Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
Title: phoenix extravagant
Author: Yoon Ha Lee
Publisher: Rebellion / Solaris
Publication Date: Tomorrow!! (hardback/ebook)
ISBN: 978-1781087947
Source: NetGalley
I read this because mechanical dragon and Yoon Ha Lee. While I loved the dragon and the art magic, I didn’t really find meself enthralled with the story itself. I am not sure why. The book was well-written but I didn’t get the sense of magic that I received from his other works even when they made me noggin ache. I liked the main character Jebi but think I would have preferred a story that dealt more with the art magic and dragon determining what it wanted out of life and less with colonization and lust/angst of Jebi. I am glad I read it but wish the plot would have went into a different direction. Arrrr!
Goodreads had this to say about the novel:
Dragons. Art. Revolution.
Gyen Jebi isn’t a fighter or a subversive. They just want to paint.
One day they’re jobless and desperate; the next, Jebi finds themself recruited by the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers.
But when Jebi discovers the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use—they find they can no longer stay out of politics.
What they can do is steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…
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Previous Log Entries for this Author
the dragon pearl (Captain’s Log – YA Sci-Fi & Fantasy)
the vela (On the Horizon – Sci-Fi eArc)
ninefox gambit – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
Hm… it always catches me out, when I read a book and find I’m more interested in another aspect of the story, rather than the one the author presents… It tends to happen far more frequently in films, these days – which I’ve more or less stopped watching because I find them SO annoying. Thank you for a great review, Cap:)
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I can’t fault the author for writing what they want. How are they supposed to know what is in me noggin? I don’t even know what I want most of the time. I really don’t like most films these days for much of the same reasons as ye do. I almost always don’t want the story being presented. I am also tired of blow-them-up comic book movies. Not that I was a huge fan but can we have movies with good plots, characters, and dialogue?
x The Captain
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Oh, I know what you mean! I am SO fed up with clumsy, manipulative storylines I can see coming A MILE off. I watched ‘I am Mother’ a couple of nights ago and bitterly resent THAT waste of my life! Compare it to some of those wonderful films back in the day – we watched A Roman Holiday and were blown away by the sophisticated script, humour and ultimately excellent characterisation. Why can’t we produce anything like that these days???
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Sorry this one didn’t quite work for you. I really want to read some of their work at some point but I’ll probably start with Ninefox Gambit. 🙂
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I loved that one! Though it does hurt me noggin a bit. Hope ye love it.
x The Captain
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Hmm. Having read your review, I’m kind of glad I didn’t request it 😉
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It had good points but didn’t completely float me boat. I don’t think ye would be missing out.
x The Captain
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Yup, the dragon is what caught my eye on this one, too. I haven’t read it yet, though, and I’m not sure if I will. But still. Dragon.
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I keep reading all the dragon books that are coming out and not getting enough dragon. What gives?
x The Captain
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Yeah, that’s frustrating! Where’s the dragon we have been promised?
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