mass market paperback, 392 pages
Published Nov. 19, 2019 by Night Shade.
Moon has spent his life hiding what he is--a shape-shifter able to transform himself into a winged creature of flight. An orphan with only vague memories of his own kind, Moon tries to fit in among the tribes of his river valley, with mixed success. Just as Moon is once again discovered and cast out by his adopted tribe, he discovers a shape-shifter like himself...someone who seems to know exactly what he is, who promises that Moon will be welcomed into his community.
What this stranger doesn't tell Moon is that his presence will tip the balance of power...that his extraordinary lineage is crucial to the colony's survival...and that his people face extinction at the hands of the dreaded Fell.
Moon must overcome a lifetime of conditioning in order to save himself...and his newfound kin.
I'm not too big on novels set in court, but I liked the characters. I'll continue on in the series.
Moon, the main character of the Raksura series, shares a great many characteristics with Murderbot: he's isolated, traumatized, often inspires fear in others through no fault of his own, and doesn't know where he belongs or how to fit in. Naturally, the first book is mostly concerned with reuniting Moon with his people and chronicling the joys and pains of integrating into this complex society. The plot is slightly predictable, but this is easily compensated for by the sheer originality of the setting: one of the few fantasy books/series I've read that does not bother with the conceit of fitting human society into a world where magic exists, but rather imagines a world where magic is just another routine natural force. There are no humans in this world but there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of sentient humanoid species, and just as many sentient non-humanoids. There are also floating islands, flying …
Moon, the main character of the Raksura series, shares a great many characteristics with Murderbot: he's isolated, traumatized, often inspires fear in others through no fault of his own, and doesn't know where he belongs or how to fit in. Naturally, the first book is mostly concerned with reuniting Moon with his people and chronicling the joys and pains of integrating into this complex society. The plot is slightly predictable, but this is easily compensated for by the sheer originality of the setting: one of the few fantasy books/series I've read that does not bother with the conceit of fitting human society into a world where magic exists, but rather imagines a world where magic is just another routine natural force. There are no humans in this world but there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of sentient humanoid species, and just as many sentient non-humanoids. There are also floating islands, flying boats, ruins of wondrous monuments built by long-vanished peoples, and trees large enough to hold entire forests on one of their branches. It's fun, it's compelling, and it has distinct elements of coziness that make it a comforting re-read for me.
There is one criticism I think is valid, which is the gender essentialism of the Raksura. I don't believe this is deliberate on Wells' part; it's simply an extension of the magical but somewhat caste-ist conception of how Raksura society works. Certain people just get certain jobs by virtue of their phenotype at birth. Which could be oppressive, except that Raksura society doesn't have money and nobody has to work for food and shelter. This didn't HAVE to mean that Raksura don't experience gender dysphoria, but that's what ends up happening--even though one of the MCs has an unexpected shift of body plan and has challenges dealing with that. There is, however, a laidback background acceptance of multiple sexual orientations. I didn't find this to be enough to ruin the story, but some people have, so I thought it was worth mentioning.
I don't relate to these characters quite as well as the Murderbot crew, but they did get me in the end. The story just gives them a giant, wondrous playground.
4.25 Definitely a good fantasy novel with refreshingly non-anthropecentric worldbuilding. Since I came here from the Murderbort Diaries, I was expecting a little more, but it's a worthy read with some great non-tradtional fantasy images, even if it reads a little like Gargoyles fanfic at times (I'm not saying the Raksura aren't their own thing, but there are some similarities). I didn't like the weird noun-based naming scheme and I am a little uncomfortable with what seems like veering really close to ableism and bashing mixed-race relationships. Knowing the author, I have little doubt there will be a very good resolution to those things. Still, I can see how it could turn some people off from reading. As an aside: the lgbt topics in this one are mostly in the past or a little subtle, though nicely laid.back at the same time.
This is a more traditional fantasy novel from Martha Wells, starring an orphan with royal blood and a destiny.
The interesting twist is that a male is the character everyone is pursuing for his fertility rather than the usual princess.
It is also a rich world with many interesting species, wonderful settings and great action scenes.
This is somewhat a guilty pleasure read. I enjoyed it, despite recognizing plot tropes that made the outcome predictable.
The world Wells has built is interesting, and I want to see more!
I think what is most captivating about this book is the world. Such interesting and varied races all living on the same world. It’s fantasy with magic, but there are remnants of previous (presumably higher technology) civilizations everywhere. It’s a fascinating milieu, and I want to read more immediately. I’m hoping we get more of the world’s history!
EDIT 2023: I re-read this in a couple of days. Definitely holds up!
Sometimes you can learn a lot about a person by comparing themes across their works. Wells loves to write books about protagonists who are different and slowly come to find their place within a group. They have morally ambiguous pasts, about which they feel guilt. Her settings are expansive and luscious with rich world-building. Her villains have mind-control powers. It gives you a sense, right?
This was a very solid epic fantasy. I'm not in love yet, but I wasn't in love with murderbot by the end of the first book either. I'm interested to see what happens next.
Really enjoyed a world where the populations are diverse as heck, and the stories were excellent as well.
3.5 stars.
Interesting new fantasy world. I liked the premise that there were absolutely good and evil forces but they had their own agendas and didn't just line up for or against the heroes. The owners of the wind ships and the bumble-bee people were both good, but they didn't follow Jade and Moon's plans just because Jade and Moon were the PCs.
The hero Moon was almost too pissy sometimes; but didn't go so far that I disliked him. The balance of power between the two queens was interesting and didn't follow a predictable path.
I read this entire series between May 16th and June 3rd. So sorry to finish it!
A romantic adventure in the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs, but without the plot holes, racism, sexism, and other white men's burdens.
The weirdest thing about this book is that there are no humans in this book. Or rather, there might be but it's not clear. The protagonist is not human, and from his perspective, humans would just be with another one of the races populating his world. Therefore if there are humans, our protagonist never observes them, nor describes them in sufficient detail to recognize them.
Um. Lots of stuff happens! It's pretty great! If you like world building, alien biology, alien societies, marriage of convenience/arranged marriage and/or team stories, check this out.
Martha Wells is a sadly under appreciated fantasy author. Though she has been writing and publishing for some years somehow the success she deserves has eluded her.
The Cloud Roads is a great example of what Wells has to offer as an author. She writes fantasy yes, but there are no elves and dwarves here. This is a unique and remarkably fully realized world. She gives it depth and history with only a few sentences.
The characters are the same. Some we get no more than a couple of paragraphs description of and yet the feel real and I wanted to know more about them.
The story itself is more familiar territory with an orphan boy and a Princess. There is danger and intrigue and of course romance. And these characters are not mere stereotypes I found myself caring how things would work out where sometimes it just feels like …
Martha Wells is a sadly under appreciated fantasy author. Though she has been writing and publishing for some years somehow the success she deserves has eluded her.
The Cloud Roads is a great example of what Wells has to offer as an author. She writes fantasy yes, but there are no elves and dwarves here. This is a unique and remarkably fully realized world. She gives it depth and history with only a few sentences.
The characters are the same. Some we get no more than a couple of paragraphs description of and yet the feel real and I wanted to know more about them.
The story itself is more familiar territory with an orphan boy and a Princess. There is danger and intrigue and of course romance. And these characters are not mere stereotypes I found myself caring how things would work out where sometimes it just feels like going through the motions.
This isn't my favorite of Martha Wells work. That award still goes to Wheel of the Infinite, but I was very happy to discover there are two further books to this series and that I will get to explore this distinctive Three Worlds setting further.
There's a lot still to be explained including the origins of both the Raksura and the Fell.
