This is a relatively short novel that handles its stack of big issues very convincingly regarding plot and character development, and at the same time gives you a lot to think about – with the characters, whose (self-)reflectivenes is an integral part of the narrative and almost never feels forced .
It's the tale of a group of very divers people (sexual and gender identity-wise and also regarding their neurological status), who have magical abilities (magical abilities and gender/sexual and neurological identity are not connected), and have to decide on the right way to tackle the mounting danger that the islands they live on are destroyed by a natural catastrophe, and with it their very inclusive, slightly anarchist community and culture. The volcano at the heart of their archipelago is tethered to a huge sentient entity full of magical energy, the star of the tides, that sleeps deep down in the sea around the islands. The star's sleep is more and more disturbed by nightmares, it's expanding, which in turn is activating the volcano. The old star keeper, who knew all this, but couldn't convince his council members nor the islanders how very dangerous the situation is, and how little time is left to conceive a strategy how to deal with this emergency, has now died. And the new star keeper, Ranra, a council member and one of the narrators, and her counselors are facing the exact same situation, but much much more urgent. The whole novel centers around questions of responsibilities in an emergency, and how to deal with the knowledge that you and your decision or indecisions are part of the problem or even made it worse.
In a way The Unbalancing a treatise on catastrophe / emergency ethics, but as a well crafted, very moving novel: Is it okay or even necessary that those who know how things stand, force their decisions on the others (that don't know, won't know or don't believe in the urgency)? Does urgency overrule participatory decision making? Do you have the duty to participate in a rescue operation, which will maybe cost your life, but in any case will put you in a position to actively go against your own personality / character / neurological make-up? Does a noble end justify compromising in relations to the means? Is a discussion that so easily divides between ends and means not the wholly inadequate framework to look at the situation, and has actually brought on this situation in the first place? What does failure mean, and, again, isn't the thinking in failure/success inadequate to frame or address acting in an existential crisis, and leads to the kind of doomerism and despair, that in the end  prevented the old star keeper from doing anything at all, except waiting for disaster to strike.
I know this sounds very dry and philosophical, but although this novel is some sort of novel of ideas or even an allegorical novel, it's neither boring, nor dull: The story is very exciting and full of suspense, the character arcs are very convincingly developed, and the writing style is very evocative and lyrical. If you liked This Is How You Lose the Time War , give this a go. I think you will like it. 

A brilliant book starring an autistic, non-binary main character named Erigra that enters a relationship with the very determined Ranra.

The prose is excellent, you are thrown straight into the world and concepts are introduced as you go. Magic as a configuration of deep names and the community of ichidi (non-binary people) and their animal tokens were my favourite parts of the world.

Some of the Bird based swearing definitely took me out of the book because phrases like "Pluck it!" seem very silly to me, but swears where "God" is simply replaced with "Bird" are also common in this book and felt more natural to me.

It meant a lot to me to see Erigra struggle with sensory overload and communicating with others, as these are common struggles of autistic people and I loved seeing how they coped with these struggles by going to a place of comfort, tending to plants and creating poetry. I didn't realise before this that reading a book with an excellent autistic character would feel so validating.

The final act of this book impressed me, I did not expect certain plot points to happen and Lemberg had me in awe at the character development. I adored the ending as the themes of hope, community and mental health were combined beautifully.

Trans and autistic characters and experiences are central in this book, if that interests you at all then you should read this.

 

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg was one of my favorite reads in the first half of the year, and now The Unbalancing has taken up it’s space beside it for this half of the year. The Unbalancing follows two characters as they attempt to find out what is causing the star in the heart of their homeland to tremble with nightmares. The nightmares in fact have begun to disrupt and may possibly destroy this land if they cannot stop them in time.

The important thing to remember about the writing in these books - that I’ve found at least - is that R.B. Lemberg is a poet. That reflects in the style of their prose. It’s beautiful and at times leans to the purple, in the best possible way. It can seem slow to read, but ultimately the world it paints and the characters are intense and very real, with meat on them.

The primary characters of The Unbalancing are deeply flawed and nuanced - one clearly struggles with an unspecified neurodivergence. They are quiet, very introverted, and wants more than anything to keep to their safe spaces. Our other character is the opposite, full of fire and quick action. I loved them both though it took me a good chunk of reading with Ranra, the more outgoing of the two. Erígra was by far my favorite. I deeply felt many of their needs and questions and empathized with them throughout the whole book.

Outside characters from our primary ones were equally as nuanced and fascinating. We get frequent references to Weaves, but in an approachable and very fun ‘Ah Ha!’ kind of way. The story of the Birdverse is also explored and explained in a deeper way. From the idea of who Bird is to the seven stars and who they were before they were brought to the world. That itself was heartbreaking, the realizations behind those stars.

Ultimately this book felt to me - and I think it’s one that will feel and hit different for a lot of people - to be a lot about beginnings and endings. Finding out truths about yourself and others. One of the biggest themes for me was also Failure. How to carry failure, and carry pain. The book is heavy at times, Erígra is attempting to learn just who they are and how they identify. Ranra is struggling with a history of abuse from her mother, who suffers from an ‘illness of the mind’. Their world is literally being destroyed at the same time as they’re trying to sort these things out (something the book touches on, when is the right time to find oneself or take care of yourself). So don’t expect a light read.

I adored it. I wish I could break down every theme and character, but I would get lost in the weeds and truly - I’m still sorting them out in my own head. I loved this and deeply recommend it if you want a heavier, more intense read that really grapples with a lot of themes.