Twice as long as it should be, though it kept throwing plot around it was mostly the same plot. I was entirely uncompelled by the characters whose trauma and changes were mostly plot service. And it has a sequel, which, no thanks. ( )

It's a pity. I think this had real potential. The world is interesting, and the characters could have been engaging. I just think it lacked depth. I feel I could almost have been invested, but the events were told as if moving chess pieces on a board, setting things up to get through the storyline, instead of immersing you in it and making you care. And I really think it was close. It was nearly great. ( )

This is the kind of book where I can see the issues—slightly slow, wobbly start; the pacing in the mid-section could do with tightening—but I also don't care that much about them very much. Reading The Unspoken Name felt like a ride in a rollercoaster where you're winched along very gradually and slowly and you think eh, this is maybe not going to be that—and then ohhhhhhh shiiiiiit you're flipped over the edge of a very long drop and then the next thing you register is the end of the ride and your hair's a mess and you're grinning.

This metaphor has gotten away from me.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is: if you dig queer coming-of-age-stories, an Emperor's Hand-esque figure working out their own self-worth, creepy Ancient Gods and their weird-ass death cults, Fun With Tropes, and young women rejecting a world that wants to treat them as disposable, give this a whirl! I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. ( )

The positives on this book is that there's great storytelling, new world and interesting ways to travel. The downside is I feel that the story jumped around entirely too much and fast-forwarded way too quickly. I feel the last 30 pages was a slide into home plate on its face. When I read the last few chapters I was very disappointed at how quickly everything unraveled ( )

Really good. Draws you in. ( )