I have been reading novels and comic books for about the same number of decades, and I’ve enjoyed both throughout my reading journey. But I prefer my I have been reading novels and comic books for about the same number of decades, and I’ve enjoyed both throughout my reading journey. But I prefer my novels to read and feel like novels, not comic books, and this novel felt far too much like a comic book in the end.
There are a ton of enjoyable and inventive aspects in this book: Clark’s joy at creating a steampunk version of Cairo that blends magic with early industrial tech is refreshingly infectious. He pokes at and interrogates classism and colonialism and racism in satisfying ways. And he provides ample, empowered space to the women in his tale. But the plot and its many action sequences motor along with both too much shorthand and too little depth, which is what made it feel like a multi-issue comic book arc in the end.
I’m still an admirer of Clark, having enjoyed — but not fallen in love with — his previously-published novellas — and I’m hopeful that he will find ways to infuse his future writing with more emotional depth. As with his other works, the 3-star rating I’m giving this novel isn’t really a grumpy one; there’s too much goodwill and generosity of spirit on display here.
Merged review:
I have been reading novels and comic books for about the same number of decades, and I’ve enjoyed both throughout my reading journey. But I prefer my novels to read and feel like novels, not comic books, and this novel felt far too much like a comic book in the end.
There are a ton of enjoyable and inventive aspects in this book: Clark’s joy at creating a steampunk version of Cairo that blends magic with early industrial tech is refreshingly infectious. He pokes at and interrogates classism and colonialism and racism in satisfying ways. And he provides ample, empowered space to the women in his tale. But the plot and its many action sequences motor along with both too much shorthand and too little depth, which is what made it feel like a multi-issue comic book arc in the end.
I’m still an admirer of Clark, having enjoyed — but not fallen in love with — his previously-published novellas — and I’m hopeful that he will find ways to infuse his future writing with more emotional depth. As with his other works, the 3-star rating I’m giving this novel isn’t really a grumpy one; there’s too much goodwill and generosity of spirit on display here....more
This novel (it’s difficult to believe it’s a first novel, it’s so accomplished) is invigoratingly original, crisply and subtly and wittily written, anThis novel (it’s difficult to believe it’s a first novel, it’s so accomplished) is invigoratingly original, crisply and subtly and wittily written, and features a propulsive narrative peopled by richly drawn characters. I’ll be very much looking forward to reading its sequel(s) upon release.
Merged review:
This novel (it’s difficult to believe it’s a first novel, it’s so accomplished) is invigoratingly original, crisply and subtly and wittily written, and features a propulsive narrative peopled by richly drawn characters. I’ll be very much looking forward to reading its sequel(s) upon release....more
There is a great deal to admire about this ambitious novel: its central characters are vividly drawn, complex, and satisfyingly larger than life. ParkThere is a great deal to admire about this ambitious novel: its central characters are vividly drawn, complex, and satisfyingly larger than life. Parker-Chan’s sense of place is authentic. And the genderqueer themes are a welcome presence in the landscape of mainstream fantasy literature. Where this book falls short for me is in its many chapters of palace and court intrigue; the inclusion of a vast cast of supporting players makes following the twisting threads of betrayals and shifting loyalties challenging and murky.
Still, over all, I’m glad to have spent time following this tale, and I’ll be interested to see its development in future installments.
Merged review:
There is a great deal to admire about this ambitious novel: its central characters are vividly drawn, complex, and satisfyingly larger than life. Parker-Chan’s sense of place is authentic. And the genderqueer themes are a welcome presence in the landscape of mainstream fantasy literature. Where this book falls short for me is in its many chapters of palace and court intrigue; the inclusion of a vast cast of supporting players makes following the twisting threads of betrayals and shifting loyalties challenging and murky.
Still, over all, I’m glad to have spent time following this tale, and I’ll be interested to see its development in future installments....more
This book started out promisingly, with a breezy style and a welcome exploration of class differences as told in a fantasy setting. And its central chThis book started out promisingly, with a breezy style and a welcome exploration of class differences as told in a fantasy setting. And its central characters felt fresh and alive.
But as it wore on, it became clear that Canavan had almost no sense of dramatic tension or plot momentum, and a tedium set in that, coupled with mounting excessive cliches such as all characters sighing multiple times on a page, made me resist picking up the book, until at long last I finished it.
Ah well, another popular fantasy selection that I read because it was voted up by the SF and Fantasy Book Club goes into my growing pile of two-star reads. ...more
This is the third piece of Moreno-Garcia’s writing I’ve read, and as with the other two, I found myself alternating between being entertained and frusThis is the third piece of Moreno-Garcia’s writing I’ve read, and as with the other two, I found myself alternating between being entertained and frustrated. There is certainly a great amount of imagination and commitment to her vision on display here, and the various dreams and hallucinations she describes in this novel feature some of her very best sentence-to-sentence writing. But all too often, she falls into the traps of signposting and explaining and infodumping, which all serve to take me out of the spell she’s casting.
This wound up being a fairly absorbing, enjoyably creepy, but frustrating read. ...more
This is an intriguing, emotionally chilly exploration of the theory of the multiverse, and of how class differences are also in some ways manifestatioThis is an intriguing, emotionally chilly exploration of the theory of the multiverse, and of how class differences are also in some ways manifestations of parallel universes.
I was always kept at an arm’s length from being emotionally engaged as much as I think Johnson was hoping her readers would be, which is what ticked down the rating a notch.
But she’s an assured, inventive writer with a lot on her mind, and I’ll definitely follow her career with interest. ...more
I really enjoyed this a lot. Its subtle, lyrical, allegorical prose; its hopefulness; it’s humor; and its inventiveness were all extremely welcome. I I really enjoyed this a lot. Its subtle, lyrical, allegorical prose; its hopefulness; it’s humor; and its inventiveness were all extremely welcome. I look forward to seeking out more of Tidhar’s work. ...more
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to read a book centered around indigenous characters, and II really wanted to like this book more than I did. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to read a book centered around indigenous characters, and I’m glad that this novel has been met with popularity and acclaim. I hope that its success helps more such stories to be published.
I just found the plotting to be a bit stilted and predictable, especially the obligatory teen romance subplot. And when a book is written in first person, I want the voice of the narrator to feel alive and distinctive, but this voice felt both overly literary and sort of bland to me.
I find its premise to be an intriguing one, and I applaud the author’s ability to be unflinching in her portrayal of the degradation and commodification of indigenous peoples at the hands of colonizers. It’s gratifying that the characters here are wonderfully empowered and connected to their culture and people in very meaningful ways.
I just wanted to be swept away by all of it, and I wasn’t, but I did find it to be an interesting read in many ways.
This is, quite simply, a gorgeously written, wildly imaginative, and beautifully constructed novel. I’ve been longing to find a contemporary work of fThis is, quite simply, a gorgeously written, wildly imaginative, and beautifully constructed novel. I’ve been longing to find a contemporary work of fantasy literature that would impress and inspire me to this degree, and the hugely gifted Simon Jimenez has done so, with a confidence and daring and heady romanticism that soars.
I will read everything that he writes from here on out. ...more
This a delightful book in many ways: Jones allowed her quirky, flawed characters to live and breathe in their own quirky, flawed ways; and she refreshThis a delightful book in many ways: Jones allowed her quirky, flawed characters to live and breathe in their own quirky, flawed ways; and she refreshingly plowed forward with her inventive, whimsical ideas about magic and multiple dimensions of reality without any belabored signposting or irritating exposition. I just wished this novel’s narrative engine were a bit sharper in focus and momentum, which would have ticked up my rating a notch. The castle and the characters sure do move around a lot, but it’s hard to feel the threads that bind them all together are indeed pushing them forward through a plot that really feels earned. And therefore what happens to them, even when they are in some sort of apparent jeopardy, never really lands with any stakes.
But I was indeed charmed by these characters, and I believed in them, which sadly is an all-too-rare occurrence with many fantasy novels. So even though I didn’t fall in love with this book, I’m glad to have acquainted myself with such a well-regarded and beloved writer’s work. ...more
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