DThoris reviewed City of Bones by Martha Wells
Review of 'City of Bones' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Not bad, but no great shakes. The premise was interesting enough, but he writing didn't grab me. YMMV.
488 pages
Published June 15, 1996 by Tor Fantasy.
City of Bones
by Martha Wells
4 stars
(12 reviews)
“Khat, a member of a humanoid race created by the Ancients to survive in the Waste, and Sagai, his human partner, are relic dealers working on the edge of society, trying to stay one step ahead of the Trade Inspectors and to support Sagai’s family. Khan soon discovers that the deadly trade politics of Charisat’s upper tiers aren’t the only danger. The relics the Warders want are the key to an Ancient magic of unknown power, and, as all the inhabitants of Charisat know, no one understands the Ancients’ magic.” - from MarthaWells.com.
Tavish reviewed City of Bones by Martha Wells
Review of 'City of Bones' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I love Martha Wells' books (that I've read). After reading some of Murderbot diaries, I found out she has been writing in the fantasy genre for long, and I picked up two, 'Death of the necromancer' and this one. Both are stand-alone, however City of bones seems to be set in the world (in the past, or in the future, I'm not sure) of her Raksura series. This is not a typical fantasy series, there are no humans (I think..) and the characters are not typical fantasy races, or even similar to any I've seen, and the author makes full use of the anatomical and other differences, which was pretty interesting. Overall pretty unique and fun book.
Lord of Candy reviewed City of Bones by Martha Wells
Review of 'City of Bones' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I've been reading Martha Wells backwards. I really got to know her with Murderbot, then followed Raksura, and thought I should check out City of Bones while on vacation.
I really enjoyed it. I liked the world and the depth she put into it. The caste system and how people operate are all pretty well fleshed out.
The story and main characters all had good substance to them, everything really went well I thought--however--I thought it could have been maybe more of a series. You get this great world, well developed relationships, but the ending is swift and tied up in short order then the main characters depart away from each other for nebulous reasons to nebulous effect. It's like having a great dinner but the coffee service is just meh.
If Wells ever returned to this world I'd be for it, absolutely. Neat build, magic, races, and more--just need …
I've been reading Martha Wells backwards. I really got to know her with Murderbot, then followed Raksura, and thought I should check out City of Bones while on vacation.
I really enjoyed it. I liked the world and the depth she put into it. The caste system and how people operate are all pretty well fleshed out.
The story and main characters all had good substance to them, everything really went well I thought--however--I thought it could have been maybe more of a series. You get this great world, well developed relationships, but the ending is swift and tied up in short order then the main characters depart away from each other for nebulous reasons to nebulous effect. It's like having a great dinner but the coffee service is just meh.
If Wells ever returned to this world I'd be for it, absolutely. Neat build, magic, races, and more--just need more.
loppear reviewed City of Bones by Martha Wells
Review of 'City of Bones' on Goodreads
3 stars
A caper and mystery fought over, I'm less and less into SFF that isn't ingenious allegory however.
ghostchaser reviewed City of Bones by Martha Wells
Review of 'City of Bones' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Good likeable characters, Good story. Would have been good for a series but makes a great novel.
betty reviewed City of Bones by Martha Wells
Review of 'City of Bones' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A book that made me gleeful to read. Why? It's urban fantasy in an imagined casbah on a desolate world. It gives me a protagonist who's smart enough that when he's stupid, he'd really stupid. It teased me with the possibility of an mpreg (and you're going to have to trust me on this one) that made me think "neat!" rather than "ew." It was a mystery and and a romp at once, and half the mystery was the entire nature of their world. There were no helpless maidens, the villain was never certain, and danger menaced on all sides. Also, people commented several times on the prettiness of the male protagonist, which made me happy.
Martha Wells always uses her books to look at how societies regulate interactions between men and women, and although a minor theme, this is here too. (rough paraphrase: "If I'd stayed, I'd be someone's …
A book that made me gleeful to read. Why? It's urban fantasy in an imagined casbah on a desolate world. It gives me a protagonist who's smart enough that when he's stupid, he'd really stupid. It teased me with the possibility of an mpreg (and you're going to have to trust me on this one) that made me think "neat!" rather than "ew." It was a mystery and and a romp at once, and half the mystery was the entire nature of their world. There were no helpless maidens, the villain was never certain, and danger menaced on all sides. Also, people commented several times on the prettiness of the male protagonist, which made me happy.
Martha Wells always uses her books to look at how societies regulate interactions between men and women, and although a minor theme, this is here too. (rough paraphrase: "If I'd stayed, I'd be someone's second husband and looking after six kids.") Her B.A. in anthropology is an asset to her writing: the society and economy of the city is layered and complex. (I like that sort of thing, okay?) Xenophobia is a recurring theme, and never simplified. Recommended.
