the typical European settings in which most fantasy novels seem to be laid down in. Lowachee deserves praise for adapting the historical elements of real life into her fictional novel so seamlessly.
One of the main elements that really stands out for me is just how stripped down and stark this novel feels for a sort of speculative fiction entry: Karin uses her magic sparingly, pushing to the roots of what are likely mythological or other stories in the real world, but leaving the magic for specific instances: The Calling of the Dog, for example, is one of the few instances in which magic or supernatural forces are at work here, and honestly, the book works much better for those efforts: it feels, as a whole, far more realistic.
The sparse use of magic provides the backdrop for some of the more pressing matters in the book: the characters. Sjenn, General and Captain Fawle and the numerous supporting characters that appear throughout the book, each with their own motivations and objectives, which play out over the book. Sjenn is attempting to figure out her surroundings and get back to her people (although only slightly, which confused me a little), Jarrett is torn between his duty between his family and military duties, while General Fawle seems to be bent on acquiring power, no matter what is in his way.
There’s clearly a good sense here that characters really make the story here, and for the most part, that’s true. There were times when character reactions felt a bit forced (Jarrett’s drinking/rebelling against his father) and character actions were a bit unclear, and there were points where a character simply vanished for most of the book. A glossary / character list would have been a bit helpful, but those are superficial matters.
The Gaslight Dogs represents a solid comeback for Lowachee and her fantastic prose. It’s been a very long wait indeed for her books, but not only was it worth it, it was worth it to see that she didn’t try and do something over again, testing new ground and stories, which makes me more interested in a follow up novel.
Karin is back this year, after a multiple year break, with The Gaslight Dogs, a fantasy/historical novel that is the first of a proposed trilogy set in an interesting new world. Captured after murdering a Kabwi soldier, a spiritwalker named Sjennonirk is compelled to teach her people’s abilities to an officer in the southern people’s army – Captain Jarrett Fawle, the son of a prominent general. The Fawle family has some secrets, and as events transpire, the younger Fawle carries the same abilities that Sjenn carries: the ability to contain part of one’s more wild side or spirit into a physical manifestation – The Dog.
Over the course of this story, Sjenn, the reluctant prisoner and teacher demonstrates and teaches Jarrett about these specific abilities, something that his father intends to wield as a sort of weapon within his army. Over the course of the story comes with it a twisted plot of familial history and drama, multi-cultural issues and the central issue of the responsibilities of power. Lowachee puts together an interesting tale that is in need of its follow up novels, with a compelling world and characters to go along with it.
We’ve seen both with Lowachee’s books: a strong sense for building worlds permeated her Warchild novels, creating a plausible space culture, in all of its different facets. The same carries over very well with the change of genre here, where Inuit culture and the historical conquest of the North American continent really informs the world that has been set up. If anything, the novel provides a great change in venue away from the typical European settings in which most fantasy novels seem to be laid down in. Lowachee deserves praise for adapting the historical elements of real life into her fictional novel so seamlessly.
One of the main elements that really stands out for me is just how stripped down and stark this novel feels for a sort of speculative fiction entry: Karin uses her magic sparingly, pushing to the roots of what are likely mythological or other stories in the real world, but leaving the magic for specific instances: The Calling of the Dog, for example, is one of the few instances in which magic or supernatural forces are at work here, and honestly, the book works much better for those efforts: it feels, as a whole, far more realistic.
The sparse use of magic provides the backdrop for some of the more pressing matters in the book: the characters. Sjenn, General and Captain Fawle and the numerous supporting characters that appear throughout the book, each with their own motivations and objectives, which play out over the book. Sjenn is attempting to figure out her surroundings and get back to her people (although only slightly, which confused me a little), Jarrett is torn between his duty between his family and military duties, while General Fawle seems to be bent on acquiring power, no matter what is in his way.
There’s clearly a good sense here that characters really make the story here, and for the most part, that’s true. There were times when character reactions felt a bit forced (Jarrett’s drinking/rebelling against his father) and character actions were a bit unclear, and there were points where a character simply vanished for most of the book. A glossary / character list would have been a bit helpful, but those are superficial matters.
The Gaslight Dogs represents a solid comeback for Lowachee and her fantastic prose. It’s been a very long wait indeed for her books, but not only was it worth it, it was worth it to see that she didn’t try and do something over again, testing new ground and stories, which makes me more interested in a follow up novel.
megatsunami's review
3.0
Points for originality. The writing style was original (although occasionally somewhat opaque), and I appreciated that the story didn't go where I thought it was going. At all.
Downsides: The characters spent a lot of time being despairing and desperate, which was not very appealing. Also, despite the promising setup, I didn't feel the book really explored issues of colonialism, genocide, and culture clash in a whole lot of depth. It felt like a lot of plot points were left undeveloped. And the ending was abrupt and felt unfinished.
Still, it was an intriguing read and I'd definitely read something else by this author.
Downsides: The characters spent a lot of time being despairing and desperate, which was not very appealing. Also, despite the promising setup, I didn't feel the book really explored issues of colonialism, genocide, and culture clash in a whole lot of depth. It felt like a lot of plot points were left undeveloped. And the ending was abrupt and felt unfinished.
Still, it was an intriguing read and I'd definitely read something else by this author.
kblincoln's review
3.0
For me Gaslight Dogs was a study in contradictions. The writing, poetical throughout, sometimes got on my nerves with the vagueness of it. The characters, while completely and totally believable and real, never reached out and put their hands into my chest and squeezed my heart, despite their circumstances.
The story, while interesting, never quite seemed to understand where it was going.
The story starts with a Aniw (think inuit) girl taken forcibly from her village for killing a soldier who broke into her home and may or may not have tried to rape her (the vagueness of what he was doing sets the theme for the entire story). A general of the western-analog people (the soldiers) has learned of the spirit dogs that the Aniw can call upon and will force the girl to teach his son about Calling them.
But the son, a captain in the army, doesn't want to learn. And mixed up in this are multiple currents regarding colonialism, appropriation, racism, and prejudice.
Those parts were very interesting, indeed, and while I never felt close to the girl or the captain, I did care what happened to them.
Where my frustration lay was in the lack of activism the girl seemed to have (granted she was imprisoned and far from her tundra home, but she just went along with everything) as well as the captain. And, disappointingly enough, the story never quite resolves the issues of her exile, the captain's spirit dog, the war their cultures are having, or how they will escape the general's nefarious plans. At the end, the story peters out and we're left with the two main characters riding off into the wilds in different directions. Very unsatisfying and not at all the kind of payoff I wanted after spending so much time in their angst and thoughts.
As a contemplative book on themes of prejudice and colonialism, Gaslight Dogs is a winner. As a full-formed narrative, look somewhere else.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Those single slices of layer cake you find wrapped up at the grocery store that look so good and rich but when you open it and put it in your mouth it turns out to be not at all the taste you were looking for.
The story, while interesting, never quite seemed to understand where it was going.
The story starts with a Aniw (think inuit) girl taken forcibly from her village for killing a soldier who broke into her home and may or may not have tried to rape her (the vagueness of what he was doing sets the theme for the entire story). A general of the western-analog people (the soldiers) has learned of the spirit dogs that the Aniw can call upon and will force the girl to teach his son about Calling them.
But the son, a captain in the army, doesn't want to learn. And mixed up in this are multiple currents regarding colonialism, appropriation, racism, and prejudice.
Those parts were very interesting, indeed, and while I never felt close to the girl or the captain, I did care what happened to them.
Where my frustration lay was in the lack of activism the girl seemed to have (granted she was imprisoned and far from her tundra home, but she just went along with everything) as well as the captain. And, disappointingly enough, the story never quite resolves the issues of her exile, the captain's spirit dog, the war their cultures are having, or how they will escape the general's nefarious plans. At the end, the story peters out and we're left with the two main characters riding off into the wilds in different directions. Very unsatisfying and not at all the kind of payoff I wanted after spending so much time in their angst and thoughts.
As a contemplative book on themes of prejudice and colonialism, Gaslight Dogs is a winner. As a full-formed narrative, look somewhere else.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Those single slices of layer cake you find wrapped up at the grocery store that look so good and rich but when you open it and put it in your mouth it turns out to be not at all the taste you were looking for.
asides3's review
3.0
I really had issues with this book. I fought to even like the characters presented and even now that I have finished it I cannot even really say that I enjoyed the book. There was so much back story that was hinted at but never explained that I finished the book more frustrated than satisfied. Every character in the book seems to be abused and used by everyone around them with little to no support. It makes for a depressing read.
megmcardle's review
3.0
Didn't quite hang together for me, despite the unique setting reminiscent of native Inuit lands, and the interesting "primitive" system of magic. Occasionally the language was overly baroque and there was an awkward simile (the "pay attention to me I'm a pretty turn of phrase" thing jarred me out of the story a couple of times), and I found the story and especially the ending unsatisfying. The characters just didn't have enough depth for me. I would not rule out giving this author another try, but this just didn't work for me.
vaxis's review
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
susanneanne's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kiramke's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, as I fully support the idea. Unfortunately it has some serious pacing issues. The first third drags and could have been condensed to maybe two chapters without any loss. The ending however rushes forward, and while it doesn't quite end in a cliffhanger, very little is resolved but instead sets up the second book (which doesn't exist). I find all that disappointing. More than that, though, most of the characters aren't very dimensional or appealing, so it's hard to struggle through the dragging. Nothing that sparked my interest ended up being fully developed in the story itself. Maybe a better read for someone who likes a different style than I do.