"Cage of Souls" First Impressions - *No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Join us for our kawaii (cute) scifi! Doesn't this cover scream cuddly? :D

This thread is for surface level thoughts. Please take all specifics to the spoiler thread!

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ torture, body horror, threat of rape/assault, medical experimentation, spiders, big bugs, snakes, climate crisis, serial killers, religion. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen]

I read this a few months ago.. first impressions were: the world was mysterious and intriguing, and it sucked me in. I meant to read one chapter and go to bed; I ended up staying up very late and read about 1/3 of the book. :)

[Simon]

So I’m only about 3 chapters in so far, I haven’t been sure what to make of the world yet. There’s a confusing pirate vibe mixed with futuristic vibe going on that is baffling but so far is working pretty well.

There’s not been too much character development so far, but I do like the fact that the author has been describing the characters in relation to each other (I.e. height) rather than giving specifics. It’s very much adding to the intrigue.

So far so good, excited for more!

[Christopher]

I'm about 33% in and enjoying it so far.

[=David=]

I'm up to chapter 10... British English makes everything better, I think.

[Anat]

I'm in chapter 3 and this is very different than what I was expecting... I'll be honest I have no idea what's going on.

[Dennis]

Unlike Jen I started reading in bed when it was already very late. Good thing too because I found the world intriguing too and would have gone on if I could. The world is certainly not cuddly, as you will find out when you start reading.

[Alex]

I am about half way through. I think the story is immersive but too slow. Too many scenes are only useful to describe characters in relation to each other, and do not really help moving the plot forward. I wish Shadrapar would have been developed in more details. I like his writing style, it really brings alive the jungle and island.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

It's keeping my attention, but the grim-darkness and narrative structure are not really adding anything for me.

[Rachel]

Started listening today - in chapter 3 or 4 - definitely enjoying the narrator

[Eva]

Yes, I can definitely recommend the audio version, it's such a perfect performance and really adds to the charm.

[Jacqueline]

I picked this up at the bookshop yesterday. I might even get around to it at some point.

[Alex]

Allison wrote: "It's keeping my attention, but the grim-darkness and narrative structure are not really adding anything for me."

The structure is working quite well for me. At the beginning, the hints dropped here and there about his past journey really built up my anticipation. Now I enjoy reading the flash backs. Could you say why it's not working for you?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I will in the spoiler thread!

[DivaDiane]

I just started this in the car this morning. So far I’m enjoying it, but I’m still in the first chapter.

[Beth]

As of the third chapter, I'm glad that Stefan mentions other places he's been besides the Island, both at the very beginning, and in a few places as we go along, since I don't think I'd be able to take 600 pages of prison story. :D Scene-setting is great, and I'm hoping the characterization will somewhat better than in CoT.

[Andy]

This cover screams cuddly, the setting and characters (so far) do not (and I expect will not). The cover with the story (after the first two chapters) gives hints of an “Area X” vibe from Jeff Vandemeer’s Southern Reach series. (Although conversely no women to be found, yet)

Setting is dark and ominous. This is my first Tchaikovsky novel, who I understand has a reputation for tackling big themes. I am excited to see where this goes.

[CBRetriever]

The cover looks spooky scary to me, not cuddly

[Chisom]

8 chapters in and I am interested in the many mysteries that are yet to be unravelled. Will the unravelling be satisfactory? We shall see.

[Cheryl]

I can see that I'll have to make time to sit down and pay attention to this. Good thing I invested in a paper copy. Not sure if I'll be getting to it for a couple of weeks though.

[Rachel]

Good listening combo for doing puzzles. Easy to just let the story flow over one

[Travis]

I'm also around the 8 chapter mark. It's keeping my interest so far, and I agree that the audio is great.

[Christopher]

Just over halfway on this - okay enough, but starting to become more of a chore. Forcing myself to read a chapter a day although I might break it up into a few 2-3 page sessions over the course of the day. On weekends have been trying for 2 chapters a day, but never consecutively, have been breaking it up.

[Liane]

If not for the 5 hour car ride to pick up the college kid, I am not so sure I’d have persisted. Interesting enough, though, and the narrator is v good. I am on to part 2.

[Ellen]

Came in the mail today. Plan on starting soon

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I'm liking it so far.

[Leticia]

I like the story world and I enjoy Adrian Tchaikovsky's voice and style. The plot goes in a slower pace than I usually like; but I am still trying to finish it.

[Cheryl]

I hope to start tonight.
I have liked others by the author.

[Brian]

I am about 80 pages in. I have yet to make up my mind. The real challenge is finding time to read right now. I hope to put a pretty big dent in the book this week (hopefully finish it [fingers crossed]).

[Paul]

I had a really odd first impression. I thought "Bugger! That's the same story I've been working on for the last year!"


Fortunately, the similarities were only fairly shallow and diverged quickly.



I thought the characters and world-building were excellent. Tchaikovsky has become one of my favourite authors in the last couple of years.

[Cheryl]

Ack. Dnf p. 36. I thought there'd be enough good stuff, given what else I've read of the author, to carry be through the darkness, but it is promising to get only worse. Oops.

We should do kawaii again and enforce what qualifies. :)

[Anna]

Cheryl wrote: "We should do kawaii again and enforce what qualifies. :)"

Yeah but it was pretty *cover*, there were no restrictions on content! :D

[Cheryl]

I didn't take sufficient care to write what I meant. Sorry.
I do mean to say we should have another chance to read something, as a group Botm, with nice or cute or cheerful content. :)

[Anna]

I'd love that, too, but it's not that long ago we did Hopepunk, so have to do a couple of gloomy ones first ;)

[Cheryl]

lol
Can't do a 1::1 ratio, eh....
No, I'm not arguing. I get it. Adventures, thrillers, and "important" books are more popular. So be it.

[Ellen]

4 chapters in. It reads well but is certainly gloomy. I'm a great fan of Children of Time. I hope this is more than another 500 pages of prison mercury and abuse.

[Bonnie]

I know the setting is completely different: the setting is an old, weary world, culture decaying beneath a big red sun, SF/F like The Shadow of the Torturer, The Dying Earth, Child of the River.

Yet in a way the voice or style brings to mind some old literature. Dickensian? Or a faux-Victorian novel like The Quincunx? Stefan as a Victorian-Era narrator, relating to us his trials and tribulations / grand adventure. The Lost World?

[Eva]

Yes, exactly like that! I think this is what I loved most about it, but apparently not everyone likes the narration style of the Victorian era.

[Chris]

I am a little past the halfway mark. So far it's merely OK. I still don't know where this is going; I keep wondering what the point of the story is. One thing happens, and then another thing happens, and so on.