Scan barcode
A review by jenpaul13
The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg
4.0
A star’s unease threatens the peaceful island homes of Gelle-Geu, bringing together a starkeeper and a plant-tending poet to prevent disastrous upheaval in The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Beneath the water, a star sleeps uneasily, rocked by nightmares that manifest as tremors throughout the islands of Gelle-Geu. Though the previous starkeeper opted to ignore what this growing distress means for their home, the new starkeeper, Ranra Kekeri, is determined to confront and heal the underlying issue. But Ranra isn’t the only person who could have been starkeeper; Erígra Lilún, a reclusive poet has the capability of power within themselves to have been the starkeeper but not the temperament to deal with people, much to the dismay of their ghostly ancestor Semberi, who carried the star here and mysteriously imparts tales of the stars’ deliverance by the goddess Bird. After Ranra and Lilún meet, they are drawn to one another, but the magic of their deepnames and how they connect highlights trouble they have yet to face.
With magic and lore infused within the heart of the narrative that moves fairly swiftly, the world of magical constructs, ghosts, and stars impacting life around them was engaging and fascinating to experience. As an exploration in the Birdverse, this felt much easier to read than The Four Profound Weaves; perhaps it was because I had read Lemberg’s writing before and now have some context of the Birdverse or perhaps because this story appeared to be more straightforward in what it’s presenting. Written in a way that doesn’t feel inorganic to the narrative or overly didactic to readers, the text demonstrates the power and importance of naming and identity, both in terms of pronouns and sexuality, as well as neurodiversity, while depicting gaining consent similarly; consistent with previous works, there was impressive diversity of representation within the characters of this world. Though the budding of their relationship seemed to be on the more unbelievable and instantaneous side, the dynamic between Ranra and Lilún was interesting and the foundation between them is built well, combining their different views for the benefit of all.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Beneath the water, a star sleeps uneasily, rocked by nightmares that manifest as tremors throughout the islands of Gelle-Geu. Though the previous starkeeper opted to ignore what this growing distress means for their home, the new starkeeper, Ranra Kekeri, is determined to confront and heal the underlying issue. But Ranra isn’t the only person who could have been starkeeper; Erígra Lilún, a reclusive poet has the capability of power within themselves to have been the starkeeper but not the temperament to deal with people, much to the dismay of their ghostly ancestor Semberi, who carried the star here and mysteriously imparts tales of the stars’ deliverance by the goddess Bird. After Ranra and Lilún meet, they are drawn to one another, but the magic of their deepnames and how they connect highlights trouble they have yet to face.
With magic and lore infused within the heart of the narrative that moves fairly swiftly, the world of magical constructs, ghosts, and stars impacting life around them was engaging and fascinating to experience. As an exploration in the Birdverse, this felt much easier to read than The Four Profound Weaves; perhaps it was because I had read Lemberg’s writing before and now have some context of the Birdverse or perhaps because this story appeared to be more straightforward in what it’s presenting. Written in a way that doesn’t feel inorganic to the narrative or overly didactic to readers, the text demonstrates the power and importance of naming and identity, both in terms of pronouns and sexuality, as well as neurodiversity, while depicting gaining consent similarly; consistent with previous works, there was impressive diversity of representation within the characters of this world. Though the budding of their relationship seemed to be on the more unbelievable and instantaneous side, the dynamic between Ranra and Lilún was interesting and the foundation between them is built well, combining their different views for the benefit of all.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.