BooktubeSFF Awards discussion

Hey folks - just started this a couple days ago - never read Mark Lawrence before and don't read a tonne of fantasy - I have a question for everyone -

Why isn't this in the YA category?

I'm about 25% of the way through the book and it seems to check off every box for YA - children as main characters - Harry Potter-esque plot, easy reading comprehension level, etc.

This isn't a criticism btw - just curious...happy reading...

I'm just over half way and loving this! I haven't read any mark Lawrence before but I have to say that this is really good. The writing is very compelling and I really like Nona.

I would say this is considered adult due to the content and violence, not necessarily the main character's age.

YA is a pretty nebulous marketing term, IIRC Lawrence himself did some speculation that if it were published under the name Martha Lawrence it likely would have been marketed/shelved as a YA.there fundamentally isn't any reason it isn't other than it wasn't marketed that way by the publisher.

He initiated a good conversation with his poll/blog post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comm...

Rebecca wrote: "YA is a pretty nebulous marketing term, IIRC Lawrence himself did some speculation that if it were published under the name Martha Lawrence it likely would have been marketed/shelved as a YA.there ..."

Thanks - an interesting thread on reddit and author post/poll

I’m around halfway through the book and it really doesn’t seem like YA to me. For one thing, it’s a lot more complex than the YA I’ve read and it’s more adult in terms of violence and themes, I guess. The writing is amazing and it has the best opening line I’ve ever read in fiction so far. I also love how Nona isn’t OP, she has limitations and she’s also very loyal to her friends. I think she’s just an amazing character in general.

I have ordered this from amazon so will be starting it once it arrives!!

I'm at 40% and really enjoying it. Nona is an enigma that I can't wait to see more of and I appreciate that she isn't just a nice girl being treated poorly. She has personality traits that get her into trouble and she reads very realistic to me. Well played aspect of the strong but spiritual sisters and the corrupt church around them.

It's interesting that the discussion so far has been mostly on how the book is marketed and not on the actual story/characters. I'm glad it wasn't clearly marked as YA or I might not have picked it up. I don't find it YA at all tbh. Just because the main is young doesn't mean it should be marketed to teens.

Maybe I'm just an old soft-y but the relish in which the author repeatedly, over and over again writes about violence to children and violence inflicted by children just made me shudder and feel weird for even reading it.

Also I found the general plot to be warmed over witch ninja Harry Potter with every genre trope thrown out there and every plot twist telegraphed well in advance to be rather tiresome. IMO there is a lot better fantasy out there.

I could cite lots of examples of a hackney'd plot, but why bother - I didn't like the book and feel a bit creepy having given the author money to read about kids getting brutalized...

I finished this a few days ago, and I loved it! I gave it 5 stars, I just got sucked in to the story and the world and it was great. I had been reading some pretty mediocre things lately, so I think because I was so engrossed, it affected how much I liked it. I really liked Nona, and all the characters. It was interesting to see how the Sisters of Sweet Mercy interacted and all the politics involved. It was gruesome, and violent, but it didn't super bother me for some reason. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks, seemed to affect me more from violence involving children.
I can't wait to get my hands on Grey Sister now! Also, I think I gave almost every book in the Best Fantasy Novel category 5 stars, so it'll be a close one for me...maybe. I didn't expect to like this so much!

Dandy wrote: "Marc wrote: "Maybe I'm just an old soft-y but the relish in which the author repeatedly, over and over again writes about violence to children and violence inflicted by children just made me shudde..."

No worries, that scene didn't bother me or anything you wrote, thanks for the consideration -

Marc wrote: "Maybe I'm just an old soft-y but the relish in which the author repeatedly, over and over again writes about violence to children and violence inflicted by children just made me shudder and feel we..."

At 40% I didn't feel it as much but now I am about 75% into it and have to agree the idea of all of this brutality with children is rather disturbing and has become quite a thing in Fantasy novels. I'm not sure I understand the pull authors are feeling with putting children in kill or be killed situations like this but I'm about over it. This one in particular to be centered on a 10 year old who is constantly being beaten up, tricked, poisoned, whipped but with the mind of a 25 year old (to me). It's rather weird. Aren't there any upstanding adults in this world? I haven't seen one yet.

Does anyone else feel like this book is really scatterbrained? I feel like it’s jumping from one thing to the other and not explaining what’s going on

I just started this book, and so far I'm enjoying it. I've so far only read Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, and it's nice to see the difference to the stories.

Anita wrote: "I just started this book, and so far I'm enjoying it. I've so far only read Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, and it's nice to see the difference to the stories."

Same. I read only his Prince of Thorns and was non-impressed by it. This appealed to me so much more and I'm back liking his stuff. It was a good, fun fantasy.

Dandy wrote: "On a positive note I thought the world that Red Sister took place in was very cool (pun!). Love the whole frozen planet and dying star scenario."

Yeah I liked the moon/dying sun iceworld aspect interesting - combined with hints (view spoiler)[ there might be a sci fi/space opera element to this - at about book 3 maybe is intriging - if this turned into a primeval Expanse that would be cool way to end it (hide spoiler)]

I am reading this and I am liking it, but so far it feels like something I read before

I'm halfway through. I'm also loving the dying star and moon/(satellite?) aspect as well. I have my suspicions about this place's lore - if dogma is hiding the truth behind this planet's true history. I also enjoy the interplay between faith and how its wielded to gain authority over the masses.

Staci wrote: "Does anyone else feel like this book is really scatterbrained? I feel like it’s jumping from one thing to the other and not explaining what’s going on"
Yes i found this too.

I'm only a few chapters in and I'm really enjoying it!