Pascal Heitzman > Recent Status Updates

I haven't read the prior books for a while, maybe 2 years, but Taylor does an excellent job reintroducing the characters, world, relationships. I was able to catch onto the story fairly quickly with little confusion. I really enjoy the writing style, it has an excellent combination of both first person thoughts, and descriptions of the surroundings.

The Poeticness of the prose finally felt like it had a purpose, the descriptions of bondage were excellent and very thought provoking. I liked the ending, and the discussion of slavery and freedom was very well thought out. The ending is ironic, because you know that slavery doesn't end for another 100 years or so. It adds an overlay of sadness to the entire book because you have outside knowledge.

The descriptions of the pox were nauseating and the death of the mother was sad, however I've found it hard to be emotionally attached to any of the characters due to the writing style. I find the change in perspective interesting and I think it humanizes Octavian a bit more because the writing isn't as factual but has more emotion and descriptions.

The themes and context of the book is really interesting: dealing with racism and slavery. However I find the book really slow and a hard to get through, the plot is snail like and I don't find the characters compelling enough to get me to really want to read. If I was reading this on my own I most likely would drop it.

The pros is quite elevated and written in a historical manner. I'm enjoying the underlying ideas of race, the time period and how the perspective is used: things that are absurd being treated as normal.

At the end, and the reveal about poppy was a fake!! I sincerely love mysteries, especially ones that are complicated but believable and this story has so much heart. There are scenes that make the world seem a little bit happier perfectly intertwined with the more action-esk plot. The scene with Ibraham, Ron and Ron's grandkid was an excellent example of this.

At the end, and the reveal about poppy was a fake!! I sincerely love mysteries, especially ones that are complicated but believable and this story has so much heart. There are scenes that make the world seem a little bit happier perfectly intertwined with the more action-esk plot. The scene with Ibraham, Ron and Ron's grandkid was an excellent example of this.

I like how the story is told through almost like a novel, it makes the information very digestible. It is shocking how brutal and bloody east Berlin was and just the horrors that existed. I find it super interesting how the economic system allowed for greater control of the ideology of the people. I really like how the story is told through peoples lives and how it follows singular people.

The Mystery is almost concluded and I'm so excited for the end. The pacing is excellent. I especially love his use of shifting perspectives and the conclusion of multiple plot threads, the reveal of multiple mysteries at once to create a sense of cohesion. The reveal about poppy was really well done and I love how unexpected it was, not because it was physically improbable but because the characters thought it was.

This is a sequel and I really enjoyed the first so I wanted to read this one too. I am loving this book, the pros are very simplistic ,but nice and straightforward. The characters are a blast, they're definitely the best part. I'm excited to learn more about Elizabeth's past, and I can't wait for the mystery start up.

I found the ending very anti-climatic. It tied up some of the plot paints but not the characters arcs/relationships. I disliked the ending with Naranpara, however I did like how it re-framed the scene at the beginning. All the other plot points seemed to be left behind, or postponed for the sequel. I think if I read the sequel it would work as a part one book, but as a stand alone the ending doesn't work very well.

I really liked the interaction between Naranpa and her brother, it was really interesting to see the contrast between their lives and how they still (kinda) care about each other anyway. The world building is awesome: how Roanhorse builds communities and then conflicts between them. I especially like the scene where Xiala sees the water striders and sees them as alien, something that is taken as common place in Tova.

I like Xialas perspective, and her relationship with Serapio. It's seems very sweet and I like how the book shows how time and therefore their relationship is progressing. I am also enjoying what's going on in the City of Tova and the politics. I like Okoas perspective because it shows the Crow Clan and their practices in a less cultisty light while not stripping them of their power and responsibility.

This book has a lot of connecting threads and it skips around in time quite a bit. I think it’s cool how through and well thought out the writing is and how each section contributes to the story however I worry the it will become confusing as the books goes on and becomes even more complex. I do really like how it shows how convoluted life is everything is happening all at one to everyone and it all matters.

There’s another perspective; naranpa. I am enjoying her parts because the politics mirrors the world and it’s a great way to understand the class imbalances and power dynamics in the city in an concise manner. I also really enjoy the discriptions, because they give a clear view of what the person is wearing. It’s all really cool “looking” and it seems really well researched and thought out.

I found the first chapter quite nauseating, the discription of the mother cutting serapios skin and how it was portrayed as normal was very unsettling. I am enjoying Xiala’s perspective and am interested in how the fantastical elements will progress