Gods meddle in the fates of men, men play with the fates of gods, and a pretender must be cast down from the throne in this masterful first fantasy novel from Ann Leckie, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Awards. “It’s a delight to read something so different, so wonderful and strange.”-Patrick Rothfuss “Absolutely wonderful…utterly … strange.”-Patrick Rothfuss
“Absolutely wonderful…utterly brilliant.”-The New York Times Book Review
I’ve been reading fantasy my whole life. After all these years, it’s a delight to read something so different, so wonderful and strange.
The Raven Tower is a unique, intricate fantasy set in a fascinating world of gods who are at once formidable and vulnerable. Original and powerful — I loved it. Highly recommended for fans of N. K. Jemisin or Guy Gavriel Kay.
A powerhouse epic of humans and gods at war, deeply imagined and profoundly thrilling. There are echoes of Shakespeare and Le Guin in The Raven Tower, but its strange dark brilliance could only have come from Ann Leckie.
Wow. I’m a fan of Ann Leckie and she does not disappoint with The Raven Tower. I’m also impressed as hell with the structural integrity of this novel, which I realize is a very writerly thing to think about, but she is writing on Hard Mode in this. You want to know what flashbacks are for and how to use them? This book understands how to use them to ratchet tension up. You want to understand how and why to use second person vs. first person? OMG, the creeping dread that she managed to wring out of me as the book progressed and I understood what was happening. There’s a mystery and betrayal and court politics, wrapped up in a tightly plotted bundle of deliciousness.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and Adjoa Andoh is a stunningly brilliant narrator.
I absolutely loved this book. It is exactly the right type of fantasy for me.
Technically you say that this is a re-telling of Hamlet, but that description is a mistake, because it is too limiting. While matching may of the main plot beats and themes of that classic, it is such a unique take on the story, that the inspiration hardly matters.
This also features one of my favorite ever systems of magic and gods in any fantasy book I have read.
This is one of the most fascinating books I’ve read this year. It’s written from second person narrative, which is pretty impressive in and of itself, but the story is exquisite and the author manages to bring the characters and world alive in a way that has you thinking about it after you’ve finished the book. The metaphysics of this book also intrigue because the author explores the power of words and gods. This book will suck you into a compelling story.
Probably my favorite read of 2019
It’s not easy following up on the Ancillary series, but Ann Leckie delivers with The Raven Tower. It’s just the way I like my books; she does not explain events and situations in detail, rather she lets the reader discover the rules of her world and the relationships as we go along. That said, some of the story lines were cut short, others were not followed through to completion, and I would have liked to see more of the underlying reasons for some of the events described.
All in all, solid, and recommended.
I loved Anne Leckie’s Ancillary SF series. So when I saw she was doing epic fantasy? The book practically leapt into my shopping cart. And it didn’t disappoint–the same terse characters, the same wintry worlds, only this time instead of clever multiple-bodied AIs she has strange and wonderful gods, a unique magic system, and multiple time streams (the book spans, oh, two million years? three?). Leckie’s are not page-turners, and the pace can feel slow, but when action happens she doesn’t hold her punches, and the payoff is rich worldbuilding and deeply-known characters. If you’re feeling more like killing a few winter nights than blasting through an airplane ride, The Raven Tower is well worth your read.
Another intriguing original thought-provoking story from Ann Leckie! Not your typical fantasy but well worth a read!
This book is like super confusing. I can appreciate a unique idea, but not a tangle, thank you very much.