This book felt like a bit of a tonal shift from the first two, though that could also be the time elapsed between when I Jemisin is so good it hurts.
This book felt like a bit of a tonal shift from the first two, though that could also be the time elapsed between when I read the first two and this one. That's not a criticism, just a note. The depth added to the world of this trilogy in the third installment is staggering.
And I'm not sure I could love the climax of this story more. It's everything I could possibly want.
I am so glad Jemisin was able to quit her day job and be a full-time writer. I can hardly believe all the books prior to this were written in her spare time, and I can't even imagine what she'll be able to do next!...more
Just incredible. I just finished this book after a three day binge and I'm rather without words at the moment. But yeah. wow.Just incredible. I just finished this book after a three day binge and I'm rather without words at the moment. But yeah. wow....more
3 stars for pacing and structure, 5 for concept, averages to 4 I figure.
I loved the ideas and imagery of this book, but it took me ages to actually fi3 stars for pacing and structure, 5 for concept, averages to 4 I figure.
I loved the ideas and imagery of this book, but it took me ages to actually finish. I'm not totally sure why I did t just blast though it. It's just not a page-turner for me. I think the universe Pullman created got a little away from him here, so skipping between the various groups and locations ends up jarring and sometimes even frustrating.
All that being said, the characters are beautiful, and at least for me, so is the message. Might not be for everyone-- it's not subtle, either-- but I certainly preferred it to the Narnia model....more
I am not at all sure this series should be classified as YA or younger. There is some very heavy stuff here. I'm sorry, that last chapter just punchedI am not at all sure this series should be classified as YA or younger. There is some very heavy stuff here. I'm sorry, that last chapter just punched me in the gut and I may not be thinking straight....more
Probably more like 3.5 but rounded up because quality writing and world building trump my personal squickedness.
I first read this book around 2007 or Probably more like 3.5 but rounded up because quality writing and world building trump my personal squickedness.
I first read this book around 2007 or so, give or take a year. Point being: I was in grad school, still relatively newly-married, and child free. I finished reading it out of sheer stubbornness, pushing past how deeply upsetting I found the activities of the Oblation Board. I was a kid who took excellent care of each stuffed animal, and did everything I could to not hurt their feelings in any way. So... yeah, even as an adult, the gobblers were *terrifying*.
Fast forward to this re-reading. Now I'm a parent. Intercission is just as upsetting, if not moreso because I find I have even more protective feelings toward the children in the book. Not to mention how much rage I have toward the adults in question.
So yeah, welcome to my baggage. I'm planning on pushing through the rest of the series, but I might need a bit of a breather first. The writing is top notch and I love Lyra's world. I also enjoy that Pullman lets the world develop naturally without too much ponderous exposition. I feel that some of the characters were shortchanged a bit (Lee Scoresby, Serafina Pekkala) but I get that there's only so much space in the narrative. Also obviously there are more books so.......more
I'm pretty sure I liked everything about this book. I would list the aspects I loved best but almost all of them are spoilery. The way Jemisin uses laI'm pretty sure I liked everything about this book. I would list the aspects I loved best but almost all of them are spoilery. The way Jemisin uses language and terminology specific to the book's world is subtle but brilliant. And worldbuilding on a level I can't even deal with. It reminded me of the world of Sanderson's Mistborn but *better*-- more believable, more consistent, and more diverse. And Mistborn isn't exactly lacking in those qualities (well, except for the last)! Highly recommended....more
I'm not entirely sure I grasped this one, but it sure was pretty. Reading ODY-C felt like a having particularly bizarre dream-- you just let it happenI'm not entirely sure I grasped this one, but it sure was pretty. Reading ODY-C felt like a having particularly bizarre dream-- you just let it happen around you and maybe it'll congeal into sense-making some other time. I definitely appreciate what they're trying to do here, and I may read future installments just to see if they can keep it up. I mean, anyone who messes with The Odyssey is okay in my books!...more
Maybe I chose a bad day to read it, but I definitely noticed a loss of momentum in this volume of the series. The art is still beautiful, of course, aMaybe I chose a bad day to read it, but I definitely noticed a loss of momentum in this volume of the series. The art is still beautiful, of course, and toddler Hazel is wonderful. I found it to be a little lacking in the rich characterization of the previous volumes, as well as a stall in the plot. It almost seems to be biding its time to set up the pieces for the next installment. At least, that's what I'm hoping!...more
[First read sometime between May 2014 and May 2015 but I don't remember exactly when] [Reading again via audiobook while running, October 2016][First read sometime between May 2014 and May 2015 but I don't remember exactly when] [Reading again via audiobook while running, October 2016]...more
Irrelevant but amusing explanation for why it took so long to finish this book: I was reading it aloud at my kids' bedtime. Okay, so they were maybe a Irrelevant but amusing explanation for why it took so long to finish this book: I was reading it aloud at my kids' bedtime. Okay, so they were maybe a year old at the time but I was determined to start the habit of bedtime reading early in their lives and as they had no idea of what was going on I decided to read things that my spouse and I wanted to hear. We started with the Heir to the Empire trilogy by Timothy Zahn, just to put things in perspective. Anyway, there I was, reading a bit of Boneshaker every night on my iPad in the dark nursery. I would sit in the doorway so the dim glow of the screen wouldn't be visible to either crib. As my spouse and I are huge wimps and not into scary stories at all, we were a bit wary of a zombie book. However, we were enjoying the world building and the characters, and it was a good while before any actual walking dead made an appearance. But when they did... I had just gotten to the first appearance of an actual rotter, after the text had built up the suspense but good, and just as those first rosters shambled into view MY IDIOT CAT PUT HIS WET NOSE ON MY ELBOW IN THE DARK AND NEARLY MADE ME WET MYSELF.
My point is, I returned many months later to finish on my own and I am glad I did. Great characters (many of the best being women), interesting world, decent execution of the premise. 3.5 stars. And cats are the worst....more
I love capers. I love Zahn's Star Wars novels. Scoundrels is two great tastes that taste great together and even passes the Bechdel Test. The climactiI love capers. I love Zahn's Star Wars novels. Scoundrels is two great tastes that taste great together and even passes the Bechdel Test. The climactic scene is just incredible, and I laughed out loud when I realized what Zahn had done. One word of warning: be VERY CAREFUL to not accidentally see the last page of the book!...more
Beautiful art and some incredible (also batshit wacky) ideas. Definitely an enjoyable read. I may up the rating later after I've read more of the seriBeautiful art and some incredible (also batshit wacky) ideas. Definitely an enjoyable read. I may up the rating later after I've read more of the series-- as it is, this six-issue compilation doesn't cover quite enough of the story, as it's quite busy introducing all sorts of bizarre and fascinating characters and worlds. Also points for one of the best first-lines I've read in a book possibly ever, maybe with the exception of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia....more