Sounds good -- another one to add to my TBR. I love an author who respects the reader enough not to throw mountains of exposition on us. Keep up the great work!
I got an ARC of this book about a month ago and LOVED every minute of it! I am glad to see that I am not alone. What a great story and I completely agree with you about the way Barker just drops you into the world. I really like that style. The author trusts the reader to figure it all out!
I loved it too, although so far I've only read the sample pages. I was immediately intrigued. I had no issue with the names or what was going on, but then, I always trust authors to have it all make sense until they give me a reason not to.
I just went over the Amazon and read the sample and I liked it a lot. I guess I've been reading fantasy for so long, the strange words and Gods and monks and all that don't phase me. After reading about 5 pages I bought it. I need something after the amazingness that was The Will of the Many.
Ever since I read "Piranesi" for the first time I have been looking for peculiar books with similar atmosphere and a sense of mystery. I am so looking forward to read my ARC. Thank you for your review
Well as someone that absolutely loved Tide Child and has this book waiting at my doorstep currently I am hyped! Tide Child was really different from any other series I had read. And it seems like this hits that unique but still great style again!
I just seen this book on Goodreads today and just seen that you reviewed it! Added this one to my TBR list now. In the middle of reading The Bone Ships and am loving it! Once I finish that trilogy I’ll look into reading this book! Thanks for the Review Matt!
Great review, Matt! Glad you liked it! As someone who didn’t enjoy Bone Ships, it sounds like this book will have a lot of the same issues for me. So I’m gonna pass on this one (for now, at least 😂).
The Tide Child was the same - all these different terms that weren't really explained. Like the Sun and the Moon were Skearith’s Eye and Blind Eye etc. I'm not sure if I liked that tbh but caught on after just pushing through for a bit.
Hey Matt, a lot of the comments you just made, I also experienced when reading the Tide Child Trilogy. And I absolutely loved that one. I guess that's just the author's style then :). I cannot wait to pick this one up. Though I'll probably wait until we're a bit closer to the next book coming out. Your reaction almost sounded like it was a bit of a hot iron or a cliffhanger or something. So waiting will reduce the wait for more RJ Barker goodness. Cheers.
If you want to read an author that really doesn't explain everything and is incredible at writing strange settings then you should read Gene Wolfe if you haven't already. It's challenging but very rewarding.
Wait you actually record reviews while reading the last page on camera? I thought that was just a bit. Maybe you should, ya know, digest a bit and get all your ideas in order before recording. I justed started the book as I'm really stoked. The Bone Ships really had me hooked, so I'm hoping this is just as good.
I just read this and agree it was awesome (albeit confusing), but I’m going to go nuts with the use of they/their/them where it makes no sense to do so. It’s a very wyrd choice! 😂
Hey, Matt can u tell me what trion means. I keep on getting confused by Venn and trion and then the child is termed as they. I’m only halfway through. Does that make sense.
Is referred to as the third gender at one point. Where the polygamous marriage structure would add trions to maraige to add status. Venn is a special type of trion that's also cowl, but I think trion is just a third gender hence the they/them stuff. Totally makes sense for the story but agree its really jarring to read, really highlights why it doesn't work from a language standpoint.
So I’m thinking about ordering the broken binding version… but the they/them thing. Is it a statement or just….. part of the character if that makes sense? I love the Malazan and think I may try this book. But it’ll be my first RJ Barker book.
I've had the same issue with the gender neutral pronoun thing in a book... It just gets clunky and confusing. Glad you enjoyed it so much. I really need to give Barker a try.
Oh, damn, the hostility towards they/them pronouns in the comments here is really disappointing. I get that it can be confusing in prose but come on, yall.
Did you receive this book for free or agree to do review for author? If you did and don’t disclose it would look like you are shilling for new releases.
I kinda hate it when in story, the pronoun they/them is used to refer a single person. As a non-native english speaker, I automatically translate that pronoun as a group of people and it really fudge you up when its not. In The Black Sun, the author create a totally new pronoun to refer to the genderless individuals, which is a better method
Thanks for the they/them warning, that's a pass for me. Nothing against it in real life but it's way too confusing and annoying in books for me to handle.
@@TheMrNukeman For instance when I read I think it was Rogue Protocol (Murderbot 2) there was a character referred to as TER instead of HER and I kept thinking they were typos or something. That's all.
Sounds good -- another one to add to my TBR. I love an author who respects the reader enough not to throw mountains of exposition on us. Keep up the great work!
Sold! This sounds SO fascinating! I really love immersive fantasy books and I need to give this one a try!
I’m over halfway through book 2 and it just gets better. RJ Barker is becoming a fav author of mine
I got an ARC of this book about a month ago and LOVED every minute of it! I am glad to see that I am not alone. What a great story and I completely agree with you about the way Barker just drops you into the world. I really like that style. The author trusts the reader to figure it all out!
I loved it too, although so far I've only read the sample pages. I was immediately intrigued. I had no issue with the names or what was going on, but then, I always trust authors to have it all make sense until they give me a reason not to.
I just went over the Amazon and read the sample and I liked it a lot. I guess I've been reading fantasy for so long, the strange words and Gods and monks and all that don't phase me. After reading about 5 pages I bought it. I need something after the amazingness that was The Will of the Many.
RJ Barker is unbelievable!
I'm relieved that you love it because I loved Tide Child so much, am hoping for more of that quality.
If you loved Tide Child, you almost assuredly will love this one too!
There's some high praise here! I'm a fan of anything "different", so no doubt this book is for me!
Awesome, enjoy!
Ever since I read "Piranesi" for the first time I have been looking for peculiar books with similar atmosphere and a sense of mystery. I am so looking forward to read my ARC. Thank you for your review
I hope you love it!
Well as someone that absolutely loved Tide Child and has this book waiting at my doorstep currently I am hyped! Tide Child was really different from any other series I had read. And it seems like this hits that unique but still great style again!
Yup, very unique. You'll love it!
It’s funny, your entire review here is exactly how I felt about Renia by Karl Forshaw!
I really enjoyed Renia!
@@caitlinl2750 me too! Easily a top 3 for the year so far. Can’t wait for the next one!
yessss I was so happy when I saw John gywnne has such a thorough recap at the beginning of the hunger of the gods! I wish all fantasy books did this!
Haven't read Barker before and this was not on my list. I am feeling I better add it!
Deadly review! I'm gonna host a buddy read for this novel next month so thanks for giving me all the hype 🤙
I started this a few hours ago and haven’t put it down since!
I just seen this book on Goodreads today and just seen that you reviewed it! Added this one to my TBR list now. In the middle of reading The Bone Ships and am loving it! Once I finish that trilogy I’ll look into reading this book! Thanks for the Review Matt!
Hope you love it!
Plz make a video of your top 10 finished trilogy
Great review, Matt! Glad you liked it! As someone who didn’t enjoy Bone Ships, it sounds like this book will have a lot of the same issues for me. So I’m gonna pass on this one (for now, at least 😂).
Yeah you probably won't like this one either!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews thanks!
The Tide Child was the same - all these different terms that weren't really explained. Like the Sun and the Moon were Skearith’s Eye and Blind Eye etc. I'm not sure if I liked that tbh but caught on after just pushing through for a bit.
Yeah, but this one is even more intense on that front.
Hey Matt, a lot of the comments you just made, I also experienced when reading the Tide Child Trilogy. And I absolutely loved that one. I guess that's just the author's style then :). I cannot wait to pick this one up. Though I'll probably wait until we're a bit closer to the next book coming out. Your reaction almost sounded like it was a bit of a hot iron or a cliffhanger or something. So waiting will reduce the wait for more RJ Barker goodness. Cheers.
Not really a cliffhanger, more of a big revelation. Enjoy!
If you want to read an author that really doesn't explain everything and is incredible at writing strange settings then you should read Gene Wolfe if you haven't already. It's challenging but very rewarding.
I plan on it sometime in the relatively near future!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews nice nice!! It IS somewhat challenging and confusing but his writing style is really good. I look forward to those reviews!
Damn this month's been very good to Matt, many 5 star books this month.
Yup, a great month indeed!
Wait you actually record reviews while reading the last page on camera? I thought that was just a bit. Maybe you should, ya know, digest a bit and get all your ideas in order before recording.
I justed started the book as I'm really stoked. The Bone Ships really had me hooked, so I'm hoping this is just as good.
The "review right after reading" is my schtick! If I changed that, I would just be like everyone else. :)
I just read this and agree it was awesome (albeit confusing), but I’m going to go nuts with the use of they/their/them where it makes no sense to do so. It’s a very wyrd choice! 😂
Hey, Matt can u tell me what trion means. I keep on getting confused by Venn and trion and then the child is termed as they. I’m only halfway through. Does that make sense.
It's the one word I never figured out! lol
Ok, thanks. At least I’m not the only one.😀 This is annoying. Great read so far though.
I suppose it means three of something.
Is referred to as the third gender at one point. Where the polygamous marriage structure would add trions to maraige to add status. Venn is a special type of trion that's also cowl, but I think trion is just a third gender hence the they/them stuff. Totally makes sense for the story but agree its really jarring to read, really highlights why it doesn't work from a language standpoint.
Would you recommend this or the tidechild trilogy to start if you haven't read any RJ Barker yet?
I'm still partial to Tide Child, but in part because I loved all 3 books. My opinion may change depending on how this series turns out.
This book sounds awesome
All aboard the hype train 🚂
So I’m thinking about ordering the broken binding version… but the they/them thing. Is it a statement or just….. part of the character if that makes sense? I love the Malazan and think I may try this book. But it’ll be my first RJ Barker book.
I believe it's just the term used to call someone of this particular characters status/rank in this world.
Ooooh I bet it ended with everyone getting run over by a truck!!!
It actually ends like Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The present day police show up and arrest everyone!
My tbr is growing at a far faster rate than I am getting though books. I think you are 70% to blame for this...
Yeah I have the same problem!
Years of watching your reviews and I always thought you were just pretending to finish the book on camera haha Is that real??? 😂
Lol yeah it's 100% real! I read the last few pages on camera and then edit it down.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews haah that's awesome I appreciate your videos even more now haha 😂
Amazing review
Thank you!
I've had the same issue with the gender neutral pronoun thing in a book... It just gets clunky and confusing.
Glad you enjoyed it so much. I really need to give Barker a try.
Oh, damn, the hostility towards they/them pronouns in the comments here is really disappointing. I get that it can be confusing in prose but come on, yall.
I was enjoying the world, but the main character felt so incompetent.
Did you receive this book for free or agree to do review for author? If you did and don’t disclose it would look like you are shilling for new releases.
Virtually every book I read is free. Even the ones I give 1 star reviews.
First!
I kinda hate it when in story, the pronoun they/them is used to refer a single person. As a non-native english speaker, I automatically translate that pronoun as a group of people and it really fudge you up when its not. In The Black Sun, the author create a totally new pronoun to refer to the genderless individuals, which is a better method
I 100% agree with the pronoun thing. At the start I thought that character was multiple munds trapped in one body 😅
Thank you very much for mentioning the nonsense of pronouns.
I agree I was confused I thought I was missing a person when reading certain parts of the book lol now it makes sense
Love the author from what I've read, but frankly the use of non traditional pronouns is a huge turn off for me...
Yeah, but you get used to it and it didn't detract TOO much from the story for me.
Thanks for the they/them warning, that's a pass for me. Nothing against it in real life but it's way too confusing and annoying in books for me to handle.
That's an even bigger problem in real life. Who are we talking about?! LOL
@@TheMrNukeman For instance when I read I think it was Rogue Protocol (Murderbot 2) there was a character referred to as TER instead of HER and I kept thinking they were typos or something. That's all.
I lost all the interest that was built up when you said a character use they/them pronounce
They them? I really hate that stuff, it really throws me out of a tale.