"The Traitor Baru Cormorant" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Come share your first thoughts on our fantasy pick! Are you loving it or should we rebel against the majority?

Please save spoilers including character and plot development for the full discussion opening on the 7th.

Also adding some content warnings (view spoiler)[Eugenics, explicit homophobia, sexual assault against minors. (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

So much happening -- and so incredibly dramatic -- but I kept wondering why the characters to me felt, I don't know, antiseptic I guess: like figures on a game board more than fully formed and realized people.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

The first chapter really intrigued me. And has since really not lived up to that hype for me. Not far in so hoping something brings that investment back

[Anna]

I've also had a rough start, but it could be in part because I've been reading in very tiny bits here and there, while stressing out about all kinds of real life things in between. I can't remember how many chapters I've read, but I'm hoping to dig in properly today or tomorrow.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

You guys aren’t giving me much hope lol. I was going to try and cram this one in somewhere... but if it’s not worth it...

[Gabi]

Sarah wrote: "You guys aren’t giving me much hope lol. I was going to try and cram this one in somewhere... but if it’s not worth it..."

Same here … I was about to get the ebook, but I guess I'll wait for the verdicts here.

[Anna]

I'm not saying it's bad! I just haven't had a chance to connect to the story, because I haven't dedicated a good chunk of time to it. I'm still hoping it'll be as good as everyone says.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Yeah, not bad, just, idk. I think I'd be happier if I hadn't just read Poppy War.

[Anna]

I also thought about Poppy War at one point, but it's hard to go into details without spoiling both books.

[Philip]

This one's been on my shelf for a while and not that I need an *excuse* to read it, but… I'm in!

[Jordan]

This is one of my favorites so I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks about it.

[Sergi]

Started and finished in a long flight last Friday. It's good, but I expected it - as I saw in some reviews - going way deeper into the subject of economic warfare.

[Bruce]

I'm listening to the Audible version and having some trouble getting into it. Definitely has a lot going on, and there are many interconnected themes, but none of them are resonating right now. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue or not.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

That's a shame! I hope we get a few more folks who can get into it! I don't want to turn people off a potential new favorite, but yeah, I'm having a hard time.

[Claire]

I skipped quite a bit from the middle as it just got too twisty turny for me. Still not sure what to think (was unimpressed with The Poppy War as well).

[Ine]

Ive read this book and actually reread it not long ago and its one of my favorites ever actually. I might be biased though because one character in it has me SWOONING

I also just really like Baru. I can be kinda vengeful so I like to see a character be cleverly vengeful in a book! (Im new to this so please tell me if something like this counts as spoiler?)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Haha ah, I don't know. I would probably say something like "I identify with Baru a little," but it's right in the title so I think you're okay.

[Sid]

This is one of my most favorite books ever written, lol. I didn't I relate to the writing intensely, like the words mirrors the way I would think them.

Trust me, it gets better all the way through and has one of the more satisfying endings in a fantasy novels I've read yet.

[Sid]

Scratch that didn't up there. I did relate to the writing!

[David]

It's weird watching people's reactions to this. I liked this book, but didn't totally love it, and the people who love it say they love the things I didn't like about it :)

[Ariana]

Does anyone have opinions about audio vs. eye reading for this one? Both formats just came in at the library.

[Sid]

Definitely eye-read. There's a lot of names of people, and a lot of looking back at the map to check where everyone is, Plus, the map has character, because its a map the MC draws to teach herself more about the land, so its got scribbled notes everywhere too, to help her remember the details of each Duchy and so helps the reader too.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I have to take a break. TBD how permanent it'll be. None of this works like this and presently I hate Baru.

[Dania]

I hope this book will actually depict how Baru struggles to the top instead of just suddenly 'being thrown' into the situation. Would be a bonus if she comes off as sneaky and calculating.

[Michael]

I tried reading this book about a year ago and got halfway through. Was one of those moments when I realized I didn't have to keep going if I wasn't enjoying it. This book gets so much praise, and I do like the story it was telling, so I might give it another shot at some point.

[Mareike]

Allison wrote: "Yeah, not bad, just, idk. I think I'd be happier if I hadn't just read Poppy War."

I was reminded of that book as well. But so far (I've read the first three chapters), I like this one more. I do like Baru.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I slept on it and am back in. I think it's lost me, but maybe I can at least finish it.

[Bobby]

I just started it last night. I'm not really far enough in to form much of an opinion yet, but I'm intrigued by the world building and introduction to the characters.

[Bobby]

Okay, 2 chapters in and I'm hooked. I'm excited for the ride I think I'm about to go on. I already like Baru, and I am fully on board with her plans and motivations, but I'm pretty sure it's not going to be an easy road at all.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

V curious how you feel in a few more chapters.

[Oleksandr]

Started it yesterday. Honestly, it seems that I'm not in the mood for this kind of fantasy, I hoped for something lighter

[Jemppu]

Oleksandr wrote: "Started it yesterday. Honestly, it seems that I'm not in the mood for this kind of fantasy, I hoped for something lighter"

Same. The cover seemed promising of something a bit more... 'confined', perhaps? Certainly wasn't expecting a story requiring a whole new world map. Still unsure, if I should 'force' this one on myself right now, or wait till the mind asks for it (which could be never).

[Mareike]

Jemppu wrote: "Oleksandr wrote: "Started it yesterday. Honestly, it seems that I'm not in the mood for this kind of fantasy, I hoped for something lighter"

Same. The cover seemed promising of something a bit mor..."

I'd say trust your gut. The month is still young, so you could read something else now and then see if you feel more like it in a week or two.

As for myself, I'm in part 3 now and enjoying the ride and especially the small details that make this world similar-but-different.

[Bobby]

Allison wrote: "V curious how you feel in a few more chapters."

I'm now 10 chapters in, and I definitely see what you were talking about, Allison. The first two chapters were amazing, but it hasn't quite lived up to that in the next 8. I will say that I'm still interested to see how this plays out, and I'm still enjoying it, but it hasn't been the wild ride I was thinking/hoping it would be. I'll post my thoughts in the spoiler thread when I'm done.

[Oleksandr]

After the first few chapters I enjoy it in a strange way - it is hilariously wrong about how monetary policy works, and as many non-economists doesn't distinguish between stocks and flows :)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Oleksandr wrote: "After the first few chapters I enjoy it in a strange way - it is hilariously wrong about how monetary policy works, and as many non-economists doesn't distinguish between stocks and flows :)"

Right?!

[Mareike]

I have to say I'm kinda glad for once that my grasp on economic policy is shaky. Otherwise, that would probably negatively impact my reading experience, too.

[Kim]

I’ve had this in my tbr pile for a while & am in a good head space for it. It feels like she is an novice accountant from some quiet corner of the Game of Thrones universe & has been sent to The North except instead of the Starks, she is flung into the middle of the Lannisters & their rivals. Talk about your “fish out of water” scenarios. Tain Hu pay be a wilier female version of Ned Stark, she seems to care for her people & has found an ingenious way around the imperial economic strictures. This book has echoes of many books I’ve read recently, but that happens frequently in fantasy books. I like that an accountant is the heroine, and am interested to see how this works. I found Niccolo in the Dorothy Dunnett series a more believable merchant as hero model, this seems to have a central idea and may have needed more research to flesh out the world-building & character, but I am still intrigued & am enjoying the ride.

[AliNicole Reads]

Travis wrote: "So much happening -- and so incredibly dramatic -- but I kept wondering why the characters to me felt, I don't know, antiseptic I guess: like figures on a game board more than fully formed and real..."

Thank you, I was trying to pinpoint the correct word to use and antiseptic is perfect. It is a retelling of past events and, at least at the beginning, it felt so dry. Akin to reading the dictionary. I'm finally into the meat of the book and I'm enjoying it much more.

[AliNicole Reads]

Bruce wrote: "I'm listening to the Audible version and having some trouble getting into it. Definitely has a lot going on, and there are many interconnected themes, but none of them are resonating right now. I'm..."

I'm also listening. Have you found the narrator very drone-like in their reading? But in moments a hint of emotion has come through and it feels so refreshing. I wish I had time-stamped those few seconds because they were interesting and...maybe intentional?

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Seems like an intelligent book.

[Philip]

I have to admit, I dutifully started in on this book early this month, read the first two chapters--LIKED IT!--but have not picked it up in a week, at least. Not sure why. I have been busy with work, but I've read a short book in the meantime and am making steady progress on Dune: House Atreides… I'll try to spend more time with it, but no way will I finish in October.

[Norton]

I'm about 1/3rd of the way through. The story should be exciting, writing is good, but it's a push for me. I don't really know why. Probably me.

[Valerie]

I don't like, but I don't dislike it so far. Like many of you, I am having trouble staying engaged with the story. I think the pacing is somewhat inconsistent and the narrative gets lost in itself.

I am going to continue.

[Barry]

I’m about 30% in. Also reading this in another group.

So far my impression is pretty similar to a lot of other people here. I don’t quite like it, but I don’t hate it. I’ve heard some pretty high praises for this book. And maybe that increased my expectation of how good this book is. Maybe.

My biggest gripe so far is with Baru. She’s just too damn perfect to me. She knew how to respond to different characters and situations. And she could figure out some of the mysteries almost immediately. I hope she doesn’t remain perfectly brilliant until the end of the book. I like my MCs to be flawed a bit. Though, at least she’s getting her hands full with the circumstances in the Aurdwynn so far.

[Anthony]

I’m determined to read this, because I want to read all of our group selections, but won’t be able to get to it till next month. I’m also discouraged to hear that many folks didn’t seem to care for it all that much..l

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I like the spirit! As noted, some people absolutely love this book, so maybe you'll be one! And if not, it's still something completely different from what I tend to read, so it was good getting out and exploring a little. Either way, I look forward to your thoughts!

[Jemppu]

Anthony wrote: "I’m determined to read this, because I want to read all of our group selections, but won’t be able to get to it till next month. I’m also discouraged to hear that many folks didn’t seem to care for..."

In the same boat - I have concerns about tackling this one. I took a peek and felt too exhausted for the unexpected expanse of the new world just then, maps and all. But knowing that now, it might be easier to start anew. And if the story's most glaring problems were with economics (??) ignorance on the subject matter works for my advantage.

[Oleksandr]

Jemppu wrote: "And if the story's most glaring problems were with economics (??) ignorance on the subject matter works for my advantage."

One of the things that may put you off is that the protagonist is hardly the 'classic' hero, as it says on the cover, she is the traitor

[Jacqueline]

I haven't been keeping up with this discussion but I did just notice that the next one "The Monster Baru Cormorant" came out today.