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What Members Thought

Tien
May 26, 2018 rated it really liked it
Sometimes, there is just a book that when you finished reading, you completely have no idea where you are... This world was so immersive that I came up disoriented and rather sad that I have to leave it behind.

To begin with though, some mind-bending was required. In this world, you are born without a gender; you will remain as 'undeclared gender' until such time that you yourself wish to be confirmed to be one or another and then the process to change your body accordingly will take place. In an
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Cora
I enjoyed this novella. The world building was unique and fun to read about. I liked the characters - they were complicated, interesting, and felt genuine to me. I felt like this first novella gives the reader an interesting peak into a complex world and I look forward to reading more about it in subsequent books in the series.
Susan
Aug 09, 2018 rated it really liked it
This is a terrific introduction to the sub-genre of silkpunk. Author J. Y. Yang takes us to a world that feels vaguely Eastern, with significant elements of magic and fantasy as well as a vastly different approach to gender than our world has. The story revolves around young twins Akeha and Mokoya as each tries to find their place in a world torn between the traditionally powerful “tensors” and the competing machinists. It’s an intriguing reframing of the conflict between science and religion. A ...more
Deedee
I read this ONCE, about halfway, then gave up. The gender fluid thing was fine, but it's been better done elsewhere (see: The Left Hand of Darkness). The story was so cookie-cutter the same: Asian setting; spooky twins; wise older man; manipulative power-made Empress; 'the Force' (called 'the Slack'); and so on. Readers of fantasy have read this story many times.

Maybe the story would have been better told as a graphic novel??
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Betty
Sep 14, 2017 marked it as to-read
Lisa Wilkinson
Oct 12, 2017 marked it as wishlist
Bror (Abrar)
Jan 08, 2018 marked it as to-read
Micha
Feb 07, 2018 marked it as to-read
Melissa
Jul 07, 2018 rated it liked it
Coralie
Feb 07, 2019 rated it liked it
Shelves: sff
Sean Leventhal
Sep 25, 2018 marked it as to-read
Nat
Dec 15, 2018 marked it as to-read
Shelves: scifi
Carrie
Dec 22, 2018 marked it as to-read
KC
Jan 01, 2019 marked it as to-read
Mary
Feb 08, 2019 marked it as bookfunnel-downloads-prolific
Jennifer
Mar 30, 2019 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Kit
Dec 20, 2019 marked it as to-read
Lizzy
May 16, 2020 marked it as to-read
Madge
Jul 25, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Sabrina
Apr 25, 2022 marked it as to-read
Jirrine
Jun 15, 2022 marked it as wishlist