Series: Books of the Raksura by Martha Wells ("The Cloud Roads")

[Gabi]

EDIT:

From November on this thread is for the whole "Books of the Raksura" series.

Oct, 28th: The Cloud Roads
From first week of Nov on: The Serpent Sea
Dec: The Siren Depths
Jan: The Edge of Worlds and Stories of the Raksura, Volume 1: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud
Feb: The Harbors of the Sun and Stories of the Raksura, Volume 2: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below


Please state the book and chapter you are in and use spoiler tags.

[Anthony]

I’ll be starting this today after I finish Heart-Shaped Box.

[Gabi]

I apologize to whomever was the initiator of this BR for charging ahead. ^^'

I wanted to start this slowly on audiobook, but I found myself captured. I'm about halfway in and catch myself with finding excuses to do something where I can listen on.

Since I belong to the minority who wasn't fascinated by Murderbot I went into this Martha Wells with not so high expectations, but so far I'm caught. The worldbuilding is really beautiful and (as far as Fantasy stories I read are concerned) innovative. I love the characters and just feel good listening to their story. My hopes went up and I'm curious what the second half will bring.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

This is in my physical pile! That pile is a bit more than I care to admit, so I may be a teensy bit late, but the great thing about being a post necromancer is that really I'm always on time!

[Anthony]

Necroposting FTW. 💀👻💀

[Rachel]

I do want to read this but ...so..many...books....

[Anna]

I'm definitely reading this, but I can't now :( Maybe I'll be able to start it in December.

[Ariana]

I'm almost done with The Consuming Fire. This is next! I'll probably start later today.

[Jemppu]

Sounds so promising, that might as well. Something wholesome to wash off this taste of disappointment. All the better, if there are well crafted characters.

[Bobby]

I started but haven't gotten far. I will start in earnest later today

[Kaa]

I've read 4 chapters (about 20%). So far my experience is pretty similar to the other Wells book I've read, The Wizard Hunters, in that I find the world building very interesting but am struggling a bit to feel connected to the characters. There is also the similarity that both books seem to be about (view spoiler)[a losing struggle against a powerful enemy bent on conquest for thus-far unclear motives. (hide spoiler)] I did end up giving Wizard Hunters 4 stars, so we'll see.

[Jemppu]

Somewhere in the eight chapter, at around 39%. The world building is indeed quite rich, but that's unfortunately as much as I've been able to get from this thus far. I'm not really feeling the characters. The narration feels a bit too detached to allow that, moving from action to action without describing the intention behind them or their effect. The inner workings of these characters are left near completely obscured, and I'd like to know, to better connect with them.

[Kaa]

@Jemppu: Yes, I was having trouble figuring out why I felt so distanced from the characters, but you've described it exactly. That's not always something that prevents me from enjoying a book, but it's hindering my investment in this one so far.

[Anthony]

I’m in the middle of chapter 3 and enjoying it a lot so far in the early going. I just haven’t had a lot of time to read so far today.

[Wen]

Chapter 2&3: (view spoiler)[The conversations between Stone and Moon are cute:) "We live in a tree." "What did she look like?" "Like me." I was giggling the whole time. I mean, what is this? I sometimes make stupid conversatons, they sound so familar:) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[I agree that the characters are not that interesting. Somehow it's like a group of babies and they're cute. (hide spoiler)]

[Bobby]

I just finished with chapter 4 and I am loving it so far. I don't know if I'm just choosing the right books, or if I'm in the right mood for reading, but I have been rating everything I've read 4 or 5 stars lately. This one is great so far.

Spoilers up to the end of chapter 4. (view spoiler)[I like that the world seems to be populated entirely with non-humans. I also always like a world with a detailed history, and this one sounds like it does so far.

I see what others mean about the characters not being developed, but I would say that Moon is the exception so far. I feel like we get a pretty good picture of who he is and how he thinks. He doesn't have a lot of depth at this point, but I think that's understandable for someone who has been living basically on the run like he has. We just haven't had a chance to see his real personality yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

I was fearing that I would stand quite alone with my love of the characters. I haven't met a group of characters I liked so much in a while. The dialogues and deeds of them are completely satisfying for me to form a relationship and get a good impression of their alien personalities.

[Jemppu]

You're not completely alone :) I guess for me it could be a difference between connecting with them as 'creatures' and on a more humane level. I can see how they can be compelling creatures, but I'd like to get to know them a bit better as 'persons'.

Right now I feel a bit like observing animals: one can only really impose one's own perception of personality onto them if wishing to interpret their true character. But as they are not portrayed completely 'animalistic' either (they clearly have a free will apart from pure survival, are observant about the world and others around them, are capable of precisely communicating abstract concepts and are self-aware), there seems to be a thing we're not shown (yet?), their individual thoughts and emotions. A side which I'd like to hear our narrator share more of about Moon - our primary 'tour guide' to the world. He sees a thing, hears a thing, but how does he feel about the thing?

I think the strongest 'human' reactions I've yet to gather are Moon's (view spoiler)[self-awareness over his 'alien' looks and loneliness he's felt after migrating so much. And his initial refusal to accept his mother having been anything other than his mother.

But maybe his more concrete feelings could come more apparent once we'll get to know him better / he gets to know others better. Right now it might be just as much wild observations for him as it is for us (hide spoiler)].

[Anthony]

@Jemppu I am very much enjoying the sense that these people are a mixture of person and animal. There are moments, after all, when we human beings display our animal ancestry in our behavior.

[Wen]

Gabi wrote: "I was fearing that I would stand quite alone with my love of the characters. I haven't met a group of characters I liked so much in a while. The dialogues and deeds of them are completely satisfyin..."

You are not alone. I feel they are like a whole bunch birdie babies and they are so cute(aw, I cannot make normal conversation...)

[Gabi]

Jemppu wrote: "You're not completely alone :) I guess for me it could be a difference between connecting with them as 'creatures' and on a more humane level. I can see how they can be compelling creatures, but I'..."

That's exactly why this world stands out so much to me - that the Raksura are portrayed as really alien. I love it when they snare and hiss, when their emotions seem primal. I was missing this so much in other fantasy series that always turn around humans and human behaviour (which I often find quite ridiculous, cause its often the "medieval understanding" of human behaviour). I so much more can connect with the Raksura than I could with most of the humans in other fantasy novels. To me they are vibrant and alive and deeply natural. I've really fallen in love with this world.

[Jemppu]

Anthony wrote: "There are moments, after all, when we human beings display our animal ancestry in our behavior."

Yes. This is very true. And I'd say it happens more often than most realize. We are hardly past animalistic tendencies with our behaviour. 'Evolved' as some might consider us, our daily lives are still full of more or less subtle 'primal' ticks (which is one reason why just being around people for extended periods of time can get so tiresome, even without words exchanged - to have to register those cues characteristic to pack animals).

I am glad you are enjoying these creatures. I shall hope to bond with them more this evening again.

@Gabi. I fully understand this. Pure instincts beyond the shield of bs human's tend to put up to maintain their appearances can be easy to fall in love with. The very reason I'd like to get into that head is to know the full works behind their actions, since there seems to be some self-awareness too, not only the primal instinct. It doesn't seem their thought patterns are purely "see food, eat. Sense danger, flee", as we witness them making collective plans, but even if it was, it'd be nice to hear it from their perspective. How they see the world, not only how an outside narrator describes their actions.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

This is one of my favorite series, ever. I love everything about it, tbh. <3

I do agree the characters are a little hard to get to know in book 1 - cause Moon is shy and moody and we hang out in his head.

[Anthony]

Just finished chapter 7. (view spoiler)[ I think Wells is doing a great job of depicting the push and pull that Moon must feel of wanting to belong but finding it so difficult to trust a sense of community. I also don’t recall ever reading a book in which a world whose peoples all felt so entirely original. (hide spoiler)]

[Wen]

Anthony wrote: "Just finished chapter 7. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Somehow Moon is really cute. A lot of times he is talking to himself~ And he is like “I don’t know what others are thinking?”, a bit senseless(pat pat). (hide spoiler)]

[Jemppu]

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[Oh, Delin. Asking "Why do you need wind-ships, when you have wings of your own" is like asking "why do you need cars, when you have legs".

Ooh, but now we're talking. The transition between chapters eight and nine is suddenly full of Moon-y thoughts. A whole page on ponderings about fatherhood, his reflections on his mates, descriptions of his inner moods, assumptions, urges, opinions, decisions, doubts... *rubs hands pleased* Personality starting to show through.


Anthony wrote: "I also don’t recall ever reading a book in which a world whose peoples all felt so entirely original."

The world building is definitely the book's strong suit. The only thing close I can imagine appearance wise to these creatures are gargoyles. Assigning pack behaviour to such is indeed a fascinating idea.


The names/titles in this world are generally beautiful, but I'm finding myself especially attracted to the term "sister queen" for some reason. (hide spoiler)]

[Bobby]

So I kind of got really into it tonight and I'm done already. I need to go to sleep, so I'll post my thoughts later, but as expected, I loved it. The only reason I won't immediately jump into the next one is because I've got a lot of others already scheduled.

[Gabi]

Anthony wrote: "Just finished chapter 7. [spoilers removed]"

Absolutely yes! I was contemplating the whole time why I was sucked into a novel where the plot is rather conventional. But the characters and world building are outstanding for me.

@Bobby, I'm only waiting for my next audible credit (today, tomorrow?) and then find more excuses to do stuff where I can listen to audiobooks. Wells' books are unfortunately so expensive here, that I have to switch to audio for all of them (exception is the first Raksura novella collection) I'm definitely starting the second book the next days and see, how long the world can fascinate me (usually I give up on fantasty series rather sooner than later)

[Bobby]

Now that I've got my thoughts together a bit, I'll post my feelings.

Full book spoiler.(view spoiler)[I've read plenty of books where there were unique and well fleshed out non-human races, but humans were just about always in the picture. I think the author did a great job differentiating all of the various races from human. Also, there are no elves, or dwarves, or orcs or anything like that. These are entirely original people with believable traits and characteristics.

The other thing that I loved was the world building. There is a lot of rich history here, and I have a feeling we've only seen a fraction of it. There are ruins everywhere we go in this book. I can't wait to possibly hear more about the sky people and the aquatic people.

I know some people were having trouble connecting to the characters, but I think by the end a lot of them were well developed. I really liked Moon as a character, and felt that him being closed off with the others was very understandable given his past. The reveal about his history with the Fell really made his reactions to other people make sense.

The plot itself wasn't the most original I've ever seen, with the evil, monstrous race invading the home of the good race. Although I did enjoy the twist about the Fell trying to blend with the Raksura to make something even more terrible.

So after devouring this book, I know for sure I will be continuing the series, and I really look forward to seeing more of the history and people of this unique world. (hide spoiler)]

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Jemppu wrote: "Chapter 9 ..."

I always saw them as (view spoiler)[dragons or flying lizards. No matter, they are certainly pack animals. Very like but so unlike humans (hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

Just finished chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ I just want to celebrate, once again, how special it is to encounter a world that’s populated by wholly original species. Don’t get me wrong, I love elves and dwarves and Hobbits or halflings and wizards and all the rest, but I’m finding it so refreshing to have zero preconceptions about how these characters and their societies function.

I am also enjoying the patient kindness and vulnerability that Jade is showing Moon. (hide spoiler)]

[Wen]

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[Since I am currently reading both Martha Wells and Robin Hobb’s books. Somehow it feels Wells is garden-fresh/light, like in-room dining (breakfast set). And Hobb is like those fine dining places(definitely with yummy caviar!!!). (hide spoiler)]

[Christopher]

I read this earlier this summer when reading Hugo nominees for best series. I enjoyed this one a fair amount, although I haven't gotten around to the sequels yet (although I plan to at some point, maybe another BR?)

(view spoiler)[
I kept picturing the evil creatures as the Skeksis from The DarK Crystal.

I was intrigued by the society of the Raksura and by how Moon would fit into it, was somewhat surprised we didn't learn more of his background, but hopefully the sequels answer those questions a bit better.
(hide spoiler)]

[Wen]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[That piece of the flying island reminds me “Castle in the Sky.” :) (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

I'm really enjoying all of these comments. This book was a hard one for me. The writing never clicked, and I rarely can get absorbed in books where the default mode of character interaction is antagonism. But all of your comments are making me appreciate it more, particularly its strangeness.

[Gabi]

Christopher wrote: "I read this earlier this summer when reading Hugo nominees for best series. I enjoyed this one a fair amount, although I haven't gotten around to the sequels yet (although I plan to at some point, ..."

:D If you are in for a BR like now for the second one ;-)? I have bought the audiobook yesterday and will start listening today or tomorrow.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Christopher wrote: "I read this earlier this summer when reading Hugo nominees for best series. I enjoyed this one a fair amount, although I haven't gotten around to the sequels yet (although I plan to at some point, ..."

That is so interesting!! I love that movie, lol. I have a copy on VHS.

The really creepy part of it (to me) is that they are not - the rulers are beautiful.

[Ariana]

I am in Ch. 9, reading a little slower than most but really enjoying it.
As others have mentioned, the "otherness" of the Raksura is totally intriguing. I love how you really get a feel for how aware they are of scent, or how uncomfortable and upsetting it would feel to not be able to shift.

(view spoiler)[So it was mentioned once early on, but who exactly in the colony is fertile? Is it just queens and consorts? It doesn't seem like a colony would be able to maintain enough genetic diversity if that's the case, but maybe that's how it is with ants and bees, and it works out fine? I don't really know. (hide spoiler)]

MrsJoseph wrote: "This is one of my favorite series, ever. I love everything about it, tbh. <3

I do agree the characters are a little hard to get to know in book 1 - cause Moon is shy and moody and we hang out in h..."

Heh, Moon is totally moody. I often get annoyed with moody characters, but I felt like Moon's reticent to trust anyone was very well motivated, so his moodiness seemed pretty justified.

So glad to hear you're a fan of the rest of the series! It's such a treat to be enjoying book 1 so much and to know I have a lot ahead of me.

[Gabi]

@Ariana reg. your spoiler tag: (view spoiler)[ If I got it correct, then Warriors are sterile with the exception of Queen and Consort. Arbora are fertile and their clutches can have arbora and warriors. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariana]

Gabi wrote: "@Ariana reg. your spoiler tag: [spoilers removed]"

Ok, that makes more sense. Thanks!

[Anthony]

I just finished, and I’m copying and pasting my review here, since I’m not sure I could say it more succinctly...I don’t think there are spoilers in it, but do let me know if you think I should hide it behind a spoiler tag.

There is so much about this book that completely enchanted me: a totally original world, filled with species never before seen in any other fantasy book; and a richly depicted, complex, moody, but altogether relatable main character in Moon. I did want the writing itself to sweep me away with the same force that the book’s ideas and imagination did, but there was a bit too much of “this-happened-and-then-this-happened-and-then-these-characters-looked-worried" kind of prose, and not enough that felt transcendent in a way that the story deserved. But I’m very happy to be acquainted with this series, with its varied peoples and societies, and I will definitely be continuing.

[Christopher]

Gabi wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I read this earlier this summer when reading Hugo nominees for best series. I enjoyed this one a fair amount, although I haven't gotten around to the sequels yet (although I pla..."

I'm buried in books to read at the moment, but I own the sequels and can move them up in the queue.

[Kaa]

Up to Ch 10: (view spoiler)[The more Moon interacts with all of the other Raksura, the more he (and the rest of them) feel like real (although non-human) people. Which actually is really appropriate for the story arc - he also starts out feel very distant and isolated and as the book goes on is beginning to be more connected. There have been some really amusing interactions, among the Raksura and with the groundlings.

It probably also doesn't hurt that now the plot is starting to pick up the pace quite a bit. (hide spoiler)]

[Jemppu]

Anthony wrote: "I just finished, and I’m copying and pasting my review here, since I’m not sure I could say it more succinctly...I don’t think there are spoilers in it, but do let me know if you think I should hid..."

Spot. On. I might need to be copy-pasting this as well *haha*

[Gabi]

Christopher wrote: "Gabi wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I read this earlier this summer when reading Hugo nominees for best series. I enjoyed this one a fair amount, although I haven't gotten around to the sequels yet (a..."

Perhaps we can just go on in this thread? I'll ask the mods. I'll be listening to the audiobooks slowly ( cause like with the first book I repeat every chapter to get everything). I take notes while listening so I can join a discussion any time later on.

[Kaa]

In the end, this book completely won me over, to the extent that I stayed up super late last night finishing it.

re characters: (view spoiler)[I definitely agree with others who've said that the characters were increasingly engaging as the story went on. For me, the real turning point was Moon's arrival at Indigo Cloud - with Wells's writing style, I felt that a lot of personality was demonstrated in interaction rather than through narration of internal thoughts. (hide spoiler)]

I was so impressed by the world-building, and I'm really looking forward to seeing more of this in future books (count me in for BRs of the rest!). My absolute favorite part was (view spoiler)[learning about Raksuran culture and social relations. They were so beautifully described, and so clearly not human. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Jade and Moon. And the babies! (hide spoiler)]

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

I'm so excited that so many more people are being exposed to the Raksura!!! If I'm lucky, Martha Wells will give some consideration to picking the series back up again. 🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏🙏

[Gabi]

I'm happy that I won't be alone on the journey through the Three Worlds.

I changed the thread into a BR for the complete series (plus the short stories). So whoever wants to start with the second book, please dive into it with quoting book and chapter.

[Anthony]

I will but not for some time, I’m over-committed at the moment. But I’m a firm believer in necroposting!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

💀👻💀