Trey
It's a fun read. But I have a question: Dude has been creating the same immortality potion every single month for the last 600 years or so, but he can't remember how to do it without the book?And he didn't think of copying the recipe down in another place as a backup? Hopefully, an explanation for that will be forthcoming in the next book.
This is an amazing and elaborate future history. The world building is amazing, but I really do not love the “I'm writing this story for you, dear reader” structure. And I especially dislike when words are force into my, the dear reader's, mouth.
But the mystery is interesting. It'll be a while before I pick up the next book.
If you aren't familiar with the Herbalife story, this is probably a really good introduction. But the focus is really on the various disagreements between Carl Ichan & Bill Ackman without either coming out clean. They both seem like assholes to me, but in different ways.
Unfortunately, the length of their personal dispute revolves around just two investment deals one in which they were partners and the Herbalife thing where they were on opposite sides. So, although it's framed as this epic battle between investment titans (and it really was) it was narratively weak, IMHO. Another couple of minor, but escalating clashes before Herbalife to build tension might have made the story more compelling.
I really love this series because it taps into a mythology and folk magic system that we don't see a lot in YA fantasy written by American/Western writers. So, although the story structure is very typical, the overall effect is fresh and bright.
I also really appreciate the way Okorafor has blended the folk magic with modern things like music and cell phones.
I wasn't able to immediately see reference to an upcoming third book and a lot of this book has an air of finality to it, but I do hope she keeps writing in this universe!
Medieval history isn't usually my thing, but someone must have recommended this book to me because it's been on my “to read” list for a loooong time. I am so glad I did make time for this!
It's fascinating and the closest thing to a narrative that you could probably get from a time so long ago when written records are so unreliable.
Also, the audiobook made for food listening while I was moving house.
I listened to the audiobook of this one and I think maybe it's just not for me.
First of all, I don't much care for first person narratives.
But the worst part is that I felt like the author was deliberately withholding details so that he could artificially boost tension.
The WORST, though is the brutal murder of the talking dog, Manchee, who was the best character in the whole book.
I also don't understand how so many secrets were kept from a boy who was almost 13 years old – actually more than 14 years old – in a town where every man's thoughts are being broadcast for the world to hear. And it's a town that is plotting a major political coup. But, sure, that one boy is able to not find out about it.
Anyway. This book is just not my jam.
I wonder if I wouldn't have enjoyed this more if I'd read the previous books in the series.
As is, I don't much care for Lord Wimsey. He's both silly and smart in a way that I don't find charming, not nearly as charming as to justify his flippant attitude. And I think that's something I'm supposed to enjoy about this book. That's not a literary criticism. It's really just my personal taste, I think.
Otherwise, this book is fine. I think the structure – beginning with a trial rather than ending – is very interesting. And there are lots of fun, cultural items from the time that I found entertaining.
But the plot is fairly pat and I just couldn't feel much tension in this book.
Not that it matters for the book itself, but the sound on the audiobook version is not very good.
JASON CRANE IS BAAACK!!!
After the bloated third book, I was wary to pick give this book a go, but I love the universe so much that I decided I'd go for the audiobook.
And I am EXTREMELY happy to say that this book is more like the Book 1 that hooked me on the series than either of the other two books.
The pacing is strong and exciting. Gleaves has a knack for metaphor and description that is put to good use throughout. I especially love the way he weaves in little details into side characters and descriptions that bring the whole thing to life. OH! Something I love even more is the way elements from the first three books play a role in this book. I know from conversations with the author that he did a lot of planning around these books and it shows.
It's not flawless, but it's close enough to justify all five of these stars in my book. I am so happy to be excited about this series again!
Kind of like Dresden Files or the Iron Druid series. Very fast read, straight forward plot, colorful characters.
I think what I like best about this series so far (I started book 2 almost immediately after finishing this one) is that the magic is pretty weak and commonplace. There isn't a lot of fire and elemental forces being flung around willy-nilly.
Fun.
Interesting and nice, but not terribly complicated. I think I'd have enjoyed this a lot more if it were longer; this is a very short book.
I don't have any complaints about this book aside from the length. And there isn't a lot about it that made me think, “Wow.” So, this book is just fine. Not bad. Not great. It's fine.
“History is written by the winners.”
This is a really fascinating book. The basic theme is that pre-Columbian natives in the Americas were both more numerous and more culturally developed AND had a greater impact on their ecosystem than we're usually taught in school.
Sadly, we don't have a very robust set of artifacts from native tribes to provide us with the opportunity to study these cultures in greater depth. For that reason, I suspect that the the evidence for a lot of the things discussed is lighter than the author really lets us know, but he does for a great job of making a persuasive argument for these views.
