Robert S.

This was overall an enjoyable read with characters that I enjoyed getting to know and ended up caring about. The setting struck me as fairly typical urban fantasy à la Dresden Files or Valkyrie Collections, which, to be transparent, is not my favorite. In this world, magic folk exist in parallel to the mundane world, and there is some sort of sprawling magical law enforcement agency. Although the urban fantasy setting and tropes were well-executed, they didn't particularly grab me. The main POV character is Chinese, and so there was much more of an exploration of East Asian magic, mythology, and folklore than in many urban fantasies. I found those aspects really engrossing and wished there had been even more. The dialogue and banter were a lot of fun--snappy without being over the top. I found the plot propulsive and overall this was a read I consistently looked forward to. The romance element was more primary than I realized going in--this is really 50/50 fantasy-romance. Honestly, the romance didn't viscerally grab me, but it was definitely well-drawn and spicy. If there is a direct sequel, I probably won't pick it up, but I would definitely like to read more from this author.

At a cool 155 pages, there's quite a lot to like in this tight and tidy package. I was captivated first and foremost by the language; the author is adept at deploying just a word or two to create a pithy turn of phrase or a deadpan observation. I found myself often taking a beat to appreciate the experience of reading the prose. The author's linguistic skill allows him to build a lived-in world and interesting characters in a small space. The setting is a secondary world (or alternate?) Roman-ish Empire, though we follow the navigating fox, Quintus Shu'al, from a colonial outpost into lands decidedly not ruled by the Empire. In this world, some creatures are voiceless while others, like our eponymous fox, the twin racoon cartographers Loci and Foci, and the strong-willed bison diplomat Walks Along Woman, are knowledgeable, more or less. The characters are deftly sketched, and their dialogue is always entertaining. The plot includes a quest, a mystery or two, a journey, and several good twists and turns. I did want to know what would happen next, but what really kept me turning the pages with glee was my desire to hear more of Quintus's voice and the conversations between the disparate human and non-human people. This was my first experience of Christopher Rowe's writing, and I am determined that it won't be my last.

4.25 stars

I didn't know much about this novel going in, but if I was expecting anything it was an urban fantasy about electromancers.  I suppose you could reduce the story to that description for a book jacket, but really this was a decades and ultimately centuries-spanning epic about families, nations, and societies.  I got definite Kim Stanley Robinson vibes.  I also kept thinking about James Michener's multi-generational works, though I am not entirely sure that tracks, as I have not gone back to those since I was a teenager.  I think my touchpoint there was the depth of exploration of place, culture, and history.I enjoyed the ideas about social change and technological adaptation in the face of climate change.  As near future sci-fi, this hit the mark for me.  I also liked the overall mix of ideas, plot, and character.  I responded to many of the main characters and was especially attached to Amon.  The last third of the book was my favorite as the plot picked up steam and ended with a bang.My biggest quibble was pacing.  Although I enjoyed almost all of the different sections/settings, with the notable exception of the Hopeland founding history, there were parts of each story where my attention flagged.  The prose was beautiful, but the story could have been tighter.  I also generally felt that the electromancy was peripheral, and I would have liked for it to either be fully explored or left out.  Ultimately, I found the migration plotline in the final third of the story really engaging, and I thought the ending was a banger with a lot of catharsis.  I left this book thinking and feeling, and while I might have had to push myself to keep going through some slow spots, I suspect I will be thinking about it for a long time.

4.25 stars This review definitely does not contain spoilers...

This reading experience reminded me of Witch King (Martha Wells) in that you are dropped into a deep and complicated world without a great deal of exposition or other hand holding. I listened to this one, and, although the narrator is fantastic, I plan to read the physical book, as I think I'll get more out of it. The prose, vivid descriptions of the world, and the main POV character's voice all pulled me in. The plot was somewhat secondary for me, possibly because it was harder to parse than the more clearly drawn character conflicts and relationships. I think this book would benefit from tighter execution, especially in the final act. The ultimate conflict was repetitive, and it was the primary point where my vague understanding of the world really hampered my enjoyment. There were also a lot of POV switches in the back half of the book, and it was sometimes unclear who was speaking (for plot reasons?), which was not ultimately enjoyable.

This is not the right book for anyone who can't abide a soft magic system. The tech here is definitely soft, and I don't think there is a point where all is revealed or clarified, though certainly some major things become clear as you go along. Reading this was a similar experience to the first two-thirds of Harrow the Ninth; I didn't really get what was happening, but I was still totally there for it. The major difference is that the big reveal in Harrow doesn't happen here. I think Witch King is the better comp, as in both cases I loved the world and characters but felt like the plot, especially the denouement, was weak. I also saw a lot of common threads in the reviews of Witch King and The Archive Undying. If you are OK being thrown into the deep end and want to experience a unique setting and gorgeous prose, then give this a try. This is supposed to be a duology, and I will definitely be picking up the sequel.

4.25 stars

This novel seemed equal parts historical and fantasy, with a strong grounding in the geography, religion, and stories of the Viking age, and an equally strong element of magic and invention.  The plot mostly moved along at a good clip, introducing new characters to keep things interesting without making the cast too big to keep track of.  Although I liked the characters and thought that several developed in interesting ways, I didn't have a strong emotional connection to any particular character.  I enjoyed seeing fully realized people against the backdrop of an historical era and culture in which people are often portrayed as one dimensional.  There were also several good plot twists and reveals that I really enjoyed.  Interesting, informative, and fun enough to keep me pulled in.