Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Senlin Ascends - Josiah Bancroft

February 10, 2020.

In!

I’d like to read this.

In!

L'm in

Never got around to this one last year so I'm also in :D

intersted

I need to finish this so I'm in!

Started and about 75% through! I am so confused hahahaha

Part 1: The Basement and the Parlor: (view spoiler)[Right from the first chapter there is that sense of something... off. Something uncanny in the way Bancroft writes about the Tower, like that offhand comment on one of the first pages "some say the Tower is still being built on". I was immediately super intrigued by the book's entire premise yet also deeply uncomfortable reading about Senlin and Marya approaching the Tower – though that might be due to my intense megalophobia hahahaha

This sense of uncanniness is built on in every single chapter and given that I was reading this in the middle of the night in a dark room, I was actually super freaked out. Like you're so intrigued by this story but also... what the f*ck is going on? I tried explaining the book to my dad and he was like "Oooookaaay? That's weird"

Senlin is the perfect protagonist of this story because he is just like any regular human from our world, and reacts and think like we would if we were thrown into this strange and dangerous tower. The epigraphs with quotes from the Guide in the beginning of each chapter is the perfect way to prime each new chapter. These also add to the entire twisted, nightmarish experience of the Tower, because they are pretty normal advice that you'd find in any travel-book and yet.... (hide spoiler)]

Part 2: The Baths: (view spoiler)[Despite still loving the atmosphere, this part of the book dragged a bit for me plot-wise. Had a hard time getting attached to any of the secondary characters (probably because I – like Senlin – didn't wanna get too involved only to be betrayed as we'd had to with like every character beside Senlin himself so far... Still, lots of mystery and intrigue, and how effing creepy are those wifemongers? Poor Marya! though I have a sense that she can take care of herself – and I also kinda have this feeling that Senlin in the end will end up being betrayed by her, too.... Tbh I can't really ever see him rescue her and then they go home merry to live happily ever after... We'll see (hide spoiler)]

Overall, huge fan so far, even though I keep being freaked out by everything that's happening

I've started this and got through a chapter or two, but nothing really of note has happened for my to comment on. I'm having a hard time getting into this one, but I think I had pretty high expectations going in.

Is anybody still reading? I plan to start tonight.

Mayim wrote: "Is anybody still reading? I plan to start tonight."

I'm still stuck at the beginning and haven't really made any progress.

Oh so you don't mind me tagging along, do you? :D

Mayim wrote: "Oh so you don't mind me tagging along, do you? :D"

Haha not at all :)

Perhaps you will renew my interest if you enjoy it!

I made it through this one and the end was better. Then book two I expected it to take off and it was more of the same and I quit somewhere before the halfway mark not being able to stand the inactivity any longer.

I expect to love it! It has so many shining reviews! If I keep my current ratings, my average will go below 3 O_o

I have forgotten to tell you that I read it really fast and I liked it.

Is this BR going to be continued? Or must I remember to finish the series on my own? :D

Mayim wrote: "I have forgotten to tell you that I read it really fast and I liked it.

Is this BR going to be continued? Or must I remember to finish the series on my own? :D"

Nice! I am finally starting to get into it.
First few chapters: (view spoiler)[Once we got into the Tower itself, I really started to like the worldbuilding and the Tower of Babel is just such a unique setting. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not sure if I will finish the series yet, but this is still slow-going for me.

I really started liking it only once he got into the second level. Then it becomes evident that every little encounter, sentence, detail - does count and indeed brings fruit! The final part is amazing in this regard.

But it also took me some time to warm up. I thought it would be a 3 star tread at first.

Where I am, he just got to the second level and at this point, I'm also thinking 3 stars so I'm excited for it to get better!

Each book definitely takes time to ramp up... I BR’d the 3 current books last Fall, and each ending intrigued me enough to continue... just waiting for the final release in 2021, now...

Wow, once I got into it, I really couldn't put it down. I'm finished now!

So. Do we continue? :)

I would like to keep going with the series. :)

Great! Me too! Do you want to read the second book this month? I haven’t seen the March buddy read thread yet but I’m sure we can squeeze if you’re not overbooked.

Mayim wrote: "Great! Me too! Do you want to read the second book this month? I haven’t seen the March buddy read thread yet but I’m sure we can squeeze if you’re not overbooked."

I have one BR on the 10th so maybe later in the month? Anytime on/after the 20th should be good for me.

Works for me just fine (especially that I have a trip coming up and that means a lot of in-flight quality reading time)

Ok, I'll set it up for the 20th.