Kritika H. Rao

Another novel that I went back and forth on giving a try. I suspected that it was not for me, and there is no point in reading books just to gift an author with a negative review, but I also need to give new authors doing a new thing a try.

That said, yeah, I was not that impressed with this book. It has its virtues, and Rao is a pretty good word-smith, but I see missed opportunities. For one, if you've roped your main POV characters into a failing marriage that is about to go on the rocks, this factor should be front and center to everything else in the novel. This means that we need to have background into how Ahilya & Iravan got stuck into this relationship in the first place (I suspect an arranged marriage), and the way stations on the way to dissolution. Two, there's the related point that the overall pacing of this book feels almost stagnant, when with a looming emergency it should at least be trotting along from the start. Three, I never found Rao's magic system all that convincing; I'll leave the dyed-in-the wool fantasy enthusiasts to comment on that.

Possible solutions, start with the emergency sooner, if at the cost of the world-building (which wasn't that wonderful anyway). Two, give us some flashbacks that illustrate how this marriage came to be, and came apart. Three, I think this book runs on a little two long, and the last chapter should really be something like the start of the second book. Rao has explicitly described this novel as being a dystopia, and I get the point that she wanted to end this book on a hopeful note, and deal with Iravan's getting of wisdom. However, I really don't feel the need to pick up the follow-on after that conclusion. A hard cliff-hanger deals with that issue!

Will I pick up the next book in the trilogy? Maybe. But I'll be a lot less patient.… (mehr)

This is one of those books that I really wanted to like. Between the "Engineers" keeping the floating city safe, to those who are curious about their history. The Indian-Esque Setting also was wonderful, something that isn't in your everyday fantasy book.

As for the story itself, it started nicely enough, the decisions made by earliest engineers make no sense - not even in terms of keeping their family safe. I'm not going into details, because spoilers.

As for the main characters, they are human and flawed. It is very clear that both Iravan and Ahilya, are equally selfish, but do love each other. I also think how the caste system (Engineers vs Non-Engineers) was incredibly well done, both groups equal in power, but when one group is the only reason the city works, well, that one group has all the power.

I am glad I read this book, but it is flawed in a way ruined the story for me.… (mehr)