Stormdancer
(Lotus War #1)
by Jay Kristoff
fantasy, dystopia, steampunk
copyright 2012
read in November 2020
rated 9/10: really really good
I have already read book two of this series -- and enjoyed it. I enjoyed this book even more. Possibly because it was book one and everyone was introduced to the reader.
I do feel that I should deduct a few points from my rating, for the author's self-description. He grew up in the city where I live, and "fled at his earliest convenience." Bah, humbug! Best city in the world! mumble mumble...
Despite that, it is a good book. Great characters, a fascinating world, a mixture of old Japan and more modern steampunk.
There is a lot of violence. Most of it is a natural part of the story. Some is... sad. Some characters that I liked... die.
The adventure is exciting. A lot of action, all part of the story. Good and bad characters -- nice and nasty, that is -- battle it out. Some are just good or evil, others are more complex, with good reasons for their actions.
And, of course, there is the griffin. Who needs a dragon when you have a griffin! The griffin -- strangely enough -- is also a very likeable character.
This is book one, the start of a saga. Yet the ending is entirely satisfactory, there is no feeling of incompleteness. A book that stands alone -- yet leaves me wanting to read more.
I enjoyed the book. I may now look for book two, to read it again.
====
09nov22: Read it again. Same opinion, with some extra observations:
Human rides powerful mythic beast, nothing new there. But... It's not just girl riding beast. It's girl and beast working together.
The griffin is more than a steed. It's a friend. A partner. An equal.
The environmental message is strong. Heavy. Still -- an essential part of the story.
Good steampunk. Fascinating Japanese. A good, enjoyable story.
====
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
===
The best part of [Triple J's Hottest 100] is watching everyone realise they've aged out of the demographic for [Triple J's Hottest 100] ... John Birmingham"
===
Dying for you to read my blog, at https: // notdotdeaddotyet .blogspot. com. au/ :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment