Helen

Mid

Revisado: 07-11-24

I was very underwhelmed by this book. It felt like it was trying too hard to be Spinning Silver, without the vulnerability and voice that gave Spinning Silver its charm. The book also felt very aware of its 21st century audience, so the characters did not feel very believable (though I did like Valentina quite a lot). The plot was enjoyable, so I don’t feel like I wasted a credit on it, but I won’t be revisiting it.

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Loved the book, narrator didn't fit

Revisado: 07-04-24

I started this on audio, and wound up finishing the ebook instead, because the narrator just didn't fit the book. I think the narrator would be great for romcom or something more upbeat. Her delivery felt like a good friend telling a funny story, and this book is...not that. It's lyrical, dark, and thought-provoking, and well worth the read.

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Not actually about the great famine

Revisado: 04-13-22

This was more about the trials and tribulations of Edward II than the famine or the climate conditions which caused it. It was still interesting, but it wasn’t as advertised. Also, considering how much time was spent on lurid descriptions of other incidences of violence and how much emphasis there was on the concept of Christendom, I found it strange that the author chose to completely omit any mention of how many Christians responded to the famine by persecuting Jews. The author loses some credibility for treating Wilhelm Tell as a real historical figure, as well as making some other ahistorical claims. It was still worth a listen, but it is not as definitive as it claims to be.

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Fully realized and fascinating

Revisado: 08-19-20

I loved every minute of this book. It has a multidimensional world, a protagonist who is flawed but completely sympathetic and relatable, and an interesting examination of fate and free will. The narrator did a great job portraying Caz’s wry perspective, and I found it refreshing that in this Reconquista-ish story, the author chose not to follow the Isabella or Ferdinand analogue, but instead followed the loyal retainer. I know there are other layers which I’ve missed...so I will absolutely revisit this book again to pick up on more details, and I am already looking forward to it.

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It became tiresome

Revisado: 08-19-20

The setup was all there, but the book simply didn’t follow through. The descriptions of things were great, the narrator did a good job, the world hinted at being interesting, and I liked the sex positivity and message of consent. But the plot wound up taking some turns that were frankly stupid, and the antiheroes were not at all compelling. All told it was pretty mediocre.

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So much unnecessary racism

Revisado: 09-04-19

I would have probably liked this a lot if the author hadn't decided to pack in as much racism and sexism as possible without actually swearing. I realize that the 1930s were not a golden era of equality and tolerance, but they also lacked wizards and dirigibles, so I feel like if we can accept that there is magic, we can also pump the breaks on the racist tirades. It's fantasy. You can have the aesthetics of 30s noir without constantly making derogatory remarks that add nothing to the story.

The narrator was great, the worldbuilding was good and the magic itself was interesting. But most of the characters were boring and the POV kept switching to characters which were actively insufferable, so between that and the selectively chosen period slang, an otherwise cool idea turned into a chore. Don't waste your time.

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Cute, but that’s all

Revisado: 07-15-18

I switched to the kindle version after a couple hours, which was a good decision. The writing was okay, the references made me smile, but the plot was boring, the characters were dull, and it wasn’t witty or surprising enough to carry the rest of the audiobook. The ebook has cute illustrations, which helped. Otherwise...meh.

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Jemisin is an inspiration

Revisado: 03-28-18

What did you love best about The Killing Moon?

I love that none of the characters are all good, and none are all evil. I had to think hard about who was in the right and why, and that thought process taught me something about myself and my own worldview...which is not something you encounter often in fantasy.
Jemisin's world building is also incredible, as always, and it's different from her other books. There was a bit of a learning curve when it comes to the world-specific vocabulary, but that's something every fantasy/scifi fan gets used to.

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciate the diversity of characters. A multitude of genders, races, philosophies, and classes are represented, and giving each character a different background adds a lot of nuance that many fantasy writers simply lack. Also, none of the characters have plot armor. And though several characters are following the archetypical hero's journey, they are all on different stages, and Jemisin has a fresh take on the various phases and pressures on people in different stages of life.

What does Sarah Zimmerman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice is soft on purpose. When I read, I have a tendency to rush, but Zimmerman made me slow down, which enhanced the dreamlike quality of the writing. I can understand people who could get bored with the tone, because it did demand focus, but overall I appreciate the artistic agency that Zimmerman exercises over the text.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely not. There were passages where I had to pause and think about what was just said, and at times, I needed to emotionally disengage and take a break (ie when "good" characters do terrible things, or when terrible things happen to "good" characters).

Any additional comments?

Jemisin makes me think. And whenever I finish one of her books, I am inspired to create my own art; I'm not passive or just consuming her product, she challenges me to become an artist myself. That's rare, and I love it.

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I kept waiting to care

Revisado: 02-18-18

I bought this because Pratchett is one of my favorite authors. However, in this book, he disappoints. I just couldn’t get into the story. The political, social and economic ramifications of the premise are extremely well thought out, but the characters fell flat, and I spent the majority of the book waiting to feel anything other than indifference. I finally gave up and checked out the ebook from the library, so that I could get done with it faster; the only reason I finished at all was that I thought it might improve at the 11th hour. Hope dies last.

The narrator was fine, though forgettable except for the occasional incongruities in his accent and voices.

Overall though, this wasn’t my cup of tea.

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Western-centric and sometimes hyperbolic

Revisado: 01-15-18

I found this book informative, especially in regards to the origins of the six drinks, but I was unimpressed with the author’s treatment of non-European history. For example, I learned a lot in the section on spirits, but I noticed that the author *not once* referred to kidnapped Africans as people, only as slaves. In the section on tea, the British attitude and politics surrounding tea received at least 40 minutes and several quotations, but Japanese tea ceremony received only a 5-minute description; no history or origins, no political significance, just a description of some of the tools. Also, I am skeptical of the author’s case for the impact of each beverage. Yes, they were crucial, but to suggest that the modern toast is a remnant of ancient Sumerian religious ceremonies seems a bit overzealous. The epilogue and recipes at the end, however, were fascinating. All told, I’m glad I listened, but I would advise a good dose of skepticism throughout.

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