laurelthebooks's Reviews (662)

This story leaves you wondering who you can believe or trust as it unfolds. Adults and children alike are stumbling along here as plans from multiple parties take place. Parts of the story are brutal, but there isn't a complete cessation of hope. The multiple POVs are helpful for knowing more about what exactly is happening, but they are done in such away that you, as the reader, still don't have all the answers. There were enough plot surprises that I'm wiling to trust that Miro will keep things interesting in the next book. I love stories I can't completely predict.

The setting and characters gave the whole thing both X-Men and Sherlock Holmes vibes, and anyone who is a fan of historical fantasy will likely find something to enjoy here. The categorizations of powers are something I'm hoping we learn more about in the future. I'm not sure which folklore or myth Miro's litches are based on, but they remind me quite a bit of vampires so other monsters might be in the cards as the series progresses as well.

 While I deeply admire Le Guin's longer works, my favorites are still her short stories and essays. I can spend as much time thinking about one of her short stories as I can her longer works.

This particular collection has many sterling works, including the well-known "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas", but there are a number of works dealing with the concept of art, self, the motivation of a person possessed with singular knowledge, and science. I could hardly pick a favorite.

One of my favorite lines is from "Direction of the Road":
Mortality is my privilege. And it has been taken from me.