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The Crossing
Those who cross into Rheta from other worlds don’t usually arrive alive. Berro collects the crosser bodies for a prestigious secret project headed by his academic mentor, and he’s proud of his role, but when a living, breathing woman arrives in the forest through a crack in reality, the project and Berro’s ordered life are thrown into disarray.
On Rheta, nature is thriving and conflict is a distant memory. Chaos and cruelty are things belonging to other worlds, other times, and most Rhetari have lapsed into blissful complacency. But Berro is at the epicentre of an event that calls the delicate balance into question. As the crossing project unravels, he confronts the ugly truths about the civilisation he lives in, the work he’s committed to, and the broken parts of himself.
On Rheta, nature is thriving and conflict is a distant memory. Chaos and cruelty are things belonging to other worlds, other times, and most Rhetari have lapsed into blissful complacency. But Berro is at the epicentre of an event that calls the delicate balance into question. As the crossing project unravels, he confronts the ugly truths about the civilisation he lives in, the work he’s committed to, and the broken parts of himself.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2022
1 person is currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 19, 2024
I read this book as a judge on the Wayward Stars team in the SPSFC3 (third annual, self-published science-fiction competition), in the quarterfinals round within our group. This is my own personal review and does not represent the views of the team or any other individuals other than myself.
My overall rating for this ended up as 3.25/5.0 stars. It definitely has some interesting concepts, and i quite enjoyed the overall story and ideas. I think the pacing was a little bit uneven - it started strong, and ended strong, but was maybe a little slow through the middle. I did sympathize with the characters here, which helped with my enjoyment as well.
Overall, a good sci-fi story worth giving a shot.
My overall rating for this ended up as 3.25/5.0 stars. It definitely has some interesting concepts, and i quite enjoyed the overall story and ideas. I think the pacing was a little bit uneven - it started strong, and ended strong, but was maybe a little slow through the middle. I did sympathize with the characters here, which helped with my enjoyment as well.
Overall, a good sci-fi story worth giving a shot.
July 29, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
The Crossing is a science fantasy novel, one of the SPFBO9 entries, and the debut novel from Laurie Janney. The story is set in the world of Rheta, a place with a lush landscape and where technology and nature are intertwined; here, a group of academics are studying the phenomenon of crossing from alternative Earth versions.
The plot follows closely the life of three students of the academy: Berro, Fessi and Virda, each one with its unique backstory that is affecting in their own ways. They are free to focus their studies on whatever they feel; that's until one day a crossing becomes successful, delivering its passenger safely (usually crossings end just with the crossed person's death).
At this point, what we have is a low stakes story, that might be even considered a cozy one, where we are following the students during their life, a story of friendship and portals.
But as it usually happens with this kind of ideal environments, the reality is darker than what is seems. Behind the utopian background, secrets are being kept, and some of them will challenge our characters and force them to grow and overcome their own fears in many ways.
Personally, I found the pacing of this story to be slow, but this seems to be more a myself-problem that one from the book; this character driven story takes its sweet time building the characters so when the mysteries are unleashed, they become more impactful. The coziness appearance gets destroyed once we are shown many of the dilemmas that allow this kind of utopical community existence.
Janey's prose deserves a mention, as it is one of the major strengths of The Crossing. Descriptions are really vivid, creating full of detail images in our head while reading, giving extra credibility to this alien world where the community is situated.
The Crossing is a great debut novel, and a novel that shines for many of its unique aspects; classifying it into a genre is a difficult task. If you enjoy science fantasy, and prefer your stories to be slower paced, I would definitely recommend The Crossing to you.
The Crossing is a science fantasy novel, one of the SPFBO9 entries, and the debut novel from Laurie Janney. The story is set in the world of Rheta, a place with a lush landscape and where technology and nature are intertwined; here, a group of academics are studying the phenomenon of crossing from alternative Earth versions.
The plot follows closely the life of three students of the academy: Berro, Fessi and Virda, each one with its unique backstory that is affecting in their own ways. They are free to focus their studies on whatever they feel; that's until one day a crossing becomes successful, delivering its passenger safely (usually crossings end just with the crossed person's death).
At this point, what we have is a low stakes story, that might be even considered a cozy one, where we are following the students during their life, a story of friendship and portals.
But as it usually happens with this kind of ideal environments, the reality is darker than what is seems. Behind the utopian background, secrets are being kept, and some of them will challenge our characters and force them to grow and overcome their own fears in many ways.
Personally, I found the pacing of this story to be slow, but this seems to be more a myself-problem that one from the book; this character driven story takes its sweet time building the characters so when the mysteries are unleashed, they become more impactful. The coziness appearance gets destroyed once we are shown many of the dilemmas that allow this kind of utopical community existence.
Janey's prose deserves a mention, as it is one of the major strengths of The Crossing. Descriptions are really vivid, creating full of detail images in our head while reading, giving extra credibility to this alien world where the community is situated.
The Crossing is a great debut novel, and a novel that shines for many of its unique aspects; classifying it into a genre is a difficult task. If you enjoy science fantasy, and prefer your stories to be slower paced, I would definitely recommend The Crossing to you.
June 21, 2024
The Crossing by Laurie Janey was quite different from what I expected. It was a bit deceptive. It felt like a mix of close-to-home cozy and high-risk adventure both. That was a bit jarring to be honest but it still had some components that I really enjoyed.
After an exciting first chapter, it slowed down a lot and stayed cozy for a while, introducing the various characters and their homes and lives. I do have to say there were some moments that weren’t very exciting for me that I would’ve probably skipped if this hadn’t been a competition read but overall I liked learning about their lives. The plot didn’t really ramp up again until after the halfway mark, which made the action feel a little rushed but the ending was pretty exciting. I’m eager to hear whether we will get a follow-up there.
There was a little bit of a fantastical component and some interesting technology as well. I enjoyed that mix but also liked that it didn’t necessarily lean heavily into either. It was assumed that the reader knew what the narrator knew, which made for a smooth storytelling approach. The linguistic persecution was an interesting aspect as well that I would’ve loved to learn more about. The comparisons between their world and other worlds and the commentary on our real world that was slipped in felt relevant without being preachy. It was a bit slight on the worldbuilding but the character development was interesting and made up for that.
Speaking of the characters, the Mc seemed very one-dimensional, which seemed annoying at first but eventually came to seem purposefully done and was changed relatively well without making it a jarring switch. But while I enjoyed the reasoning for that and how the change came about, it was maybe some a little too heavily in the beginning and probably contributed to not enjoying some spots of the setup as much. It was interesting though to see how this character reacted when his whole worldview was shaken up. Overall, I did struggle to connect to the characters in general for a while, though I was attached to them by the time the book ended.
It seems that like with all of my quarterfinalist reads in this round, there were quite a bit of positives as well as negatives for me here but overall I would say this was one of the books that stood out to me from the rest. I hope we find out what happens after this book ends and I’m looking forward to reading more of Janey’s writing.
3.5 stars
After an exciting first chapter, it slowed down a lot and stayed cozy for a while, introducing the various characters and their homes and lives. I do have to say there were some moments that weren’t very exciting for me that I would’ve probably skipped if this hadn’t been a competition read but overall I liked learning about their lives. The plot didn’t really ramp up again until after the halfway mark, which made the action feel a little rushed but the ending was pretty exciting. I’m eager to hear whether we will get a follow-up there.
There was a little bit of a fantastical component and some interesting technology as well. I enjoyed that mix but also liked that it didn’t necessarily lean heavily into either. It was assumed that the reader knew what the narrator knew, which made for a smooth storytelling approach. The linguistic persecution was an interesting aspect as well that I would’ve loved to learn more about. The comparisons between their world and other worlds and the commentary on our real world that was slipped in felt relevant without being preachy. It was a bit slight on the worldbuilding but the character development was interesting and made up for that.
Speaking of the characters, the Mc seemed very one-dimensional, which seemed annoying at first but eventually came to seem purposefully done and was changed relatively well without making it a jarring switch. But while I enjoyed the reasoning for that and how the change came about, it was maybe some a little too heavily in the beginning and probably contributed to not enjoying some spots of the setup as much. It was interesting though to see how this character reacted when his whole worldview was shaken up. Overall, I did struggle to connect to the characters in general for a while, though I was attached to them by the time the book ended.
It seems that like with all of my quarterfinalist reads in this round, there were quite a bit of positives as well as negatives for me here but overall I would say this was one of the books that stood out to me from the rest. I hope we find out what happens after this book ends and I’m looking forward to reading more of Janey’s writing.
3.5 stars
July 9, 2023
I wasn't entirely sure what I was going into, with this one. It started mysteriously and sounded so scifi. But it was also slow, wholesome.
I struggled at first to keep the characters straight - but there was something about the prose that kept me going.
I am so glad I did.
I love the way the characters handle conflict, they do so wisely, with such emotional maturity.
There's diversity here, in gender and sexuality: and it works so well.
The plot, when it got going, left me gripped. Oh I just knew the bad guy was a bad guy! But no spoilers here.
I loved it. This has strains of solarpunk and is almost a little Avatar esque. It's got portals and tea and friendship. It's bloody good.
I struggled at first to keep the characters straight - but there was something about the prose that kept me going.
I am so glad I did.
I love the way the characters handle conflict, they do so wisely, with such emotional maturity.
There's diversity here, in gender and sexuality: and it works so well.
The plot, when it got going, left me gripped. Oh I just knew the bad guy was a bad guy! But no spoilers here.
I loved it. This has strains of solarpunk and is almost a little Avatar esque. It's got portals and tea and friendship. It's bloody good.
February 25, 2024
There's tea, tree climbing, heartwarming friendships, sketchy characters, a post-apocalyptic alternate Earth, beautiful prose, and a very satisfying ending - what's not to love?
The pace is slow; however, that doesn’t mean boring or unengaging. It was necessary to build up the world and characters and paid off massively in the end. Even when the pace was slow, the prose was very pleasant to read.
I'm now a fan and cannot wait to see what's next from Laurie Janey.
“Ah, yeah, it’s an Earth-world thing, I guess. Referring to objects as if they’re women. And women as if they’re objects.”
The pace is slow; however, that doesn’t mean boring or unengaging. It was necessary to build up the world and characters and paid off massively in the end. Even when the pace was slow, the prose was very pleasant to read.
I'm now a fan and cannot wait to see what's next from Laurie Janey.
“Ah, yeah, it’s an Earth-world thing, I guess. Referring to objects as if they’re women. And women as if they’re objects.”
Read
January 26, 2024I'm going to pause this book for the time being, reached 37%. I was quite hyped to read this book because it has so many people that loved it to pieces. But as a person with a despairingly short attention span, books that spend pages and pages describing trees and then 3 chapters focusing on the joys of tree climbing will inevitably make me start skimming. The prose is quite pretty, but my mind is not prepared to read 70 pages of gigantic blocks of text that neither advances the story nor really explains the intricacies of the world.
I liked the overall story about a self proclaimed utopia (which is certainly not 100% true) with a society sustained by the energy of a strange quasi-magical invisible force called Marrowcore. I also felt fascinated by the dry tree bathrooms. Very reminiscent of Aztec dry toilets where the waste is dehydrated and later on used as fertilizer.
The story of a human from London that survives the portal jumping due to some unexplained means was great, but sadly left to a tertiary role. Similarly, the quasi-protagonist Berro is usually sidelined in favor of the POVs of various quaternary supporting characters. I have heard the final arc of the book is really good, but I am tempted to just skip the entire middle just to find out what happens in the end.
I liked the overall story about a self proclaimed utopia (which is certainly not 100% true) with a society sustained by the energy of a strange quasi-magical invisible force called Marrowcore. I also felt fascinated by the dry tree bathrooms. Very reminiscent of Aztec dry toilets where the waste is dehydrated and later on used as fertilizer.
The story of a human from London that survives the portal jumping due to some unexplained means was great, but sadly left to a tertiary role. Similarly, the quasi-protagonist Berro is usually sidelined in favor of the POVs of various quaternary supporting characters. I have heard the final arc of the book is really good, but I am tempted to just skip the entire middle just to find out what happens in the end.
October 1, 2023
Trouble in paradise…
A quiet but thoughtful science fantasy set on a post-apocalyptic variant of Earth. It seems the inhabitants are living in a botanical utopia…but nothing is quite as it seems.
I feel maybe it should’ve been either more quiet or less quiet (the pace/stakes changed a lot by the end), but I enjoyed moving through this rich story and world.
A quiet but thoughtful science fantasy set on a post-apocalyptic variant of Earth. It seems the inhabitants are living in a botanical utopia…but nothing is quite as it seems.
I feel maybe it should’ve been either more quiet or less quiet (the pace/stakes changed a lot by the end), but I enjoyed moving through this rich story and world.
Read
June 24, 2023The Crossing popped up on my radar as an entry to this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off contest (SPFBO9). The blurb suggested an intriguingly different experience to most fantasy fare, and I held that impression all the way through.
The writing was tidy. I didn’t find obtrusive typos. That said, there was a fondness for complex sentences, and I occasionally twitched at the sheer number of participial phrases and absolutes.
The setting feels solarpunk, or at least solarpunk-adjacent. I’m not a visual reader and sometimes lost concentration with all the descriptive details. Infrastructure appears environmentally conscious with maybe a touch of complacency about it. There’s a frisson of uneasiness as to just what this “marrowcore” is that seems to power the world so beneficially and simultaneously has effects like a drug.
There are quite a few characters, and it took me a while to get comfortable with all the names. They mostly gave me YA vibes, especially Berro with his quest for approval and validation. We have several viewpoint characters, mainly students of various sorts, some more naive and trusting than others. I enjoyed seeing the fallout where their beliefs and values clashed. There was a fair amount of what I tag “internal emotional processing” played out on page, which strengthened my YA impression. Additionally, the storyline was quite “direct” with relatively little sense of other (non-plot relevant) events in the wider world, which I also tend to associate with YA stories.
If I were forced to pick (and fortunately I’m not), I’d probably tag this as soft SF rather than fantasy in how the speculative elements are presented and handled. (But thankfully, none of info-dumpy crunchy explanations that make my eyes glaze over).
Overall, a nicely presented and refreshingly different read.
The writing was tidy. I didn’t find obtrusive typos. That said, there was a fondness for complex sentences, and I occasionally twitched at the sheer number of participial phrases and absolutes.
The setting feels solarpunk, or at least solarpunk-adjacent. I’m not a visual reader and sometimes lost concentration with all the descriptive details. Infrastructure appears environmentally conscious with maybe a touch of complacency about it. There’s a frisson of uneasiness as to just what this “marrowcore” is that seems to power the world so beneficially and simultaneously has effects like a drug.
There are quite a few characters, and it took me a while to get comfortable with all the names. They mostly gave me YA vibes, especially Berro with his quest for approval and validation. We have several viewpoint characters, mainly students of various sorts, some more naive and trusting than others. I enjoyed seeing the fallout where their beliefs and values clashed. There was a fair amount of what I tag “internal emotional processing” played out on page, which strengthened my YA impression. Additionally, the storyline was quite “direct” with relatively little sense of other (non-plot relevant) events in the wider world, which I also tend to associate with YA stories.
If I were forced to pick (and fortunately I’m not), I’d probably tag this as soft SF rather than fantasy in how the speculative elements are presented and handled. (But thankfully, none of info-dumpy crunchy explanations that make my eyes glaze over).
Overall, a nicely presented and refreshingly different read.
September 13, 2023
This book ended up to be not what I expected but also exactly what I wanted at the same time.
It's really hard to write about this one because I think one needs to go into it and discover it for oneself alone. I read the first chapter for my BBNYA First Chapter Readthrough challenge...thingy and it impressed me immediately with the moody, mysterious style, the science fantasy (is this science fantasy? for me, it is) setting, and the character work. All those things just become better and better as you read more, too. I was intrigued by the crossing phenomenon and couldn't wait to learn about it more.
However, this book is slow. Count on it. It is slow and awesome. Sure, there's plot. The crossing is important and we get to know more and more, there's tension and secrets and even fight scenes, but as much as it is about parallel worlds and a post-apocalyptic, technologically advanced and ecologically balanced utopia and its pitfalls (and yes it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that Rheta is an anagram for Earth), people's evil and greed, and, surprisingly, the prison system, it's also about...just a group of friends navigating the world and their relationships. Drinking a lot of tea, climbing trees, smoking weed (sort of!), talking and messaging each other, and grappling with their roots and their futures.
And that takes center stage beside world-rending secrets and large sociatal changes, and it might be weird at first, but I didn't mind at all. All the POV characters were really-really great with their own stories, fears, and journeys. Berro was an instant favorite...his relationship insecurities, his longing for praise and recognition, his doubts about his family and his role in everything spoke to me and his story was lovingly told. Virda took some time, but I love that angry girl so much. Fessi was the most mysterious of all, but I loved her connection to nature and the "marrow of the world" (what an amazing concept). Some things I wanted to delve into more ended up to be not as emphasized...no matter how wholesome the book is, there's a LOT of things crammed into it from all the well-rounded characters to the many-many interesting alternate world building Stuff, so naturally, a few things or characters didn't get as much time as maybe I wished for . I didn't feel dissatisfied anyway. If anything, I'd just want more. More stories in this world (worlds?) and more time with this group of people I really got to love.
What a great read. I really recommend if you don't mind intricate story and character crafting that takes its time but weaves expertly around many different themes, feelings, and ideas. And if you love cool forests. And tea.
It's really hard to write about this one because I think one needs to go into it and discover it for oneself alone. I read the first chapter for my BBNYA First Chapter Readthrough challenge...thingy and it impressed me immediately with the moody, mysterious style, the science fantasy (is this science fantasy? for me, it is) setting, and the character work. All those things just become better and better as you read more, too. I was intrigued by the crossing phenomenon and couldn't wait to learn about it more.
However, this book is slow. Count on it. It is slow and awesome. Sure, there's plot. The crossing is important and we get to know more and more, there's tension and secrets and even fight scenes, but as much as it is about parallel worlds and a post-apocalyptic, technologically advanced and ecologically balanced utopia and its pitfalls (and yes it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that Rheta is an anagram for Earth), people's evil and greed, and, surprisingly, the prison system, it's also about...just a group of friends navigating the world and their relationships. Drinking a lot of tea, climbing trees, smoking weed (sort of!), talking and messaging each other, and grappling with their roots and their futures.
And that takes center stage beside world-rending secrets and large sociatal changes, and it might be weird at first, but I didn't mind at all. All the POV characters were really-really great with their own stories, fears, and journeys. Berro was an instant favorite...his relationship insecurities, his longing for praise and recognition, his doubts about his family and his role in everything spoke to me and his story was lovingly told. Virda took some time, but I love that angry girl so much. Fessi was the most mysterious of all, but I loved her connection to nature and the "marrow of the world" (what an amazing concept). Some things I wanted to delve into more ended up to be not as emphasized...no matter how wholesome the book is, there's a LOT of things crammed into it from all the well-rounded characters to the many-many interesting alternate world building Stuff, so naturally, a few things or characters didn't get as much time as maybe I wished for . I didn't feel dissatisfied anyway. If anything, I'd just want more. More stories in this world (worlds?) and more time with this group of people I really got to love.
What a great read. I really recommend if you don't mind intricate story and character crafting that takes its time but weaves expertly around many different themes, feelings, and ideas. And if you love cool forests. And tea.
July 24, 2023
From the beginning, I enjoyed how Janey described the lush landscape of Rheta, where nature and technology are intertwined and appreciated by its inhabitants. The novel follows three students: Fessi, Berro, and Virda. Each student has their own unique backstory and are gripped by something that has occurred in their past. However, their lives seem great, and they are free to pursue their own studies. The pacing of this story is slow, and it is easy to believe you are reading a cozy story about portals, tea, and friendship.
Don’t be fooled by these seemingly wholesome vibes! There are sinister undercurrents behind this peaceful utopian backdrop. I enjoyed the mystery of uncovering these dark secrets. I also liked the ethical dilemmas it posed.
Once you learn what is really happening, I was shocked. Overall, my favorite sections of this story were uncovering these dark secrets, along with Janey’s descriptions. Below are some sentences I couldn’t help but highlight:
This may be set in a different universe, but this quote below epitomizes summer.
Birds sang sleepily in the branches overhead and glowflies bobbed and glittered in the undergrowth – a gentle summer evening.
The second quote is another example of Janey’s incredible prose.
A ribbon of entrails moved like a snake in the water, still attached to the body on one end. Blood swirled around the stones, frothed over small waterfalls.
As you can see Janey’s writing is visceral and it is easy to imagine what our characters are experiencing.
Despite all of this, I found it difficult for me to connect with the story. All the POVs felt too wholesome and similar, which made me difficult to care about them, especially as the plot sped up. I will admit this probably more of me issue than Janey’s. Either way, once I found out what was happening at the reformatory, I found it difficult to keep reading.
I also wish the author either described or included a bestiary. Whenever an animal entered a scene, I found it difficult to imagine what they look like, which brought me out of the story.
Overall, I would recommend this to sci-fi readers who enjoy a novel that combines the elements of avatar, multidimensional research, and friendship.
Don’t be fooled by these seemingly wholesome vibes! There are sinister undercurrents behind this peaceful utopian backdrop. I enjoyed the mystery of uncovering these dark secrets. I also liked the ethical dilemmas it posed.
Once you learn what is really happening, I was shocked. Overall, my favorite sections of this story were uncovering these dark secrets, along with Janey’s descriptions. Below are some sentences I couldn’t help but highlight:
This may be set in a different universe, but this quote below epitomizes summer.
Birds sang sleepily in the branches overhead and glowflies bobbed and glittered in the undergrowth – a gentle summer evening.
The second quote is another example of Janey’s incredible prose.
A ribbon of entrails moved like a snake in the water, still attached to the body on one end. Blood swirled around the stones, frothed over small waterfalls.
As you can see Janey’s writing is visceral and it is easy to imagine what our characters are experiencing.
Despite all of this, I found it difficult for me to connect with the story. All the POVs felt too wholesome and similar, which made me difficult to care about them, especially as the plot sped up. I will admit this probably more of me issue than Janey’s. Either way, once I found out what was happening at the reformatory, I found it difficult to keep reading.
I also wish the author either described or included a bestiary. Whenever an animal entered a scene, I found it difficult to imagine what they look like, which brought me out of the story.
Overall, I would recommend this to sci-fi readers who enjoy a novel that combines the elements of avatar, multidimensional research, and friendship.
October 1, 2023
I *adored* this book! I did guess large parts of the plot very early on but it's rare I don't and I loved the characters so much it didn't matter in the least.
The pacing might be too slow for some readers but I found it perfect. The story slowly unrolls picking up a bit of speed by the end.
The world building was great. I love how inventive Janey is with renaming wildlife and creating new plants.
For me the characters were the standout. It's incredibly rare I see myself in a character but Berro had so many little quirks and similarities to myself. I don't know if Janye wrote him to seem autistic but he definitely comes across that way, both with his black and white world view,"never break a rule" and how he gets both very intense but also closed off and struggle to talk about his thoughts and feelings.
I loved that the world was queer-normative as well without making it into a big deal, it's just how Rheta is.
My only real complaint is a me problem, I don't like multiple POV very often and while I can see why Janey needed Fessi and Virda's POV's I do wish I'd had more time with Berro's POV.
The pacing might be too slow for some readers but I found it perfect. The story slowly unrolls picking up a bit of speed by the end.
The world building was great. I love how inventive Janey is with renaming wildlife and creating new plants.
For me the characters were the standout. It's incredibly rare I see myself in a character but Berro had so many little quirks and similarities to myself. I don't know if Janye wrote him to seem autistic but he definitely comes across that way, both with his black and white world view,"never break a rule" and how he gets both very intense but also closed off and struggle to talk about his thoughts and feelings.
I loved that the world was queer-normative as well without making it into a big deal, it's just how Rheta is.
My only real complaint is a me problem, I don't like multiple POV very often and while I can see why Janey needed Fessi and Virda's POV's I do wish I'd had more time with Berro's POV.
Want to Read
January 4, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
Great opening line. Really interesting, and immediately establishes a character goal. The writing is inviting and competent. The author knows how to use imagery.
I’m not really sure where we are, though. More setting context would be good. The significance of THE EVENT that starts our story is totally lost on me. Our MC tells us it’s significant, but I don’t get to experience it or understand why.
My confusion continues as I don’t understand why our MC is doing anything he’s doing. The author gives me that he “has to do X,” but … why?
The action of the story is in front of me, but the story of the story is oddly withheld.
However, I’m confident that as the story progresses I’ll understand more of the context - and I really need to it I’m going to enjoy this.
The world the story is slowly developing is interesting, with lots of interesting little details. And I’d like to find out more of what’s going on, so I’m in for now.
Great opening line. Really interesting, and immediately establishes a character goal. The writing is inviting and competent. The author knows how to use imagery.
I’m not really sure where we are, though. More setting context would be good. The significance of THE EVENT that starts our story is totally lost on me. Our MC tells us it’s significant, but I don’t get to experience it or understand why.
My confusion continues as I don’t understand why our MC is doing anything he’s doing. The author gives me that he “has to do X,” but … why?
The action of the story is in front of me, but the story of the story is oddly withheld.
However, I’m confident that as the story progresses I’ll understand more of the context - and I really need to it I’m going to enjoy this.
The world the story is slowly developing is interesting, with lots of interesting little details. And I’d like to find out more of what’s going on, so I’m in for now.
June 2, 2023
It's one of the most unique premises I've seen in a while: a science fantasy about a technologically developed forest-dwelling people studying the phenomenon of beings that mysteriously cross over to their world from alternate Earths.
The world building is vast and detailed (with gorgeous descriptions of all of the alien plant and animal life), and the characters and their relationships are so tight knit that there's almost a found family feel. There's a streak of darkness running through it, however, and what feels like a cozy fantasy *isn't*.
Still, I got major Becky Chambers/Martha Wells vibes (especially w/ Ms. Wells' Raksura novels).
The pace is leisurely, for the most part, and we really get to know and care for the protagonists and their struggles. The conflict is a slow build, which makes the ending very satisfying.
The world building is vast and detailed (with gorgeous descriptions of all of the alien plant and animal life), and the characters and their relationships are so tight knit that there's almost a found family feel. There's a streak of darkness running through it, however, and what feels like a cozy fantasy *isn't*.
Still, I got major Becky Chambers/Martha Wells vibes (especially w/ Ms. Wells' Raksura novels).
The pace is leisurely, for the most part, and we really get to know and care for the protagonists and their struggles. The conflict is a slow build, which makes the ending very satisfying.
June 8, 2024
This novel features my favourite type of world building, where it feels both familiar and strange. I found Rheta to be so immersive, and this is one of my favourite aspects of the novel, along with its set of believable characters that are written so skilfully that you truly care about what happens to them.
The storyline takes its time, like any good fantasy-mystery does, but when the action comes, the writer doesn't hold back. I also loved the thread of tension running through most of the novel, where I was simultaneously hoping for and dreading the next 'crossing', and what it would mean for the story going forward.
Laurie Janey's debut novel is fantastic, and I'd love to read more of her work in the future! (The ending of this work, in my opinion anyway, is a masterstroke.)
The storyline takes its time, like any good fantasy-mystery does, but when the action comes, the writer doesn't hold back. I also loved the thread of tension running through most of the novel, where I was simultaneously hoping for and dreading the next 'crossing', and what it would mean for the story going forward.
Laurie Janey's debut novel is fantastic, and I'd love to read more of her work in the future! (The ending of this work, in my opinion anyway, is a masterstroke.)
February 26, 2024
I enjoyed the world buildling, the plot, the writing style. My chin was litterally on my chest several times with wtf factor, and i hope there is a book 2 as i will definetely read it!
I would say the rating is a 3.75 for me, which means some might say I should give it 4, but i didn't quite feel comfortable with it. The reason is the amount of filler writing with not much action or character development. Filler is nescessary, but I did end up skimming sections without missing anything that impacted the plot. So although the fillers were beautifully written, it was a bit too much for my taste.
I would say the rating is a 3.75 for me, which means some might say I should give it 4, but i didn't quite feel comfortable with it. The reason is the amount of filler writing with not much action or character development. Filler is nescessary, but I did end up skimming sections without missing anything that impacted the plot. So although the fillers were beautifully written, it was a bit too much for my taste.
September 29, 2023
Not bad. Technically well written but characters feel a little flat, probably partly because there were so many. Also, the author does a little bit too much telling instead of showing. But fun concept and easy to read.
October 16, 2023
finely woven like wickerwood branches
A fascinating escape into a parallel world filled with deeply crafted characters and achingly real relationships. Written in a style to aspire to.
A fascinating escape into a parallel world filled with deeply crafted characters and achingly real relationships. Written in a style to aspire to.
March 9, 2024
I always enjoy a book with likeable characters, and The Crossing definitely checks that box. Plus, the writing style is very polished (the author has an MA in creative writing, and it shows). Highly recommended!
January 12, 2026
finely woven like wickerwood branches
A fascinating escape into a parallel world filled with deeply crafted characters and achingly real relationships. Written in a style to aspire to.
A fascinating escape into a parallel world filled with deeply crafted characters and achingly real relationships. Written in a style to aspire to.
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December 5, 2023Disclaimer: I read this as a judge for SPSFC#3, as part of the Wayward Stars team. However, the following is my own personal review and does not reflect on the team's score.
This is a very deceptive book. This has a very pacey first chapter, enticing you in with excitement and thrills. I know first chapter reads are a bit of a thing at the moment, so this is a book that would do exceptionally well here. But then! Then, it sloooows right down. We take a step back from the action and become more character based. This is not a bad thing but it does feel a bit strange coming off the back of the first chapter. However, we learn more about the characters and their relationships and lean into the cosy-esque atmosphere. The character development is excellent and there is some good social commentary here. It was nice to hang out with this group of characters for a while.
The plot begins to ramp up again from about the half way mark, where we start to get some real revelations. It all becomes very exciting and there are some nail-biting moments. My only gripe here is that the action and grand reveal in the final third does feel a little rushed.
So we have some lovely character work with a bit of an uneven plot distribution. What else? Well, the worldbuilding is a bit sparse but I feel that the prose makes up for this in spades. With some beautiful descriptions, the main area of Rheta that we see comes across as the love child of Pandora from Avatar and the forest moon of Endor from Return of the Jedi. With this amount of lush forestation, I wouldn't have been surprised to meet some Ewoks. This prose combines with the character work to give a very distinct feeling to the proceedings, which I very much enjoyed.
The overall thought for this book was I enjoyed it but was it sci-fi? Well, yes because it's a portal sci-fi but there are some very strong fantasy feels about this. It may be the more arboreal settings that are a bit rare in sci-fi but I don't think the earlier comparison between this and Star Wars is far off the mark, genre-wise. It is more science fantasy but I don't think there is anything wrong with that and I think it actually suited the plotline to have that element of fantasy present. A thoroughly enjoyable character based portal science fantasy. Just don't expect 100% action all of the time.
This is a very deceptive book. This has a very pacey first chapter, enticing you in with excitement and thrills. I know first chapter reads are a bit of a thing at the moment, so this is a book that would do exceptionally well here. But then! Then, it sloooows right down. We take a step back from the action and become more character based. This is not a bad thing but it does feel a bit strange coming off the back of the first chapter. However, we learn more about the characters and their relationships and lean into the cosy-esque atmosphere. The character development is excellent and there is some good social commentary here. It was nice to hang out with this group of characters for a while.
The plot begins to ramp up again from about the half way mark, where we start to get some real revelations. It all becomes very exciting and there are some nail-biting moments. My only gripe here is that the action and grand reveal in the final third does feel a little rushed.
So we have some lovely character work with a bit of an uneven plot distribution. What else? Well, the worldbuilding is a bit sparse but I feel that the prose makes up for this in spades. With some beautiful descriptions, the main area of Rheta that we see comes across as the love child of Pandora from Avatar and the forest moon of Endor from Return of the Jedi. With this amount of lush forestation, I wouldn't have been surprised to meet some Ewoks. This prose combines with the character work to give a very distinct feeling to the proceedings, which I very much enjoyed.
The overall thought for this book was I enjoyed it but was it sci-fi? Well, yes because it's a portal sci-fi but there are some very strong fantasy feels about this. It may be the more arboreal settings that are a bit rare in sci-fi but I don't think the earlier comparison between this and Star Wars is far off the mark, genre-wise. It is more science fantasy but I don't think there is anything wrong with that and I think it actually suited the plotline to have that element of fantasy present. A thoroughly enjoyable character based portal science fantasy. Just don't expect 100% action all of the time.
August 14, 2024
The Crossing is a perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy. Laurie Janey is a marvelous world builder, and I imagine Rheta to be something like the most lush, beautiful national park I’ve ever been to dialed up to eleven. One of my favorite things about the world of The Crossing is that it contains a lot of the same flora, fauna, and objects we are familiar with here on Earth, but Janey has given them different names. It was easy to parse the meaning of the words, which added to the feeling of Rheta being an alien planet in another reality without the confusion of complicated science jargon that often alienates people from science-fiction.
The friendships between Berro, Virda, Jex, and Fessi were so endearing and it’s easy to tell this is a very close and loving group of friends. Fessi is my favorite, I loved the chapters that centered on her because they provided a glimpse into her fascinating mind.
Virda is massively obsessed with tree climbing to the point that I almost felt like I knew what it would be like to be her friend in real life: She’s a good, loyal friend, you love her and you’re glad she has a hobby she loves, but also you kind of wonder if the tree obsession is entirely healthy. Jex is just a sleepy little puppy dog. Let’s just give him a pat on the head. Overall, I felt that the characters were pretty well fleshed out and fun to hang out with.
Berro’s internal struggles with how he felt about Imparter Undra, his mother’s death, and the role he played in the studies of the crossings were realistic and hard to read because it was so sad to see how he dealt with all of it as a wholly unequipped introvert who just wanted to help the teacher he idolizes study realities and go home.
The Crossing had some serious, dramatic moments that were expertly entwined with others that were sweet and wholesome. I didn’t expect something so dark to also feel so cozy, and I am extremely here for it.
The friendships between Berro, Virda, Jex, and Fessi were so endearing and it’s easy to tell this is a very close and loving group of friends. Fessi is my favorite, I loved the chapters that centered on her because they provided a glimpse into her fascinating mind.
Virda is massively obsessed with tree climbing to the point that I almost felt like I knew what it would be like to be her friend in real life: She’s a good, loyal friend, you love her and you’re glad she has a hobby she loves, but also you kind of wonder if the tree obsession is entirely healthy. Jex is just a sleepy little puppy dog. Let’s just give him a pat on the head. Overall, I felt that the characters were pretty well fleshed out and fun to hang out with.
Berro’s internal struggles with how he felt about Imparter Undra, his mother’s death, and the role he played in the studies of the crossings were realistic and hard to read because it was so sad to see how he dealt with all of it as a wholly unequipped introvert who just wanted to help the teacher he idolizes study realities and go home.
The Crossing had some serious, dramatic moments that were expertly entwined with others that were sweet and wholesome. I didn’t expect something so dark to also feel so cozy, and I am extremely here for it.
October 16, 2023
Rich World Building
This book drew me in immediately, I devoured it in 3 sittings. If you enjoy the deep and rich world building of Becky Chambers this one is for you. I can't wait to read more.
This book drew me in immediately, I devoured it in 3 sittings. If you enjoy the deep and rich world building of Becky Chambers this one is for you. I can't wait to read more.
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