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lightreadsCity of Last Chances
3/5. Standalone fantasy about a city on the edge of a reality-bending stand of trees, and the rebellion sparking under the heel of authoritarian colonizers.
A very good and interesting and grim and darkly funny book that I appreciated as a piece of art, but didn’t love on a personal level. Reviews for this book are full of people not connecting with it and confused about why. I know why – it’s that true omniscient POV (not the rotating third that a lot of people think is omniscient, but the actual thing) is pretty unusual to find in a new release these days, and it’s a pretty weird experience when you aren’t used to it. It’s done deftly here, and for several purposes, not just because. But it still makes for a narrative told with a sense of distance, in all its complexity.
Also, I got like 90% through this and thought “gosh, is this the first book of his that doesn’t have a sentient spider or bug or bird or –” and then things took a turn and I I said “ah, there it is.” Wherever Adrian Tchaikovsky goes, there he is.
Also also, The rebellion fails, which is absolutely fitting to the shape of the book, and which I thought was signaled well in advance, but it’s worth knowing if you want to know that sort of thing.
Content notes: Violence, public executions, colonization, monsterfucking I guess(???)
3/5. Standalone fantasy about a city on the edge of a reality-bending stand of trees, and the rebellion sparking under the heel of authoritarian colonizers.
A very good and interesting and grim and darkly funny book that I appreciated as a piece of art, but didn’t love on a personal level. Reviews for this book are full of people not connecting with it and confused about why. I know why – it’s that true omniscient POV (not the rotating third that a lot of people think is omniscient, but the actual thing) is pretty unusual to find in a new release these days, and it’s a pretty weird experience when you aren’t used to it. It’s done deftly here, and for several purposes, not just because. But it still makes for a narrative told with a sense of distance, in all its complexity.
Also, I got like 90% through this and thought “gosh, is this the first book of his that doesn’t have a sentient spider or bug or bird or –” and then things took a turn and I I said “ah, there it is.” Wherever Adrian Tchaikovsky goes, there he is.
Also also, The rebellion fails, which is absolutely fitting to the shape of the book, and which I thought was signaled well in advance, but it’s worth knowing if you want to know that sort of thing.
Content notes: Violence, public executions, colonization, monsterfucking I guess(???)