The Monster Baru Cormorant, by Seth Dickinson
When I read the first book of this ambitious fantasy series, The Traitor Baru Cormorant, I was truly blown away. It's the closest thing to Dune I've ever read, and there are quite a lot of authors that have tried to emulate that masterpiece unsuccessfully. I found this second installment just as smart, but rather...disjointed. Perhaps this was intentional, to imitate Baru's own broken brain, to show how where she was once in full control, of herself and her environment, she is now a little bit broken, both mentally and emotionally, and going, perhaps, a little bit crazy because of it. It's possible. But I think the jagged edges of this book are also caused by Dickinson overthinking things a little. I don't recall there being any portion of the first book that was told from another character's point of view; this sequel has several chapters that do just that, clearly in an effort to add complexity to the plot, and though I liked these voices in and of themselves, being taken out of Baru's narrative arc is jarring. Baru's character itself has perhaps maxed out on complexity, as her thoughts, words, and actions seem to vacillate wildly. It's hard to find a foothold with her.
When we meet our hero again, she has just executed her love Tain Hu. Having sustained a head injury, half of Baru's vision is occluded. She is welcomed into the exclusive inner circle of savants that rule the Empire, devastatingly intelligent men and women who all have ulterior motives and complicated pasts. Her mission, she learns, is to penetrate the deepest mysteries of the enormous, wealthy nation of Oriati Mbo, with whom the Masquerade teeters on the brink of war. Her personal mission remains the same: liberate her homeland, destroy the Empire.
Dickinson has developed a weirdly interesting world. It's unclear whether this is a far future Earth or pure fantasy, and the past he reveals bit by bit keeps getting stranger. Where the first book was mainly political in nature, this second delves into religion and flirts with magic, or what may possibly be a highly advanced science. Despite the disjointed and erratic narrative, I'm curious to see where Dickinson takes his story, and Baru.
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When we meet our hero again, she has just executed her love Tain Hu. Having sustained a head injury, half of Baru's vision is occluded. She is welcomed into the exclusive inner circle of savants that rule the Empire, devastatingly intelligent men and women who all have ulterior motives and complicated pasts. Her mission, she learns, is to penetrate the deepest mysteries of the enormous, wealthy nation of Oriati Mbo, with whom the Masquerade teeters on the brink of war. Her personal mission remains the same: liberate her homeland, destroy the Empire.
Dickinson has developed a weirdly interesting world. It's unclear whether this is a far future Earth or pure fantasy, and the past he reveals bit by bit keeps getting stranger. Where the first book was mainly political in nature, this second delves into religion and flirts with magic, or what may possibly be a highly advanced science. Despite the disjointed and erratic narrative, I'm curious to see where Dickinson takes his story, and Baru.
Shop indie!
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