The -.25 is only because some of the story was skipped a little, but it was still brilliant. WangXian are everything! I can't wait for the rest 4.75/5
The -.25 is only because some of the story was skipped a little, but it was still brilliant. WangXian are everything! I can't wait for the rest of the novel to be adapted....more
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
I absolutely adored every aspect of this play! I don't want to start writing an anal4.5/5
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
I absolutely adored every aspect of this play! I don't want to start writing an analysis because I will literally never stop and this review will end up going on for paragraphs upon paragraphs upon paragraphs. But what I will say is this; Julius Caesar has such a large cast of complex and intriguing characters that make every line of the play dynamic and interesting. The themes within the play (although in some ways subtler than in other Shakespeare tragedies) are incredibly compelling and engrossing.
Every character has their own distinctive motivations and ways in which they present these motivations. The characters in this play are skilled at hiding from you and presenting varying, conflicting sides of their personalities. The omens they interpret and refuse to interpret are fascinating, their moralities are fascinating, and their perceptions of their moralities are fascinating too.
What I love about Julius Caesar is that it holds more complicated characterisations than the classic Shakespeare play does. There is no blatant evil. There is not even a character that is so simply defined as our villain. Of course, there are the assignations of these roles, however I think they are far more complicated and interesting to debate.
The themes of power and how different characters acquire, maintain, and are stripped of power was captivating. I want to read and reread this play over and over again. My favourite theme, however, was a theme that I have always adored—fate vs free will. It was extremely thought-provoking as it peeked through the cracks of every character. I loved how it was shown which of these forces each character believed was the greater through their actions. I loved the use of omens, supernatural forces and natural destruction that enforced these ideas.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.
I thought Brutus a unique (tragic) hero and all the other characters unique in their roles, as I mentioned before. This factor was definitely one that I found completely absorbing as I read. Again, I don't want this to turn into an essay, so I'm not going to delve into each character and discuss them in depth, but just know how well-crafted every aspect truly is.
Et tu, Brute?
As is evident, I found this play immensely fascinating in so many ways and I had a great time reading it. I connected with a vast range of the characters, there was never a dull scene, every moment held weight, and the writing was (as always) beautiful.
Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come....more
Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back.
This was amazing! I cannot properly express 4.75/5
Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back.
This was amazing! I cannot properly express how much I adored, adored, adored this book! I enjoyed Bookshops & Bonedust even more than Legends & Lattes (which I also loved so, so much)! The characters, the town of Murk, the bookshop, the pure comfort this story exudes. Everything was phenomenal and so delightfully atmospheric!
Our beloved orc, Viv, gets injured whilst her and the other mercenaries are pursuing a powerful necromancer. Unable to fight on her injured leg, she resides for a while in the seaside town of Murk so that she can have a (supposedly) peaceful recovery. Here we meet a loving and lively cast of characters, all with their own interesting lives and stories.
Viv is younger in this book (as it is a prequel to Legends & Lattes) and I liked seeing a more reckless and youthful side of her, but she is still very much the Viv we know and love. This story adds so much to Legends & Lattes and to what we know lies in Viv's future. It attaches a fascinating history to her as each person she comes across in Murk changes her, some only in little ways, others in big ones. (Fern and Potroast, the gryphet, quickly became favourites of mine!)
Sometimes, it'll never be the right time. And sometimes, we aren't the right people yet.
This book perfectly balances the cosiness and the adventure. It definitely has higher stakes and more conflict than in L&L yet it never loses that great sense of comfort that both books nurture. That is the one thing I could say over and over and over again about this book; it is astoundingly comforting. I loved all the community of Murk, every single character brought such life to it. And, for me, a bookshop is the ultimate place of comfort. There could have been no better setting for this story. Travis Baldree is the master of making his books feel like a warm hug.
"Then why does this have to be the end of it?" "Because I'm headed down the hill, and you're headed up it. I'm just glad we chanced to meet on the way."
I adored how storytelling was used in this book, I loved how many bibliophiles there were in it. It's very simply a story for those who love books. It's a story about connections and growth and the hopeful yet sorrowful echoes of what is yet to come. It's about finding a home and knowing that you'll have to leave it. It's about having the knowledge that leaving, that closing the book, doesn't mean that the story is over. Endings are not always the end. Your story goes on.
This was such a wholesome and sweet book. I was hooked all throughout, I never wanted to put it down. It's the type of story you simultaneously want to devour and want to make last forever. If I could be enveloped in this story for all my days, I would be! It's as simple as that. Please let my praises stir you so that you go and pick up a copy in November when it's out! It's worth it a million times over. Please never stop writing, Travis Baldree!
See you in the story past the story.
Thank you Pan Macmillan for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review....more
People make gods, and, for better or worse, gods make people.
I absolutely adored everything about this book, it was phenomenal! The world wa4.75/5
People make gods, and, for better or worse, gods make people.
I absolutely adored everything about this book, it was phenomenal! The world was so vibrant and alive, teeming with history and ancient beings; the characters were so real and human, always flawed and always interesting; the prose was beautiful and evocative. I simply cannot fault it!
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This review has been postponed in support of the HarperCollins Union Strike. Congratulations to the union!
The world was so rich, flooded with possibilities, unique faiths and conflicting ideals that stirred intrigue and seeded mysteries throughout the story. From the very first page, I was completely immersed within it and felt its life as it lived and breathed all around me. Kaner’s prose was so mesmerising and emotional, it enthralled my every thought and I never wanted to put this book down. I’m astounded that this was a debut, it’s easily one of my favourite books I’ve read this year.
Funerals are for the living. The dead don't mind what the world does to them.
The characters were, to sum them up very plainly, incredible. They each were so fleshed out, with their own intriguing motivations and journeys, their own complicated and ensnaring relationships, their own beliefs and fears and treacheries. They were created so flawlessly that they felt less like creations, less like characters on a page, and more akin to humans. And I loved each and every one of them!
Kissen is a perfect main character, a perfect driving force throughout this story. She’s a veiga, a godkiller, in a world brimming with gods of old and new. She has ghosts that haunt her, the flames of her past contending with the brightness of the future beneath the ever-watching eye of the sun. She has a purpose in her life that directs her across this wide world, but all that changes when she meets Inara.
Inara is a young girl with mysterious powers and a magical friend (who, I would say, definitely counts as an animal companion). She wants answers to the secrets she has had to keep for years, she wants to understand her place in the world and perhaps create a new one. She goes to Kissen for answers and discovers more than she ever would have guessed.
Inara and Kissen’s relationship is so beautiful to behold and watch as it grows and contorts, fitting around old wounds and scars, shifting amongst their newfound care and shared resilience. It’s a relationship that parallels and reminds me of Geralt and Ciri in the Witcher, a bond of family that refuses to break. Kissen and Inara are also similar characters to Geralt and Ciri respectively, and this story holds the same comfort that the world of the Witcher does—a warmth of familiarity that makes it feel like coming home to a place you never wanted to leave.
Another of our main characters is a retired knight named Elogast. I love the ‘retired warrior must pick up his sword one final time’ trope and so I also loved seeing it here. He’s a disillusioned ex-knight, wearing the scars of his battles on his skin. But his worst scars are the ones that lie deep within, on the shards of his memories. He makes an unlikely traveller on the roads and an even more unlikely companion to Kissen and Inara as they travel to the ruins of a city—each with their own compelling motivations.
Even small lives are worth something.
The plot takes us on a winding adventure rooted in a world overflowing with magic. It’s unputdownable and so much fun to read. I cannot wait for the next book and I will fight anyone I must to get my hands on it!
- (1/12/23 I've now reread in anticipation for Sunbringer, the sequel, and I loved it just as much, maybe even more, the second time! This is such a phenomenal book, I adore all the characters, the world is so vibrant and the story is so comforting. I can't wait to read my arc of Sunbringer! If you haven't already, GO READ THIS BOOK!)...more
4.75/5 Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED this book! First and foremost, I h4.75/5 Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED this book! First and foremost, I have never felt so instantly comforted by a story or by the characters within a story, this has without a doubt firmly secured a special place in my heart. Every single character was likeable, every single one! This book is very obviously a character-driven story and I loved that so much (we still have another fun main plot carrying us through the story, but the core plot focuses on the characters that drive it) they're all complex people with desires and fears, they all have complicated relationships. I could happily read a 500k word book of all the characters just in a room talking, they're that likeable! This story ventured into every corner of my heart, it made me laugh and cry and giggle (yes, giggle) and I loved every single moment of it. There is quite literally not a single part of this story that I didn't enjoy. One of the main characters (Kadou) has chronic anxiety and I thought it was done perfectly. A lot of the time, when books have a focus on mental illness, they try to show it in all its horrors, but in doing so only make it distressing and triggering. A Taste of Gold and Iron shows the realities but without making it into something distressing to read about, yet still tugging at your heart. In fantasy, without the label of 'anxiety', it is harder still to delve into it in such depth, but Rowland does a fantastic job. They separate it, with effortlessly beautiful words, as a medical condition (but of the mind) and prove to us, the reader, and to the other characters in the book that it isn't cowardice or weakness. I cannot explain in my flimsy words how incredibly it's done, so I guess you'll just have to go and read it! There were old sea captains who could read the weather just by the taste of the wind, who could predict a storm when there wasn't a cloud in the sky. He could taste a storm on the wind right now with the way he was worrying, and he could already tell he was set to have a very rough evening of it unless he found some way to avert the oncoming tempest. He could all but hear the growl of that old familiar fear-creature lurking in the back of his mind, feel it like the tremor of exhausted muscles, like the ache of a nearly faded bruise. The writing itself is phenomenal, there are paragraphs upon paragraphs of gorgeous descriptions of stunning sights and heart-wrenching moments. Every line made me feel something. There is so much queer and genderqueer rep that is normalised in the world and it made me so very happy to read about. The main relationship is an achillean, enemies-to-lovers, bodyguard romance... Literally what more could you ever possibly want? I love slow-burn romances full of yearning and this book delivered in every way. Their story was truly beautiful to read about and I adored watching it all unravel and become something far too great to ever just be ink on paper. This story grew in my heart into something greater than itself and it lives there now, in me. I will carry this book with me because I found such astonishing comfort in it. It whisked me away to this incredible Ottoman Empire-inspired world brimming with magic and secrets and love. Found family is the most heartwarming trope that has ever existed and therefore that, too, provided so much comfort. I honestly can't tell whether I'd rather hug the characters or have them hug me! I will be revisiting this book very often and I cannot recommend it enough. Go preorder right now (or if you're reading this review after it's come out: go buy it right now!) it's worth every single penny. Thank you Alexandra Rowland for writing something so beautiful that I know will comfort and heal so many people....more
Nobody would lift a finger to change the world for us. To make a place for us. What choice did we ever have, but to do it ourselves?
This is a m5/5
Nobody would lift a finger to change the world for us. To make a place for us. What choice did we ever have, but to do it ourselves?
This is a masterpiece. I have never encountered a book so visceral, I have never before encountered a book that bleeds. She Who Became the Sun is one of my favourite books of all-time and I just hoped beyond hope that He Who Drowned the World would live up to it. It is everything I could ever have possibly dreamed and more. This is my book. I am tethered to this story like it is my centre of gravity, I can't imagine a world without having read it. There has never been a book so perfect.
Shelley Parker-Chan writes so effortlessly, their construction of such a complex and riveting narrative is astounding. I am in such awe of their talent. You can feel the weight of the labour and the love that was put into this novel, yet it also reads like we're flying across the pages. Every detail is so vivid and steeped in emotion. The scenes spill off the page, creating such vibrant images as we dance between each word. There is clear intention behind every sentence that allows us to feel the raw emotional weight of every line. It is beautiful writing and even more beautiful storytelling.
Each character plays such an important role in the story and I found the addition of new perspectives to be so interesting. Each one brought something completely different to the story, yet Parker-Chan controlled all of these narratives with such refined skill, spinning these webs together, drawing parallels and contrasts, twisting each moving part until every action became bigger than what it was. In linking these characters together through this narrative, their every action became enlarged into the vastness of the question, what does this mean for the others? The links and subversions added upon this duology's themes created such a fascinating opportunity for exploration. He Who Drowned the World took everything that She Who Became the Sun said and delved deeper.
The core themes perpetuated in The Radiant Emperor duology have always been desire and suffering. If She Who Became the Sun was the focus on desire, He Who Drowned the World is the focus on suffering. She Who Became the Sun explores grasping the intent of desire with both hands and claiming your fate, it is the hunt for greatness, it is about the strength it takes to become great, it is the knowledge that you will do anything and suffer anything to achieve that greatness. He Who Drowned the World explores the consequences of greatness, it explores loss and pain and suffering to newer heights, and with savage glee tears apart the clarity of our understanding of suffering into something more warped, it questions whether the suffering that has been endured for greatness is worth it.
This is where He Who Drowned the World strides in larger steps than She Who Became the Sun (as perfect as that book also is). Its focus on suffering and on pain is where this book shone even brighter. We are tortured by the shifting moralities of the main characters, by the new ambiguity around how much suffering is worth the ultimate goal of greatness. We witness these characters driven to madness by their pain, we witness their suffering as it eclipses their hope, we witness them despair and cry and break. There are many ghosts that haunt the characters of this story, there are many torments that the world wounds them with, but the most fascinating element of this discussion around pain is when we witness the pain the characters inflict upon themselves.
Ouyang reaches into this place of pain to shield himself from a greater wound weeping inside of him. He is haunted by his duty, by his need for revenge. He drives himself onwards, against reason, running headfirst to his end. He wants to achieve this vengeance and have it be done, he wants this gaping wound inside of him to stop flowing out blood, he wants to reach the end before his pain bleeds him dry. He wants everything that he's done to get there to be worth it.
Another character overwhelmed by this pain is Baoxiang. Baoxiang's pain spills out of him and drowns the world in its darkness, it is a poisoning pain with a bitter touch. It is an uncontrollable pain that Baoxiang cannot recognise for what it is. He cannot recognise it for grief. This shared pain these two characters are plagued by pulls very evocative parallels, but it proves these character's differences more. We see the biting edge of a pain that is weaponised against the world and we see a maddening one that is sure to be their doom.
In Baoxiang we find an incredibly interesting perspective. What is so brilliant about these characters is that even if you dislike them, they are still riveting to witness and to explore. Baoxiang believes that through his pain he will find something worth its suffering. He believes, like Ouyang believes, like Zhu believes, that what he endures now will be worth it later. But his experience is immensely different to theirs and adds a whole new layer to the fascinating conversation this duology has around gender. Baoxiang wields his effeminacy against the Mongol Empire and its warriors like a sword. He becomes the things they think of him, as we have already seen in the first book. He shrouds himself in the worthlessness that they perceive of him. He performs the role that they have given him. What is so vital to understanding Baoxiang's character is to understand his hatred. He hates the way they view him, he hates the way they discard him, he hates that they find him worthless. But what he hates more is the hypocrisy he views. They condemn him because he is no warrior, yet their own true warriors are more like what they think of him than he is. He finds the secrets some of the great warriors keep indistinguishable from his own experiences and treatment. He hates their blindness, he hates their desire. He proves to us here how much his hatred infects every move he makes. And even when we start to unravel this hatred and glimpse his grief, it is an inescapable burden that he carries across his back as his pain turns in on himself and consumes him. There is a point where, after swallowing the world, the only thing left for his darkness to swallow is him.
Baoxiang is only one part of a very detailed and nuanced discussion of gender and queerness throughout these books, but a new layer that I thought was added in this story was the layer of perception. I found the element of perception hidden all throughout this book and what intrigued me most about it was the questions that it ended up asking. Whose perception truly matters? Is a thing real because it is perceived to be so or does another person's perception not matter at all to the truth of one's being? What then is the answer to whether love is real if only one person can perceive it? There is so much rich ground to cover here that I cannot without giving too much away, but I found these elements of the story so engrossing as I tried to pick apart every different angle that was uncovered.
What enriches the already ingenious conversation on gender (alongside this addition of perception) is that of performance. We see performance used in Baoxiang's perspective as he fits into the role they have decided for him, we see it in Zhu's perspective as she plays into and adjusts the world's perceptions to achieve her end, we see it in Madam Zhang and her porcelain surface, as well as in so much more.
Madam Zhang brings a new aspect to this in her performance. In her perspective, we witness how she uses her own body—detached from her mind—to wield other people's desires against themselves. We see sex used as a tool to discuss these elements of desire, body, performance and gender. Madam Zhang is so disconnected from the pain of her body that she becomes unfeeling, she controls her body as you would a clockwork toy and winds herself up again for her next performance. She is conniving because she has to be and she so desperately desires more of the world but her options and perceptions of her possibilities are limited. She is a porcelain doll, perfectly broken and made up again, all smooth surfaces without cracks and without scars. She need only apply another coating of makeup and slip into the appropriate façade. It is her means for survival in a world that does not care if she survives it.
Ultimately, The Radiant Emperor duology focuses on a collection of different characters who are all people that the world does not want to win. It shows us their brokenness, it shows us how fractured and desperate and damaged they are and asks us to root for them anyway.
I claim my place. And if the pattern of the world refuses to let that place exist, I will change it.
Zhu and Ouyang have always been the most interesting to me. In She Who Became the Sun we see their similarities discussed alongside their vast differences, but in this book we are allowed to see their connections in an even sharper light. We are allowed the clarity of their sameness, the ache of their joint wounds and sorrows, we feel the reverberations of that string pulled taut that binds them. And so it is with even greater betrayal that we see the jagged edges of their differences once more. This dance between them is so riveting because it is so visceral. We are as connected to them as they are to each other and so we root for this connection to hold true, for it to mean something, for it to forge a new path—a path that we can follow them down.
Zhu reckons with the themes of desire and suffering the most throughout the duology as this is, after all, her story. But she struggles more with desire's demands in this book than she ever has before. We know as well as she does that 'desire is the cause of all suffering,' and that 'the greater the desire, the greater the suffering, and now she desired greatness itself,' but how much is too much for Zhu to bear?
Have you ever thought that it might not be worth it?
Alongside these characters we go through devastating losses and haunting realisations, we are left shocked and speechless. Shelley Parker-Chan always knows the most harrowing ways to wrench our hearts straight from our chests. (I will, in fact, be demanding emotional reparations!) It's an agonising, all-consuming masterpiece of a book and you will not regret picking it up.
I absolutely devoured this story, I couldn't get enough of it and never wanted to stop reading! I cursed my body for needing sleep. I have never loved a series so unfalteringly, there is truly nothing that compares to it. My love for the characters is so exceptionally strong (Xu Da steals my heart as always) and I cannot exaggerate how viscerally I relate to them and how heart-breaking this book truly was. One thing I can say with absolute certainty is you guys are not prepared for this one! I'm astonished to find that it's over. I need a million more books set in this time and about these characters, complete with Parker-Chan's lush prose and evocative themes. I could go on and on about this book forever! When I next reread I'll do a spoiler review with all my increasingly rambly thoughts. Parker-Chan has secured their place with great surety as one of my absolute favourite authors, I will clamour for any scraps of writing they deign to give us. My life has been fundamentally changed with this duology and I am just honoured that I got to experience it.
Shelley Parker-Chan has not only created an exceptional piece of literature through their immersive and explosive storytelling, but has transported us through time into a world where we are as desperate and as ravenous as the characters themselves. It is always a shock to look up and discover that I am no longer inside the pages.
Perhaps in your next lives, or the ones after those, or in a thousand years, you'll find each other again, and the world will be different. Perhaps next time, you can have the courage.
I do want to issue a warning that this book is a lot darker than She Who Became the Sun so please look up the content warnings (I'll have them listed on my Storygraph) and read with care! Thank you Pan Macmillan and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review....more
To describe the pandemonium of Beginning would be inadequate. No word exists for it; not even storm can conjure that heat and rage and lust, 4.75/5
To describe the pandemonium of Beginning would be inadequate. No word exists for it; not even storm can conjure that heat and rage and lust, that cycle of pensive violence. A cycle of things born and killed and born again.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! I loved returning to this world and falling in love with it all over again. The expansive and atmospheric worldbuilding, the flawed, impassioned, powerful cast of characters. It honestly feels like this trilogy was written just for me, I adored every single moment! I am on my hands and knees begging for book three to come sooner!
There are seven perspectives in this book, each one as riveting as the last. They're all so fascinating and all of their separate plotlines are filled with intrigue. Where The City of Dusk was mainly set within the city of Nexus, The Midnight Kingdom explores a vast array of other lands and other worlds. I enjoyed every moment exploring the new depths of these worlds and was enraptured with every plot. I loved witnessing the plotlines grow and expand and become increasingly complex, I loved seeing them come to fruition as they intertwined and the characters imploded into each other's orbits once more.
There's nothing noble about following a god's orders to die.
Taesia is probably my favourite character (although it truly is so hard to choose as all the characters are fantastic), she's fierce and defiant and never gives up. She does not want to submit to the duty that is shackled to her like chains, she wants to fight, she wants to live. She sees nothing noble in the role of the martyr and she is desperate to prove that she is strong enough as she is. She wants to be strong enough to save the realms and the people that she loves most. Taesia is born of the god Nyx and therefore wields shadow magic. In this book she is confronted with the origins of those powers to a further extent, she's shown a new world that she at once does and does not belong to. She struggles with her sense of identity as the god in her head incessantly whispers.
Just as worshippers went to the basilicas to leave offerings, so, too, did he kneel on the altar of her body and give quiet thanks and quieter prayers, bestowing whatever he had on her. And just like a ravenous god she took it for her own, let it curl and breathe inside her. The reverence of life, the devotion of death. The two of them dancing between.
Risha, born of the god Thana, wields necromantic powers. She's thrust into the land of the dead, her human breaths coming shallower as the realm starts to claim her as its own. Hers is a struggle of grief as she reconciles with the things and the people that she has lost. Risha is kind-hearted and gentle, all she wants is the peace of her realm and the peace of the dead. She only ever wanted to reopen the portal into Mortri for the dead to find their peace, but her god refused. Her journey is a desperate clawing of survival in a land that does not accept her presence in it. Grief weighs heavy on her as she discovers the secrets of her ancestors and the frailty of all their interconnected realms.
No one will save you. Not when they know they will burn for it.
Angelica, born of the god Deia, wields elemental magic. Angelica has always had an affinity for fire, she harbours an addiction for the flames that is inextinguishable. She's headstrong and determined, like her magic, she's made up of incendiary elements. As practiced as she is at putting on a mask in the face of dangerous court politics, she feels more strongly than anyone. It is only in her nature, after all. Through her perspective we discover the land of Azuna and the fascinating characters that come into play. Angelica has been cut off from her powers by her god, but she is determined to reclaim them as her own as she discovers the secret of a lost part of their world.
Staying alive might be the most difficult thing you'll ever have to do.
Nik, born of the god Phos, wields powers of light—the light to Taesia's darkness. Nik is the forgotten son turned heir of a blazing set of destructive events. He is broken and empty and battles with accepting the numbness of subjugation. He does not want to exist in the pain of the real world. He battles with the past as much as he does with the present. He fights against his god at every step, for himself and for the others that he cares about.
We became beasts to savor in savagery, and we became humans only to find they were beasts of a different nature.
Julian was a mystery in the first book, a person we barely understood. In this book we see all his contradictions laid bare; we see him as man, we see him as monster; we see him as demon, we see him as protector. We, alongside him, grow to understand better who he is. He reconciles with all of the new knowledge he has gained about their vast universe, about a time before the portals were closed and there existed something that is now lost.
Isn't it strange that beginning is both warm and traumatic, a terrible scream of creation amid blood and pain, an event so harrowing we're forced to forget it? In comparison, ending is far gentler, like putting your head on a pillow at the close of a long day.
Dante, Taesia's older brother, also born of Nyx's blood, has himself an unlikely alliance in this book that we see him conjure up in the first. In the (literal) shadows of Vitae, he finds himself swept into the heart of a rescue mission. With new, disquieting powers under his control, he begins the search for the others that are missing, anxious to bring them back home.
Do you think I'm selfish for wanting to live? For wanting my mind to remain my own?
The seventh perspective's identity is one that is elusive in the first book. We find out at the end of The City of Dusk, but I'll leave it a secret in this review too. This character battles—as all the characters do, in various different ways—with the struggle for autonomy. This is what I perceive to be the main theme of the book and it is astoundingly interesting to me. I adore how it's explored so extensively in a multitude of different ways. Even when these struggles have the same cause, the focuses that are explored are all so unique. I loved the question continuously posed to us: is it selfish to want to live? When blood defines who you are and your birth alone is a deciding factor in your duty, when all that power and pressure is put upon you, when your life—and even your death—are decided for you... is it selfish to want to live for yourself instead? Is it selfish to want to be in control of your own body and your own mind? Is it selfish to want agency? It's an unfalteringly compelling theme that I loved to see explored in such depth.
It isn't a sin to be born.
This book truly has it all! Dark and manipulative gods, phenomenal worldbuilding, shadow magic, necromancy, elemental magic, demonic forces, literal demons, a large cast of queer characters being chaotic, court politics, beautiful writing, and so much more. It's the type of series that is impossible to put down, I never want it to end. I hope the brilliant Tara Sim decides it should be a ten book series instead! I could never get enough of this world or these characters.
I'm so happy that I got to read this early, thank you Hodder & Stoughton (the publisher love of my life)! This was so incredible, I never wanted it to be over. I implore you to go read this masterful series.
5/5 I don’t know how I’m meant to read any other book ever again !! This book is an all-consuming expanse of dark gods and corrupted magic, rival house5/5 I don’t know how I’m meant to read any other book ever again !! This book is an all-consuming expanse of dark gods and corrupted magic, rival houses and gripping characters, intense plots with mysterious twists. I cannot find a single thing to fault this book on. Where do I even begin with my praises? Every single aspect of this book was incredible; the characters, the plot, the writing, the world-building, the magic system, the pacing, the twists. Every single aspect !! This book is everything high fantasy should be and more, it is the epic fantasy I have always been waiting for! World-building has always been my absolute favourite part of fantasy and this book did not disappoint! The world is so unique and interesting, full of opposing gods and intertwining realms. I loved working it all out and diving further and further into the mysteries of the world and unwinding each one, only to unravel the intrigue of more. The magic system is incredible and so complex and absorbing. The writing is some of the most beautiful writing that I’ve ever read, every moment is packed full of emotion and meaning. I felt exactly what the characters were feeling, I felt their power and their rage and their pain, and it was glorious ! The descriptions were heart-wrenchingly beautiful; they made me just want to put my head in my hands and sob at their divineness. Stunning prose is sometimes so hard to achieve, but Tara Sim does so effortlessly and gracefully, sweeping you up in the moment so wholly. Every scene was so vivid, I watched everything play out so clearly in my mind, as if watching a film. Normally I find myself checking what page I'm on (just out of habit) to see if I'm past certain markers, however I was too engrossed in this story to check. My mind was wrapped up in the scenes so intensely and I never wanted to put it down. I knew from the beginning that I would fall in love with this book, (although I underestimated just quite how much) but I convinced myself I couldn't decide this was a 5 star book only 20 pages in, but every page I read further proved just how right I was. This book was a head-over-heels instant love for me and every sentence, every word, only dragged me in deeper into its depths. And, oh boy, do I wish I could stay there forever! The characters are all incredibly complex and riddled with both compelling strengths and flaws. My favourite character was Taesia, but I adored and was fascinated with all the rest too! There are seven intriguing points of view in this story. The author slips between them easily, conveying such skill as she writes all these characters so uniquely, showing their individual motivations and beliefs. Taesia is the second child of the Lastrider family, born of Nyx's blood, wielder of shadows. Dante is her older brother, the heir of house Lastrider, with secret practices of his own to keep. Angelica is heir of house Mardova, born of Deia's blood, an elementalist with a vocation for fire. Risha is heir of house Vakara, born of Thana's blood, a necromancer trying to break into another realm. Nikolas is heir of house Cyr, born of Phos's blood, wielder of light. Julian is a hunter with a mysterious gift. The boy is guided by the voice, tired and hungry. There is so much action in this book, it’s full of mysteries and plot twists. The pacing was perfect, allowing for both important heartfelt scenes, yet making sure there was never a dull moment. Whenever it grew too quiet, I could feel the book whispering, this eager anticipation growing inside of me, waiting for the next strike. It was so much fun to read and I wanted desperately for it never to end! I can’t believe how long I’ll have to wait for the next one! Everyone go preorder this book RIGHT NOW, you won’t regret it, it’s the best epic fantasy you will ever read !! Thank you netgalley for sending me an e-arc, I will obviously also be getting my hands on a physical copy as soon as possible! :))))...more
4.5/5 RF Kuang is, quite simply, a genius. I have never read a book like this and it absolutely blew my mind. Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK f4.5/5 RF Kuang is, quite simply, a genius. I have never read a book like this and it absolutely blew my mind. Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Babel is extraordinary. It's heart-breaking and devastating and so, so important. It covers so many themes that I have no clue where to start or which to touch on first. One of its main focuses is on colonialism and it explores this in such a nuanced way; the portrayal in particular of the people the empire oppresses and their relationship with empire was so complex and interesting and guttural. Always this, the argument from bondage, as if his loyalties were shackled by privilege he had not asked for and did not choose to receive. RF Kuang never backs away from showing raw emotions and gruesome truths in her writing and this book was no exception, which in part made this a challenging read at times so please make sure that you look up the trigger warnings. Its emotional and ruinous and beautiful. The writing is gorgeous and complicated. Every sentence compels you and it truly is so unique. The world-building, the idea of silver-working and the things they capture, in itself was brilliant but every layer only built upon this and got better and better and better. Reading this book I often wondered whether I felt smart or stupid because it is astoundingly intelligent. We explore language and linguistics in so much depth and I've never been so invested in something so academic. That's what reading this book felt like at times, like I was constantly learning. Even the footnotes echoed this feeling. It was incredible! When things startlingly took a darker turn I truly fell in love with it. The characters are so compelling and the world around them so cruel. You feel every emotion viscerally and from your grief grows anger. I was shocked by a lot of the directions we took but I thought they were perfect choices. In not backing away from awful truths of the world, RF Kuang also doesn't back away from her views, she doesn't back down from offending privileged white people's feelings. She stands her ground and shows you the true face behind (primarily) England's mask. She combines beauty and horror, loving something and hating something, flawlessly. She explores each theme with nuance and complexity but allows no space for prejudice, whilst still showing us the oppressor's views. The intellect of it all is inexplicable and leaves me in so much awe. But who, in living history, ever understands their part in the tapestry? Language and its importance to the empire (influenced even more in this alternate history world with silver-working) was such an important observation and one that is greatly overlooked. There is so much to this story that I can't find the words to review properly, my own intellect is nowhere close to being on RF Kuang's level, which only made me admire all her workings even more. The ending broke me and I cried a lot more than I thought this book would demand of me. The ending truly is what makes Babel. It's gut-wrenching and harrowing and damning and final. This review has been incredibly all over the place but there really aren't words that can be used to explain something like this. I feel this even more so after the conversations of language within the book itself, English doesn't encapsulate even half of what this book holds. It is important and demanding and brave. It can be a challenging read, but it is without a doubt worth it and is something that I will be thinking about for a very long time. Language was always the companion of empire, and as such, together they begin, grow, and flourish. And later, together, they fall....more
5/5 570k words later, I am truly changed. WOW, just wow! MDZS quickly became one of my favourite things of all-time and I will absolutely never forget 5/5 570k words later, I am truly changed. WOW, just wow! MDZS quickly became one of my favourite things of all-time and I will absolutely never forget it! It was all done so cleverly. The plot was intricate and had so many plot twists, it shared the perfect amount of information at the exact right times–always quenching our need to know more whilst simultaneously asking several more intriguing questions, making us wait to discover these answers. It was so much fun from beginning to end and I just can't believe it's over. I devoured this in a week and I can't believe it's over! I never would have guessed where this story was going to take us and I truly did enjoy every single second. I adored the chapters fluctuating between the present and the past, it was so interesting to experience the story in that way. I adored the chapters and points of view we saw through Empathy as well. What a smart way to tell a story. (view spoiler)[SPOILER WARNING! I was hooked the minute I heard 'soul-eating goddess' and 'ghost general' literally what more could you ever ask from a book? Then I read the chapters that we first experienced in the past about when they were all kids studying in the Cloud Recesses, and I instantly fell in love. Those chapters gave me a very similar comforting feeling as the chapters in The Song of Achilles, where Achilles and Patroclus are studying with Chiron, did. Next we came to the unforgettable Grasses chapters. That sealed my fate and I will now go to my grave clutching this story in my heart. I was already sold, but those chapters won my soul! The story of Xiao XingChen, Xue Yang, Song Lan, and A-Qing was an evocative, emotional, heart-breaking one that I could not stop thinking about at all. Their story will haunt me forever. My favourite storyline was when we finally witnessed Wei WuXian's past and his downfall. I'd been waiting for so long to find out what happened and I was so invested in all these characters. Witnessing Wei Ying's slow corruption arc and the slow corruption and falling of so many of his relationships had me on the edge of my seat, heartbroken. What I loved most was that his corruption arc made sense and I loved that we were still on his side, I loved that we got to witness the other sects hypocrisy and fears. The world praised him when he fought alongside them, but as soon as he became his own power the world turned against him. Seeing Wei Ying antagonised like this made all his actions feel real and plausible. I finally understood how things got so bad, I finally understood why he was turned into the villain. It was all done incredibly. I'm in awe of the formulation of such a story as detailed and complex as this one. I adore it with all my heart. The characters were absolutely amazing and this is where my review is going to turn into me rambling about my opinions on all the characters (so don't expect any of this to make sense if you haven't read it and another spoiler warning for good measure!) Wei WuXian (Wei Ying)- My favourite character! My absolute beloved! He is the most chaotic character that you will literally ever meet and I just adore him with everything in me. He never failed to make me laugh and the more outrageous he was, the better! As I said before, his corruption arc and downfall were written so well and believably. So many aspects of this story made me sigh in awe at their construction whilst also fall apart at their emotion. I also think that as 'crooked' and dangerous as it may be, the cultivation path he walked was definitely the coolest. If I were alive in this world I would absolutely try to walk it to! (Would it end in my death? Inevitably, yes. Would it be worth it? Absolutely yes.) I'll talk about his relationships with characters as I encounter them... Lan WangJi (Lan Zhan)- My stoic kind-hearted hero. Lan Zhan truly is the sweetest and him and his rabbits make my heart melt. His powers on the guqin are so cool and the idea and meaning of him and Wei Ying duetting (Wei Ying on Chenqing) means so much to me. I adored him so much, all the characters in this story are written so complex and beautifully. I adored Wei Ying and Lan Zhan's relationship more than anything (WangXian stole my entire heart, of course they did, what did you expect?) I'd heard people talk about them and how infatuated they are with each other and oh my god were they right. These two dumb idiots need to learn how to communicate (although I do love slowburn) because there were some moments when it was so blindingly obvious I was screaming. Their story has stolen everything in me and they can keep it, it's all theirs, everything is theirs, they deserve it all. They deserve the world and I hope they live peacefully happily ever after. If anyone disturbs their peace I will personally see to it that they are...disposed of... Jin Ling- My bastard child. Jin Ling is the annoying kid who's kicking the back of your chair on the train, but just as you're turning around to yell at him, you realise he's all by himself–no friends, no family–and you can't help but feel bad for him so you give him a lollipop, but you still smack him when he kicks your chair again. I honestly don't know how else I can explain better how I feel about Jin Ling. He's an annoying little idiot, but if anyone else said that I'd beat them up. I love him and I just want him to be happy. His story had me heartbroken and as soon as we broke through his pretentious act I adored him. He deserved a much better life than the one that was handed to him and his pain hurt me just as much. I adored the writing of his complicated relationships with those around him (this man really did not have one single easy relationship), especially with Wei WuXian and Wen Ning. Through those interactions we really got to understand him better through his grief and his pain and what an amazingly complex character to write. Lan XiChen- The original WangXian shipper. I loved Lan XiChen and his subtle support. He was a kind, compassionate, understanding person and that was both his greatest strength and weakness. I think that that was incredibly clever. His inability to mistrust those he was loyal to (looking at you Jin GuangYao) ultimately broke him and I truly loved how that was done. I will come to him and Jin GuangYao in time, never fear. Wen Ning- I adore Wen Ning. I was intrigued by him the moment he appeared as the fearsome Ghost General, however when we witnessed the timid boy who helped save Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng I couldn't comprehend him as the same man. How was this sweet boy the slaughterer he was rumoured to be? I spent a long, long time curious about him and he quickly became one of my favourites as we witnessed him as Wen Ning the Person instead of Wen Ning the Legend. He was one of the kindest characters in the whole thing and I loved him very dearly. He really did deserve so much better. I loved his and Wei WuXian's relationship, their closeness and friendship was heart-warming. As I mentioned before, his relationship with Jin Ling was complicated and painful, but I loved that storyline and how it all played out. My favourite relationship of Wen Ning's was that of him and a lost relative that we'll come to...next... Lan SiZhui (Lan Yuan/Wen Yuan)- I loved Lan SiZhui from the very beginning; he was kind (in particular to Wei WuXian) when others were not and he instantly gained my favour. He only got kinder from there, he was loyal and compassionate and so very sweet. Wen Yuan (or A-Yuan) the baby made an appearance quite late into the book, but I nevertheless instantly grew attached and I adored the moments with him, especially the ones shared with Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. I said to myself, if anything happens to A-Yuan I will make sure they all perish! I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed when I found out Lan SiZhui and Wen Yuan were the same person, what an incredible plot twist. When I say sobbed, I mean SOBBED. Lan SiZhui's relationships with everyone were jovial and nice, just like his nature. I particularly loved his and Lan Zhan's relationship and finding out at the end that it was Lan Zhan who rescued him only solidified that fact. Lan SiZhui's and Wen Ning's relationship was my favourite, though, it felt like the joining of two limbs, like an echoing call from far away had finally reached the right ears. I was so happy that they found each other and I grieved for all the other fallen Wens (the nice ones). Jiang Cheng- A myriad of complex emotions. I never truly settled on how I felt about Jiang Cheng, even by the end of the story. Although not one of my favourites, I did still like him. He was a very well-written complex character too. His and Wei WuXian's everchanging relationship throughout the years was one of my favourites, they were real brothers. They both made great sacrifices for one another and finding out both of those immense sacrifices made me extremely emotional. Jin GuangYao- I hate this man. He is so incredibly annoying and manipulative. I like him as a villain because I did not expect him at all until it was obvious, but everything I learned only made me hate him more and more. I cannot imagine a single person liking him, but there are always weirdos in every fandom. I did, however, like the commentary on Jin GuangYao being made into a nightmare. I loved Wei WuXian realising that GuangYao was now assuming his fate and being written into the role of villain in every story. Whilst their characters and situations differ dramatically (Wei WuXian made mistakes, GuangYao was just horrible), seeing this familiar antagonism was quite eerie and I really loved how it was captured. In all fairness, Jin GuangYao was a clever villain, getting away with it for so long. One aspect I loved in his story was his relationship with Lan XiChen. I absolutely ship them, his declaration about never having thought about harming XiChen was nothing if not a declaration of love and I stand by that. Lan XiChen was blind to his flaws and loyal to a fault. What I love so much about their ending is that it is never explicitly specified whether GuangYao actually wanted to harm him or not. That made a situation that could be easily seen as morally black and white, very grey. It was such a smart writing choice. Jiang YanLi- She deserved so much better, I truly wish I could give her the world. I don't even want to think about her too much or I'll cry. It was obvious to anyone how much Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian cared for her and how far they'd go to protect her. That moment truly tore apart my heart and I'd give anything to reverse time and change it. She would have been such an incredible, kind mother. Xiao XingChen- He was so brave and virtuous. If someone said 'knight' he's the first person you'd think of. I adored him and his entire storyline so much. He had a good heart and sacrificed so much. He deserved so much better. His story read like a Shakespearean tragedy (in the best way possible). Song Lan- I loved everything between him and Xiao XingChen. SHIP! The sacrifices were incredible and everything about their story was heart-breaking. His death scene was gut-wrenching, I had my jaw dropped, tears streaming down my face. I knew it was coming but it still hurt so much. It was so poetic and, in a way, beautiful, but so, so painful. When he vowed to travel until him and XingChen would meet again one day, my heart erupted out of grief. Xue Yang- I think he truly did come to care for Xiao XingChen (and even A-Qing), why else would he have stayed for so long? Song Lan waltzed in and ruined the perfect fantasy he'd dreamed up, he reminded him of his anger and his hatred. I don't like Xue Yang as a person, but he's a great character. A-Qing- The bravest character in the entire thing. She was courageous until the end and long after, her bravery helped defeat Xue Yang in the end and I loved her so much. She was cunning and incredible and I only wish she'd killed Xue Yang whilst still alive. What an amazing person. Lan JingYi- He made me laugh, I liked his good-natured ribs at Jin Ling. I loved all the young disciples, their close relationships, and their trust in Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. Wen Qing- She was another character full of love. Her determination to do anything for Wen Ning and for her people was so admirable and courageous. I wish she hadn't met such an end, she deserved so much better. So many characters' stories ended in tragedy. Lan QiRen- i didn't like him much, but his absolute unfaltering hatred for Wei WuXian never failed to make me laugh. Nie HuaiSang- I loved his fans! I'm still stuck wondering if HuaiSang is a head-shaking coward or a genius mastermind. I love it either way. His character makes me laugh, however to say I like him would be a stretch, but I don't dislike him. (hide spoiler)] Overall, this was one of the BEST things. One of the best. I had such an incredible time reading it and I already want to reread. Everyone go read it right this second!...more
5/5 Oh my god I am shell-shocked, I am at a complete and utter loss for words. THAT ENDING! I absolutely devoured this book and read it all in one day. 5/5 Oh my god I am shell-shocked, I am at a complete and utter loss for words. THAT ENDING! I absolutely devoured this book and read it all in one day. I quite literally enjoyed every single moment and I am just in love with this story, in absolute love with it! The Sunbearer Trials is the queer Latino Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games of my dreams. I am in love with the concept of this book and I'm so impressed by its flawless execution. This was such a joy to read for so many different reasons and I truly did have the time of my life! This book was simply so much fun! It's hilarious, fast-paced and action-packed, there was never a single moment where I was even remotely disinterested. It's unputdownable and I promise you that you will want to devour it as quickly as I did! The characters were so warm and loveable, all of them were so interesting. Their specific powers and abilities were so intriguing and I adored finding out more and more about them. (Xio, Niya, Teo and Aurelio were my favourites, but I truly did love them all!) The Mexican-inspired fantasy world of The Sunbearer Trials was absolutely amazing. It felt so vibrant and alive, as if I could have touched it through the pages. Every city was so compelling and unique, I truly wish I could travel this world in its entirety. The history, mythology, religions and all the other aspects of the world were so well-thought out. This is a world that could exist in our past or future, it felt that real. I was surprised by the rollercoaster of emotions that this book took me on. I laughed out loud so many times, sometimes even crying tears of joy, and then in the next second I was getting my heart wrenched from my chest. It's an incredibly emotional book, both in the happy and the sad moments. There were a lot of moving moments that touched a special place in my heart and there were moments that shocked my very soul. My mouth was hung open in shock at the last fifty pages! Talk about a cliffhanger! My favourite character was Xio, I instantly absolutely adored him and my love for him only ever grew. He's an incredibly complex character and I can't say that I can explain to you the entire breadth of his character but I loved every single scene he was in, even when he was in turmoil or distressed. His and our amazing main character, Teo's, relationship was such a sweet one and I adored the conversations they had and the protective, nurturing nature of their relationship. What I loved most, however, were the conversations they had about their shared experience of being trans. It was such a lovely scene that I think is so important and I'm so, so glad that it was there. Obviously, the representation in this book is amazing, but what I loved even more in this particular story was that our trans main characters were allowed to simply exist. Of course, it's important to have stories about how transphobia affects trans people and it's important that we talk about those struggles and talk about how we can find acceptance and love for ourselves, but those shouldn't be the only stories that include trans characters. Trans characters shouldn't only be allowed to exist in stories about their struggles, they should also be allowed to be heroes! I loved that our trans main characters got to simply exist and have problems that weren't due to their being trans. It was very refreshing to read and was so much fun! More trans characters in (queernorm) fantasy, please! I adore Aiden Thomas as a writer, he impresses me more and more and more. I will read absolutely everything and anything they write from here on out, I truly cannot express just how much I loved this book! AIDEN I NEED BOOK TWO RIGHT NOW! I want to stress how pleased and grateful I am that this book (and books like it) exist! It's so important that more diverse books are published and that good (own-voices) representation exists for people to see themselves in. It's so important to have a queer, trans, Latino character as our hero and our main character! Thank you Aiden Thomas! Everyone go read this book right now, you won't regret it and you won't be able to put it down! I hope this book gets all the recognition it deserves because it is truly incredible and I already cannot wait to reread! Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review....more
4.75/5 I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. That was amazing! I can't get over how incredible that was. It reminded me 4.75/5 I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. That was amazing! I can't get over how incredible that was. It reminded me of Hannibal (the TV show) and of Will and Hannibal's relationship so much. Where to begin? I didn't know what to expect at the start, but what a pleasant surprise. I loved that the story was written from the perspective of the house; it was really unique and the language that was used to reflect the house's point of view was very clever and intriguing. The characters were great. The unique twistedness of their desires elevated this story so much and I simply adored it all. I don't know if this is how it was written, but I definitely viewed the main character's connection as a romantic/sexual one--not necessarily of love either, but definitely obsession. I thought the ending was perfect, I thought all of it was perfect, and I am absolutely in love (and obsessed) with this story!...more
4.5/5 I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was so incredibly beautiful, my heart is broken! Thank you so much for 4.5/5 I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was so incredibly beautiful, my heart is broken! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book. First of all, the writing is flowery and poetic and so immensely beautiful. I am so glad that I discovered this author because the way they write is stunning. The art is gorgeous and I feel that the art style matches the writing perfectly. Forgive me, I'm not an artist, but it looked like watercolour paintings (or something close to it) and I couldn't stop staring at them, trying to take in every detail. It's a very unique story! I've never read anything quite like it and I adored it. In all honesty, I'd never even thought about sea mail before and that also added interest to the story. The characters are engaging and loveable from the start, even without a lot of time to get to know them. The whale and the words it spoke alone were enough to break my heart. The questions it asked were beautiful and I wish I could read more of their friendship. The end! I won't share any spoilers, but let me just say my heart has been absolutely ripped in two. I won't lie, I did expect it, but I still was not prepared. I also have salty tears!...more
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