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grogu_djarin's reviews
117 reviews
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
I'd been wanting to read this for some while with high expectations and I can see why it's so well-regarded! The worldbuilding is top notch and each of the three storylines (Essun, Damaya, Syenite) bring unique perspectives and explore different aspects of the world such as orogeny (earth magic), the Fulcrum, comms, and the Fifth Season. I also liked how the these storylines gradually threaded together. The orogeny and sessapinae (organs in the brain that detect vibrations in the earth) were such an inventive and integral part of the story, it's written so well it's easy to believe there actually could be a world like this and I loved how orogeny obeyed thermodynamics (with orogenes needing to absorb heat from the environment to use it).
Of the three stories, I probably liked Syenite's the best though initially I thought it was the weakest. It rapidly picked up momentum after a certain point. The others were great as well though and I enjoyed the contrast of the extravagance of the Fulcrum in Damaya's story to the severity of a Fifth Season in Essun's. Overall, it had just a bit of everything you'd want in a fantasy novel. There was mystery, adventure, triumphs, losses, childhood wonder, and even some creepy moments.
I'd been wanting to read this for some while with high expectations and I can see why it's so well-regarded! The worldbuilding is top notch and each of the three storylines (Essun, Damaya, Syenite) bring unique perspectives and explore different aspects of the world such as orogeny (earth magic), the Fulcrum, comms, and the Fifth Season. I also liked how the these storylines gradually threaded together. The orogeny and sessapinae (organs in the brain that detect vibrations in the earth) were such an inventive and integral part of the story, it's written so well it's easy to believe there actually could be a world like this and I loved how orogeny obeyed thermodynamics (with orogenes needing to absorb heat from the environment to use it).
Of the three stories, I probably liked Syenite's the best though initially I thought it was the weakest. It rapidly picked up momentum after a certain point. The others were great as well though and I enjoyed the contrast of the extravagance of the Fulcrum in Damaya's story to the severity of a Fifth Season in Essun's. Overall, it had just a bit of everything you'd want in a fantasy novel. There was mystery, adventure, triumphs, losses, childhood wonder, and even some creepy moments.
Likes:
- NK Jemisin is known for her worldbuilding and she's at her best here. Everything feels so original, it's like discovering something new for the first time!
- Orogeny is such a creative form of magic and it was incredibly well developed. I love how thermodynamics was tied into it seeing how it was not just used to move the earth but also to ice things. It was also fascinating to see how it fits in society. It's simultaneously needed and feared.
- I really liked Essun's maternal aspects, both in grieving for Uche, searching for Nassun, and adopting Hoa.
- There are a lot of themes in the book that came across very naturally throughout the story such as parental love, oppression, exploitation, fear of the unknown, freedom, legacy, and the costs of survival.
- The ending (or ending line) was completely unexpected to me but upon reflection was hinted at throughout and made me really excited for the next book. It was something I'd never think to consider since I take it for granted living in a stable world.
Dislikes:
- The forced sex scenes between Syenite and Alabaster are really uncomfortable and there are many of them. I understand it's to illustrate that the orogenes are essentially slaves for the Fulcrum, forced to reproduce just like real world slaves were, but there could have been less and it's a bit of a chore to read just as it's a chore for the characters.
Other Notes:
- I know this book is notable for having a second person perspective, but I found it much easier to adjust to than I expected. I suppose I've read many first person books and have no problem following "I", and it's about the same for the second person "you", but it left me with an eerie feeling like being watched which added to the mystery of the book.
Would Recommend To:
- Anyone interested in fantasy with strong worldbuilding, especially if you're interested in post-apocalyptic fantasy with magic rooted in science.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Anyone not interested in fantasy. And this may not be for every fantasy fan either, there are a lot of adult themes and the story can be incredibly dark at times dealing with having to live in a world like the Stillness or how orogenes are persecuted.
Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Overall Thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and so I'm still unsure if it met my expectations or not. It's a great reflection on death, near-death, dying, grief, and life and explores them from the perspective of an individual and society, ranging from death of a family member, a stranger, mass death, and celebrity death. There's even an odd moment where a tree reflects on its death and transformation into a desk. It's a good reminder that everything ends and explores the thought process around that.
That said, I'm not sure I liked the format. It's very experimental I'd say. It centers around Wolf meeting Mrs. Death and writing about some of the deaths she's observed and she tells the story of a number of deaths from Wolf's ancestors. It's a mix of interview-like conversations, poems, stories, observations, and reflections and the tone could best be stated as something like reading a stream-of-conscience, both from Wolf and Mrs. Death. There's also a substantial amount of repetition. Repetition in which words or phrases are repeated either directly or in variation. Repetition to drive home a point or to add a poetical lyricism. Repetition for the sake of repetition. Repetition, repetition. While the book has some great reflections on death, I think the format detracts a lot from it since the book seems to ramble throughout it.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and so I'm still unsure if it met my expectations or not. It's a great reflection on death, near-death, dying, grief, and life and explores them from the perspective of an individual and society, ranging from death of a family member, a stranger, mass death, and celebrity death. There's even an odd moment where a tree reflects on its death and transformation into a desk. It's a good reminder that everything ends and explores the thought process around that.
That said, I'm not sure I liked the format. It's very experimental I'd say. It centers around Wolf meeting Mrs. Death and writing about some of the deaths she's observed and she tells the story of a number of deaths from Wolf's ancestors. It's a mix of interview-like conversations, poems, stories, observations, and reflections and the tone could best be stated as something like reading a stream-of-conscience, both from Wolf and Mrs. Death. There's also a substantial amount of repetition. Repetition in which words or phrases are repeated either directly or in variation. Repetition to drive home a point or to add a poetical lyricism. Repetition for the sake of repetition. Repetition, repetition. While the book has some great reflections on death, I think the format detracts a lot from it since the book seems to ramble throughout it.
Likes:
- The book will make you reflect on a wide range of things related to death and there were a lot of great examples that made me stop to think about.
- As weird as it was, I liked the part about the tree reflecting on its death to become a desk and it served as a great example of how death is both a transformation and an essential part of existence.
Dislikes:
- The style of the book took me away from it. It felt like a rambling stream-of-conscience and the repeated format change (poem, story, interview, etc) made it feel even more inconsistent.
Other Notes:
- This is a fairly quick read. In the introduction it says it's intended to be readable on the train from London to Liverpool and I'd say it succeeds at that since it took me 3.5 hours to read.
Would Recommend To:
- Someone interested in reading and reflecting on death, dying, grief, and how society connects to that. You should also be interested in reading about it in an experimental format since the book is a mix of loosely connected poems, stories, observations, and interviews with Mrs. Death and reads like a stream-of-conscience. If you like poetry there are quite a few sprinkled throughout as well.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Since this book deals with heavy topics including death, murder, rape, abuse, and suicide, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who would be bothered by any of those. Also it has an unusual format as a bunch of loosely connected poems and stories so if you're looking for a strong overarching narrative this isn't it.
A River Called Time by Courttia Newland
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Overall Thoughts:
In the afterward the author said he'd had ideas for two different books, one on a world without colonialism and the other on astral projection, and decided to merge the ideas into one book. I don't think he did himself any favors doing so as both ideas are under-developed in my opinion and the end result is a largely incoherent mess where not a lot happens until the final 20% or so.
First, with the world without colonialism I felt he achieved the exact opposite of what he intended. That world is dystopian, far more stratified, highly corporate with few liberties, and somehow substantially more advanced with the Ark (built in the early 1900's) being a 4 mile tall and 5 mile underground super-structure built over London where everyone sleeps in VR pods. Meanwhile, in real life, the Industrial Revolution largely happened due to the stolen wealth and labor exploited by colonial powers so is he arguing we'd have been more advanced without colonialism? Then, the few chapters that do explore the real life London arguably depict a life better for all the characters even though they struggle with the lingering effects of British colonialism and racism in society. It's unfortunate this was such a small part of the book because it was superbly written and I would have loved an entire book of this.
Second, the astral projection is really underutilized. There are only a few instances throughout the book of Markriss using it, but the majority is used to explore alternate Diniums. None of the cosmology behind it gets explained until the last pages either, and I feel it would have been better if some of it is mentioned earlier. For the book supposedly centering around the astral projection, a lot of times it feels like an afterthought.
Lastly, this was a really painful and slow read for a lot of reasons. I'm not one to DNF a book because I feel I can't judge it fairly until I've read the entire thing, but I don't think I've ever been so tempted to DNF a book every 2 pages. The book is needlessly vivid and over-detailed, to the point where every environment and person is described in excruciating detail and it really makes the story feel choppy. There are also a lot of passive voice and sentence fragments sprinkled throughout which exacerbates this.
In the afterward the author said he'd had ideas for two different books, one on a world without colonialism and the other on astral projection, and decided to merge the ideas into one book. I don't think he did himself any favors doing so as both ideas are under-developed in my opinion and the end result is a largely incoherent mess where not a lot happens until the final 20% or so.
First, with the world without colonialism I felt he achieved the exact opposite of what he intended. That world is dystopian, far more stratified, highly corporate with few liberties, and somehow substantially more advanced with the Ark (built in the early 1900's) being a 4 mile tall and 5 mile underground super-structure built over London where everyone sleeps in VR pods. Meanwhile, in real life, the Industrial Revolution largely happened due to the stolen wealth and labor exploited by colonial powers so is he arguing we'd have been more advanced without colonialism? Then, the few chapters that do explore the real life London arguably depict a life better for all the characters even though they struggle with the lingering effects of British colonialism and racism in society. It's unfortunate this was such a small part of the book because it was superbly written and I would have loved an entire book of this.
Second, the astral projection is really underutilized. There are only a few instances throughout the book of Markriss using it, but the majority is used to explore alternate Diniums. None of the cosmology behind it gets explained until the last pages either, and I feel it would have been better if some of it is mentioned earlier. For the book supposedly centering around the astral projection, a lot of times it feels like an afterthought.
Lastly, this was a really painful and slow read for a lot of reasons. I'm not one to DNF a book because I feel I can't judge it fairly until I've read the entire thing, but I don't think I've ever been so tempted to DNF a book every 2 pages. The book is needlessly vivid and over-detailed, to the point where every environment and person is described in excruciating detail and it really makes the story feel choppy. There are also a lot of passive voice and sentence fragments sprinkled throughout which exacerbates this.
Likes:
- The parts set in modern London were superb. The writing was compelling and there were powerful examples of how colonialism and racism have affected people. Unfortunately, this is such a small section of the book and the fact that all the characters were better off in modern London seems to make the argument that the London without colonialism (Dinium) is worse off.
Dislikes:
- The book was way too needlessly vivid and descriptive. It was a laborious read because something would happen and then several paragraphs were spent describing their surroundings in vivid detail, and if a new character shows up another paragraph or two describing their appearance, and then finally you have to scroll back a couple pages to remember what was going on in the scene before to continue reading. It's like this almost the entire book.
- There are a lot of passive voice and sentence fragments sprinkled throughout the book which makes it even more painful to read.
- I didn't like a majority of the world-building surrounding Dinium and if the purpose was depicting a world without colonialism it seemed to only argue that colonialism made a better world with how much worse that world was. In particular, Dinium seems simultaneously far more advanced yet substantially worse than modern London.
- I had a lot of nitpicky things about the world-building too. The Ark is powered by harvesting the kinetic energy from people in their sleep pods? He knows kinetic energy is the energy of motion, right? Spaghetti Bolognese exists? Interestingly, he said he received criticism from an editor about this that black people don't eat it (they do), but my issue is tomatoes came from the Americas via colonialism and in a world where English is a near extinct language, somehow Italian culture is preserved to an extent they have identical foods.
- The needed background on the cosmology of astral projection doesn't arrive until the last pages and it's too little, too late.
- There is a scene of people being executed by a machete and with the excessive vividness and detail the book has it ends up being a very uncomfortable and gory scene.
Other Notes:
- There is an E-Lul Corporation in the book which humorously means something derogatory in Dutch.
Would Recommend To:
- If you're interested in anti-colonial work, the chapters set in modern London are very powerful, but unfortunately you need to muck through hundreds of pages that seem to tell the opposite story of "look how bad the world is without colonialism".
Do Not Recommend To:
- I don't really recommend this to anyone. I think it had a lot of potential but it needed a few more drafts and to commit to one idea rather than trying to do too much (and accomplishing little of it). I have a feeling it made sense in the author's head, but unfortunately he didn't communicate that on paper.
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
dark
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
I read this as part of a class on the psychology of death. I think it was a really effective book that made me think a lot. It really surprised me all the different ways that people celebrate their dead and there was a very broad sampling of death cultures from around the world ranging for traditional to hyper-modern. Some of these traditions seem bizarre and unnerving and would even be considered disrespectful to the dead from a Western perspective, but then you read about all the love and attention that people put into these customs for the deceased and it makes you wonder if a sealed off burial vault or cremation shows as much respect for the dead or if we're just trying to sanitize the experience of losing a loved one. This is by no means a comprehensive list of death customs from around the world, but the ones that we're presented with really do cover a wide range and there is a bit of everything in it.
I read this as part of a class on the psychology of death. I think it was a really effective book that made me think a lot. It really surprised me all the different ways that people celebrate their dead and there was a very broad sampling of death cultures from around the world ranging for traditional to hyper-modern. Some of these traditions seem bizarre and unnerving and would even be considered disrespectful to the dead from a Western perspective, but then you read about all the love and attention that people put into these customs for the deceased and it makes you wonder if a sealed off burial vault or cremation shows as much respect for the dead or if we're just trying to sanitize the experience of losing a loved one. This is by no means a comprehensive list of death customs from around the world, but the ones that we're presented with really do cover a wide range and there is a bit of everything in it.
Likes:
- I liked the range of stories and cultures that are explored. The book ranges from traditional (Indonesia, Bolivia) to hyper-modern (North Carolina, Japan) and a whole range in between.
- This book really makes you think. Some of the death customs seem extremely bizarre or even disrespectful to my American perspective, but the book challenges you on that because those same people would also think that burying your dead in a sealed off vault or cremating them would be equally bizarre and disrespectful.
- There is a lot of insight into the US death industry and just how much it has lobbied to keep things certain ways.
Dislikes:
- The tone takes some getting used to. If you've seen any of Caitlin Doughty's "Ask a Mortician" YouTube videos you'll notice it's the same tone full of jokes and pop culture references. While it works for the videos because you can hear her intonation, I feel in written form many of the stories read like a macabre blog post more than anything.
Other Notes:
- NA
Would Recommend To:
- I'd recommend this to most people. I think everyone has difficulty talking or thinking about death and this book helps contextualize it with perspectives across the world.
Do Not Recommend To:
- People with a faint stomach. Some of the stories are quite uncomfortable to a Western perspective but still valuable to read about nonetheless.
Luckenbooth by Jenni Fagan
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Overall Thoughts:
I'm not sure what to say about this book besides I hated it. Supposedly the devil sells his daughter to a man and he seems great at first then really awful so she curses him and the building, then the whole story devolves into loosely connected short stories filled to the brim with sex and drug use. That's the whole book, there's not really a plot.
I'm not sure what to say about this book besides I hated it. Supposedly the devil sells his daughter to a man and he seems great at first then really awful so she curses him and the building, then the whole story devolves into loosely connected short stories filled to the brim with sex and drug use. That's the whole book, there's not really a plot.
Likes:
- The characters did have a lot of marginalized perspectives and the book wasn't afraid to show how society disadvantages certain kinds of folks due to their gender or race or sexuality, etc.
Dislikes:
- There's not really much of a plot. It's more a character study but none of the characters are compelling and many of them are awful people so they're not even interesting to read about.
- Almost every story has graphic sex and/or drug use to the point where it feels like the story is just an excuse to lead to the next sex scene.
- Supposedly the tenants are cursed but their stories really just reflect the life of poor and marginalized peoples. There's some supernatural elements in some of them, but nothing really comes across as a curse.
Other Notes:
- NA
Would Recommend To:
- People who like dark, gothic, borderline erotica stories because you get a lot of that.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Most people. I think only a niche group of people would enjoy this.
The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Overall Thoughts:
I was a bit underwhelmed by this. On one hand, it was great to finally learn more about the German practitioners after they've been teased so long and the book does a good job going into their history and different practices (which they operate quite differently from the Folly), but on the other hand this felt more like a standard Rivers of London book with German words sprinkled in. Not enough was changed tonally or in the narrative voice to make me feel this was anything different and at times I forgot it was taking place in Germany because my mind kept defaulting to Peter. That said, I really liked Tobi and Vanessa as a team and I hope they show up more in the future (hopefully in a partnership with the Folly).
I was a bit underwhelmed by this. On one hand, it was great to finally learn more about the German practitioners after they've been teased so long and the book does a good job going into their history and different practices (which they operate quite differently from the Folly), but on the other hand this felt more like a standard Rivers of London book with German words sprinkled in. Not enough was changed tonally or in the narrative voice to make me feel this was anything different and at times I forgot it was taking place in Germany because my mind kept defaulting to Peter. That said, I really liked Tobi and Vanessa as a team and I hope they show up more in the future (hopefully in a partnership with the Folly).
Likes:
- You learn a lot about the German practitioners that so far have just been briefly referenced or alluded to by Nightingale. On a similar note, I liked seeing their perspective of Nightingale and Peter.
- The German practitioners definitely handle things differently than the Folly.
- I liked meeting the German river deities and they seemed very different from the ones in England.
- Tobi and Vanessa were a good team and had a professional dynamic. Both brought different things to the table and I hope we see more of them in future books.
Dislikes:
- I don't think Tobi was differentiated enough from Peter. Sure he had different interests and background but they narrated things largely the same way. There were times I'd be reading it and my mind would lapse to Peter doing the adventure until something that reminded me this was taking place in Germany.
- Similarly, this doesn't read that differently than the other Rivers of London books. While I'm not sure if that's a bad thing because it feels it contributes to an identity for the series, it still felt out of place here especially the prevalence of the British humor. I think besides the German words sprinkled throughout there's not enough that really gives it a German identity.
Other Notes:
- There's a scene of an attempted rape just to warn anyone that might bother.
Would Recommend To:
- Anyone who has read and enjoyed the earlier books in the series. I wouldn't say it's one of the stronger books but it brings more of the same and finally introduces the German practitioners that have been hinted at for so long. It's also fairly self-contained so I feel this could be read before the others as well, it does a decent job re-introducing concepts such as forma and vestigia.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Anyone who isn't interested in police procedurals or magic in the real world. I think this is standalone enough that it can be read without reading the other books in the series as well so I don't think it's a requirement to read them first.
A Heart Divided by Jin Yong
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall Thoughts:
This was a fantastic conclusion to the story started in the earlier volumes! It brought back some of the story elements that were missing in volumes 2 and 3 (notably the heavy presence of the Mongolians and connecting the story to actual historical events). This was everything the previous volumes were building up to, especially since the King Duan is introduced in the beginning so the protagonists have met all of the Five Greats that were still living. This book also represented a significant tonal shift by becoming noticeably more philosophical and reflective. In particular, there is a lot of reflection on the costs of war, the effects of imperialism on the common folk, and the responsibilities of a martial artist. While the earlier volumes also had their fair share of dark moments despite an overall lighthearted and adventurous tone, this was definitely the darkest of the bunch and there are some extremely sad and emotional moments.
This was a fantastic conclusion to the story started in the earlier volumes! It brought back some of the story elements that were missing in volumes 2 and 3 (notably the heavy presence of the Mongolians and connecting the story to actual historical events). This was everything the previous volumes were building up to, especially since the King Duan is introduced in the beginning so the protagonists have met all of the Five Greats that were still living. This book also represented a significant tonal shift by becoming noticeably more philosophical and reflective. In particular, there is a lot of reflection on the costs of war, the effects of imperialism on the common folk, and the responsibilities of a martial artist. While the earlier volumes also had their fair share of dark moments despite an overall lighthearted and adventurous tone, this was definitely the darkest of the bunch and there are some extremely sad and emotional moments.
Likes:
- The Mongolians have a big part in this book again after being side-lined for most of A Bond Undone and A Snake Lies Waiting.
- I liked how certain historical events were weaved into the story after things had gone in an original direction during the middle two volumes.
- Guo Jing starts maturing and learning to think for himself (though he really struggles with it).
- The way the fight with Viper Ouyang went at the end was very clever and unexpected (and a bit frightening).
- I thought the Contest of Mount Hua was a great conclusion to the four books. I liked that it was not just a contest of martial arts but also an exploration of the values of kung fu.
- Apothecary Huang started to grow on me especially when I realized he's probably a bit bipolar given how he acts and reacts.
- The philosophical angle was new and feels like the whole story was building up to these reflections because there were many events throughout the
- The conclusion to Yang Kang's character arc. I won't say more because it's very spoilery and I have a feeling that some will love it and others hate it.
- King Duan was the last of the Five Greats we needed to meet and I liked how different he was from the others. We also get a flashback with Wang Chongyang to round it all out (though I always felt like Zhou Botong took his place in that ranking).
Dislikes:
- The kung fu started to get a lot more anime style where characters were fighting with just their energy.
- Lotus is really inconsistent in this book and starts to act like her father which I did not like because she always seemed more mature than that. That said, she really started to shine from Iron Spear Temple on.
- Unfortunately you never really get closure on Laurel Lu and Emerald Cheng besides a brief line which is surprising given how they featured in A Snake Lies Waiting and how well Jin Yong tied up other loose threads.
- Zhou Botong's immaturity starts to overstay its welcome. I think it's a bad sign when Guo Jing and Lotus mature more than him, especially with how he acts towards Madam Ying.
Other Notes:
- I binged all 4 volumes in only 7 days to give you an idea of how much I enjoyed this!
- Like the earlier books, the appendix is full of notes that give added meaning to various cultural and historical references. Again, they aren't necessary but I found them worthwhile reading especially in this volume where the historical tie-ins are a lot more significant.
Would Recommend To:
- If you've already read the first three volumes and enjoyed them then I definitely recommend finishing the story. This is a great conclusion and a stronger entry than the previous one A Snake Lies Waiting.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Anyone who hasn't read the first three volumes, A Hero Born, A Bond Undone, and A Snake Lies Waiting, because this is the final volume of a four volume book.
A Snake Lies Waiting by Jin Yong
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
This is easily the weakest of the first three books in my opinion. There are stretches where the story meanders about and where not a lot happens ranging from several chapters spent being lost at sea and several more resting in an abandoned inn. That said, a lot of the tension in this story is emotional more than action-based and the stakes are incredibly high for a lot of the characters. There are still some great action sequences though, but it's quite an emotional rollercoaster on who is loyal to who, what allegiances are made and broken, and who lives or dies. There is a lot of build-up in the last few chapters, no doubt setting the stage for the last book.
This is easily the weakest of the first three books in my opinion. There are stretches where the story meanders about and where not a lot happens ranging from several chapters spent being lost at sea and several more resting in an abandoned inn. That said, a lot of the tension in this story is emotional more than action-based and the stakes are incredibly high for a lot of the characters. There are still some great action sequences though, but it's quite an emotional rollercoaster on who is loyal to who, what allegiances are made and broken, and who lives or dies. There is a lot of build-up in the last few chapters, no doubt setting the stage for the last book.
Likes:
- I liked that Lotus gets a power-up this time and not just Guo Jing (who also gets one). It's also really shown how much they've grown in that they're now on more equal terms with the villains from the end of the first book.
- Zhou Botong is hilarious in his scenes. It's especially great when he shows up with a "friend".
- It's hard to tell if Viper Ouyang or Apothecary Huang are meant to be the villain of the story, but both are extremely terrifying for many reasons and you'd just hate to be on their bad side.
- I liked seeing more of the Quanzhen Sect and the Beggar Clan. The Quanzhen Sect in particular have a fascinating fight scene.
- This book took some of the themes of the earlier books (loyalty, duty, honor, love, etc) and started to add some obstacles or grey areas that made things a lot more morally ambiguous for the characters.
- There's a callback to the beginning of the first book that has some significance and I like how that came full circle in a way.
Dislikes:
- I started to get frustrated at how many times the protagonists get into bad situations because they extend trust or kindness to people who have already shown themselves to be untrustworthy.
- There are a lot of slow periods in the book where characters stay in one place and not a lot happens besides dialogue.
- Not a lot actually happens in the book outside of a few key moments and a lot of the focus is on secondary characters.
Other Notes:
- Like the last book, this one also starts immediately after the cliffhanger of the last book and ends on another cliffhanger. Because these are long books and four altogether, I'd say the best place for a break would be between volumes 2 and 3 because the end of this one feels like it's building up to the conclusion.
- Like the earlier books, the appendix is full of notes that give added meaning to various cultural and historical references. Again, they aren't necessary but I found them worthwhile reading.
Would Recommend To:
- Anyone who enjoyed the first two books, A Hero Born and A Bond Undone. This book starts after the cliffhanger from the second book but I feel if you need a break (because these are long books) the best place would be before this book since this one also ends on a cliffhanger leading into the last book.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Anyone who hasn't read the first two books, A Hero Born and A Bond Undone, because they are essentially volumes 1-2 of a four volume book and this is volume 3.
A Bond Undone by Jin Yong
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall Thoughts:
This was a fantastic follow-up to A Hero Born! While there were substantially fewer historical tie-ins, the story takes its own original direction diving deeper into the martial arts realm and strengthening the relationship between Guo Jing and Lotus. This book begins immediately from where A Hero Born left off which means the book starts on an exciting note, but unfortunately it immediately slows down a bit after that and takes a while to build momentum again, but once it gets going it stays going. I definitely recommend reading this back-to-back in order to get a smoother narrative. That said, it builds on all the groundwork laid in the first book and I binged this book like the first one because I had to find out what happened next. It's certainly a grand adventure and features everything from martial arts masters to pirates!
This was a fantastic follow-up to A Hero Born! While there were substantially fewer historical tie-ins, the story takes its own original direction diving deeper into the martial arts realm and strengthening the relationship between Guo Jing and Lotus. This book begins immediately from where A Hero Born left off which means the book starts on an exciting note, but unfortunately it immediately slows down a bit after that and takes a while to build momentum again, but once it gets going it stays going. I definitely recommend reading this back-to-back in order to get a smoother narrative. That said, it builds on all the groundwork laid in the first book and I binged this book like the first one because I had to find out what happened next. It's certainly a grand adventure and features everything from martial arts masters to pirates!
Likes:
- Guo Jing and Lotus are a great team and really play to each others' strengths.
- Guo Jing has a significant power-up in this book and it feels rewarding watching him grow. I especially liked his face-off with Gallant Ouyang during Apothecary Huang's trials.
- I enjoyed getting to learn more about the five martial arts greats and several feature prominently in the story. Apothecary Huang in particular was equal parts impressive and terrifying.
- The fight scenes again were superb.
- The themes present in the first book (such as loyalty, duty, honor, love, etc) are all present in this one as well.
- There aren't as many twists as in A Hero Born, but the ones that are there fit well into the story especially the unexpected return of a certain character.
Dislikes:
- The pacing was a bit odd. It started off probably at its most intense because it begins immediately from the cliffhanger in A Hero Born and has a quite action-packed beginning but later on there are several chapters of downtime that is mostly focused on Guo Jing training, but after a point the story picks up again and has a fairly steady pace.
- The promised face-off between Guo Jing and Yang Kang that the whole first book built up to was really underwhelming, especially compared to their fight in the first book.
- The name localization feels even more inconsistent here. While partially localized names like Skyfury Guo and Ironheart Yang seemed alright in the first book, one of the prominent characters is called Count Seven Hong and that especially felt out of place.
Other Notes:
- While this book ends on a cliffhanger like A Hero Born, it feels like a more natural one at that rather than in the middle of an action scene so I think you could get away with taking a break after this one if you're reading all four volumes.
- Like the first book, the appendix is full of notes that give added meaning to various cultural and historical references. Again, they aren't necessary but I found them worthwhile reading.
Would Recommend To:
- Anyone who enjoyed the first book, A Hero Born. This continues immediately from where that left off and expands the story in new directions.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Anyone who hasn't read the first book, A Hero Born, because this picks up immediately after that one.
A Hero Born by Jin Yong
Dislikes:
Other Notes:
Would Recommend To:
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Overall Thoughts:
Wow! This book amazed me! I'm quite a fan of wuxia films (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon being one of my favorites) and this more or less reads exactly like one of those films and I'd call it an action novel if there is such a thing. There were so many great martial arts scenes and they felt like something out of a movie or anime series. One even lasted 15 pages and had my heart racing!
That said, it's not a shallow action story at all. There are a lot of great themes presented in the story such as loyalty, duty, honor, and love all within the historical setting of Jin and Song China and the Mongolian hordes. There is a lot of political intrigue, culture, and history intertwined with the story to beautiful effect. There were also a substantial number of twists and turn of varying complexity and they all fit in very naturally into the story. Some were easy to anticipate while others were completely unexpected and they overall created a gripping narrative.
Wow! This book amazed me! I'm quite a fan of wuxia films (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon being one of my favorites) and this more or less reads exactly like one of those films and I'd call it an action novel if there is such a thing. There were so many great martial arts scenes and they felt like something out of a movie or anime series. One even lasted 15 pages and had my heart racing!
That said, it's not a shallow action story at all. There are a lot of great themes presented in the story such as loyalty, duty, honor, and love all within the historical setting of Jin and Song China and the Mongolian hordes. There is a lot of political intrigue, culture, and history intertwined with the story to beautiful effect. There were also a substantial number of twists and turn of varying complexity and they all fit in very naturally into the story. Some were easy to anticipate while others were completely unexpected and they overall created a gripping narrative.
Likes:
- I really enjoyed how the story fit within the history of the Jin invasion of Song China and the unification of the Mongolian tribes under Genghis Khan. While there are some minor liberties taken for the sake of the story, it contributes to an epic feeling of being part of something larger. I especially liked Temujin (Genghis Khan) as a character.
- There were a lot of really intense and exciting fight scenes that had me at the edge of my seat and my heart racing! My favorite was the fight between the Seven Freaks and Twice Foul Dark Wind that lasted 15 pages!
- This book had quite a few twists and turns and a great variety at that. Some you readily anticipate because you're privy to more information than the characters. Others you can figure out if you pay attention to a breadcrumb trail of clues. Some more twists I wasn't able to anticipate at all but in hindsight make perfect sense because the book didn't explicitly rule out the possibility. Lastly a fourth kind of twist exists that you'll only be aware of if you're familiar with the history of the period when the plot takes a turn to follow historical events.
- I found Guo Jing very endearing. He's a bit dim-witted but sincere and good-hearted to a fault.
- The villains are truly frightening, both from their personalities and their martial skills.
Dislikes:
- For the arc of the book premised on the bond between Guo Jing and Yang Kang, most of the story focuses on Guo Jing and Yang Kang does not have a huge part in it.
- Names are localized inconsistently. Some are direct translations (such as Ke Zhen'e) while others translate the first name and leave a Chinese surname (Mercy Mu). It was a weird stylistic choice and sometimes I was unsure if these were names or titles.
Other Notes:
- This book ends on a cliffhanger right in the middle of an action sequence so you'll definitely want to plan to read the next part, A Bond Undone, immediately afterwards.
- The appendix has various historical and cultural notes ordered by page so it's nice to check through these every few chapters because it adds some nice context. None of it was really necessary to follow the story, but it was quite neat seeing that certain characters or references have historical significance.
Would Recommend To:
- Anyone who enjoys martial arts, kung fu, or wuxia genres. This book also reads like it could easily be adapted into an anime or JRPG so if you enjoy either of these things you'll probably like this as well. Also someone interested in Chinese history especially that of the Song and Jin Empires and the reign of Genghis Khan as it's set during that time.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Anyone disinterested in martial arts, kung fu, or wuxia genres. Also it would be best to avoid this if you don't want a long read because this isn't a standalone book but rather volume 1 of a much longer book.