Now We Are Monsters (The Commander Book 2)
Carol must solve her graduation test before her own teacher suffers a psychotic break and kills her, and before the dangers of the outside world collide with the two Arms. One Night with her Boss. Rest in the Mourning. Blaze For Me Be for Me: No Chance in Spell. Truth Behind the Mask. Like You've Never Been Hurt. Magical Influence Book Two. The Blood Singer Novels. The Complete series Box set.
The Billionaire and I Part Three. Fae of Calaveras Trilogy. A Lover for Beth: How It Feels to Be Me: A Celebration of the Human Experience. Lead Me to You. One Hot Fairy Tale. And more importantly, why did she agree to go? A very important villain is introduced in this book. This villain is a perfect fit for Monster, with its adventure stories. She has her own POV, and I found those parts just annoying. She thinks in quasi-philosophical drivel, and this drivel gives her the ability, among other things, to kill lots of people and not die. I found her impossible to relate to or appreciate.
I am so disappointed with this book. And now I hear it is supposed to be a 4-book series instead of duology and I am nearly certain I will abandon it after this volume. Dec 13, But I haven't read the first book yet, oops. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for about a year now. View all 6 comments. Jan 07, Thomas Stacey marked it as to-read.
We have a release date! So, I binge-read this as soon as it came out. My original rating still stands, though a more level ratinwig would probably be closer to a 4. There's just a little something that this book is missing that makes it as good as The Traitor Baru Cormorant , its predecessor. Though Traitor tackled serious themes and ended on a very somber note, there was a lot of joy to be found in the racing through the years as Baru raced through the ranks and her plans. Which is not to say Monster isn't enjoyable or doesn't have its small, quiet and happy moments.
It's just missing that little spark. But I do think in a way, that makes sense. Baru is really struggling in this book. She's deeply depressed and guilt-ridden, and her attempts to force it all down just makes her feel worse. Baru really is a monster in the eyes of herself and everyone around her. And that's what makes this book feel heavy , the knowledge that Baru's bright-eyed enthusiasm for rebellion is gone. The more time passes, the more sluggish Baru seems, almost forcing herself to continue with her plans if only because there is no reason not to. It's in stark contrast with the first book, where Baru was forcefully sincere in her desire to destroy the Masquerade.
That being said, this book is still outstanding. It does suffer a bit from the so-called "middle book syndrome". But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Middle books are the vehicle to propel us from a journey's start to finish. If Traitor was exciting because it was the start of a new adventure, Monster is the start of a long, desperate struggle to get to the resolution. As with the first book, the story juggles a plethora of characters of good, bad, and to be determined intentions. This is still very much Baru's book, Baru's story, but Dickinson decided in Monster to have the readers spend some time in other characters' shoes both in the past and present , and I think it was a very good writing decision.
Absolutely no one is to be trusted -- though, of course, Baru is the most hatred and least trusted of them all right now. The different POVs also serve to help flesh out previously-side-characters and make the world-building flourish. I love her so much. She's truly a mess. And she remains my favorite character in the series. Dickinson is an impeccable writer. What can I say? One of my favorite books of all time is Wicked , and so in my eyes the highest compliment I can say is that Dickinson writes as good if not better than Maguire's standout work. The different POVs are all unique and Baru's more fluid, stream-of-conscious type thoughts and dreams are quite striking.
Like before, Dickinson tackles a lot of serious themes in Monster , primarily sexuality, gender, sexism, racism, and colonialism. One thing that I particularly enjoyed was how often view spoiler [Baru discussed her sexuality with others and within herself. There's a sense that Baru still carries a bit of shame about being a lesbian, but in giving up Tain Hu, Baru now allows herself to be much more open about her sexuality and her thoughts on how it is perceived. These discussions let Baru become more confident in the fact that she is a lesbian and that her sexuality is valid and unchanging.
It's in interesting contrast to how Baru struggles to control her sexual urges as much as possible, still fearful of it being used against her. There's a duality here that rings true in today's world; the knowledge that your queerness can always be used against you, can be used to hurt you, and that you can never fully let your guard down because of it.
All of the queer characters in Monster have that creeping fear, though each character deals with it in their own way. These are going to keep me wondering and turning over and over again in my head until the third book. There's really no major missteps here in Dickinson's second Masquerade novel.
At times I did find the pacing to be a little slow, but not so much that it truly impacted my enjoyment. And that being said, I honestly can't think of anything I would have cut from the novel. I don't think slowness is truly a bad thing; the world-building is so rich, the political lines all so tangled, that they simply just beg to be expounded upon. Maybe in book 3? All in all, I went into this book with stupidly high expectations and was very pleased to come away feeling satisfied.
I wish that I could sit down and read the next installment right now We finally have a cover!
One of my top 10 favorite books. Too bad we have to wait until Nov 05, Jon Adams rated it it was amazing. The only thing wrong with this book is that it's over. The Traitor Baru Cormorant murdered me so uh. Oct 22, wanderer rated it liked it Shelves: Quotes provided may change in the final vesion.
For me, this has been one of the most anticipated releases of The enthusiasm from bloggers who got it earlier was contagious. Who says you have a duty to a nation? Who says you cannot reject an unjust duty? Who says you can decide which evil is small enough to tolerate, and which is too great to allow? Who says you should allow anyone to hold such power over you, the power to use your work for purposes you do not understand? The prose and the characters are, as in the first book, fantastic. I highlighted a lot. She has a lot of feelings and no idea what to do with them.
There are sections from the POV of different characters that highlight just how much of an unreliable narrator she is, and each of them is as complex in their motives as she. Baru thought it very important that she care anyway: Some worldbuilding developments are rather unexpected, but not necessarily in a bad way. I also did not reread the first book, so while I did remember broad strokes well enough, any subtle foreshadowing was likely missed. They are all flawed, all interesting, all fresh, and all feel very authentic.
I hope the hardcover will include a map. Again, I liked the Oriati the most because of the contrast they provide to Falcrest eugenics give me the creeps… , but fellow fans of cultural worldbuilding with a side of social commentary will find plenty to enjoy. The magic remains ambigous to nonexistent. Any strange things that happen can be explained in a non-supernatural way and only time will tell which way it leans. There was, however, one problem that made the book a bit of a disappointment: When I picked it up, I ended up reading a few chapters, but as soon as I put it down I had little desire to pick it up again.
It took me over two weeks to get through it where I would be perfectly capable of reading it in a day or two.
Cool Stuff!
It gets a bit stale. Will continue the series? Or maybe I just read it in an uninspiring environment. When you have nothing to do at your sterile, completely silent, slightly oppressive work place I expected to be transported. Instead I was just bogged down by political manoeuvres that were so dense and so baselessly convoluted that I couldn't be brought to care about them.
We got to see Baru from this young, clever, slightly lost but definitely searching for something more girl to this jaded, angst-ridden, bitter, confused, lonely but incredibly brilliant young woman. And we understood the undercurrents of the power struggles, we were invested in the motives, we were holding our breath for the results, we felt the ache of Baru's choices, we reveled in the depth of her victories and that ending But there was no such emotional steamroller in this book. The most memorable thing for me was how long it was.
I kept on thinking, "Wait. I'm not yet done??? Tau-indi's interludes made this book for me. But I did persevere through all pages. So I guess that says something for the book. And it had a few very quotable lines.
The Commander Series by Randall Farmer
And just to end this review on a positive note, I'll leave you with one: Later the wound can kill you. View all 7 comments. Oct 18, Kavya rated it it was amazing Shelves: The sequel to the fabulous Traitor Baru Cormorant is different in many ways. Baru has achieved the power she desired, and must now figure out how to achieve her goals of overthrowing the Empire of Masks. However, she has stacked against her the other Cryptarchs with their own agenda, the possibility that she's actually brainwashed by her mentor, people seeking vengeance for what she did in Aurdwynn, and her own guilt, trauma, and physical disabilities.
All this without the p Absolutely riveting. All this without the philosophical questions of whether it's right to want to turn back change from an empire and globalization, when culture is in fact a fluid thing. We meet and experience the pov of many other characters friends and foes , which I absolutely loved - it's hard not to sympathize with some, even if they are set against Baru on the board. There is plenty of action and explosion, and quite a bit of scheming, although slightly disappointed that there was less economical wrangling by Baru in this one.
It's pace I felt was slightly better than the first book, because we're constantly on the move through the book world.
The Monster Baru Cormorant
The ending basically has me begging for the next book asap. Can't wait to see more of these power hungry crazy people and their attempts to control their world. Dec 09, Pearl rated it liked it. It took me a little over 3 weeks to complete this book, phew! I am emotionally exhausted and a tad relieved that that task is over with, trust me…the will power it took for me to pick it up after I had set it down for less frustrating and bleak material was huge.
Except for everyone being predictively nasty under the guise of political intrigue and cleverness. This gradual doubt that creeps in the further you read the book is what adds on to the slight unpleasantness of the experience. I kept sighing to myself thinking of what a waste it had all been, everything that had happened in the first book. If this was probably one of the goals of this book, then, job well done.
After I set the book down and read some other stuff, picking it up and getting through the remaining last portion was surprisingly easy because I found myself laughing at the absurdity of the goings-on; the conversations and some of the plot would suddenly make me chortle out loud. I think right after Baru view spoiler [recovers from her epileptic fit hide spoiler ] , the sex scene up until the book climax, is filled with surprise laughter-inducing moments tbh.
My final thoughts in regards to Baru and the little that actually happened in the book is summed up by one of the book's ending quotes: The relevance of this quote is spot-on for Baru. All i ask for in the follow-up book s is JusticeForTainHu! It is indeed hard to power through a book where you start to feel that perhaps the character's journey was pointless, that th Very interesting review!
It is indeed hard to power through a book where you start to feel that perhaps the character's journey was pointless, that there aren't victories to cheer for and there isn't anyone that feels sympathetic. Glad the last section provided a bit of relief, one way or another. It is indeed hard to power through a book where you start to feel that perhaps the character's journey was poi Carol.
- Le rire (Annoté) (French Edition).
- Get A Copy.
- Faraway On An Island.
- The Commander Series.
- The Monster Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade, #2) by Seth Dickinson.
- Join Kobo & start eReading today?
- Cupiditas: Evils Root;
It is indeed hard to power through a book where you start to feel that perhaps the character's journey was pointless, that there aren't victories to cheer for and there isn The whole reading experience can become more a job, all the anticipation gets sucked right out of the thing. Nov 30, Acqua marked it as to-read Shelves: I have not read the first book but of course I requested and got.
Nov 10, Bruno Marques rated it did not like it. There is a big disconnect between the title and the titular characters actions in the book. She is no monster. She is in fact, wholly honest and naive. She tells everyone what she intends, but none believe her. She is a monster only in the imagination of others. Unfortunately, the story telling is as bad as the first book. The main plot moves along purely by happenstance. Others act, Baru is surprised and things work out for her. In between the action, every character talks about their feelings a There is a big disconnect between the title and the titular characters actions in the book.
In between the action, every character talks about their feelings and plans at length. So much so that going from point A to point B takes half the book. Repeat to reach point C. Like the book before this, "show, don't tell" is a completely foreign concept to the author. I am thoroughly disappointed. I excused the 1st book because it was an origin for a ruthless Cryptarch. Finishing the book, I am of the opinion that the Protagonist in the authors head is not the one he seems to be writing about. With the announcement of a 4th book, I find myself losing all interest.
Bad writing and predictable story. No monsters to be seen. Jan 07, Patrick Lights marked it as to-read. Sep 22, Hannah rated it it was amazing. The first and only book to make me teary via paragraph justification. I'll have more things to say about this one at some point, but I need sleep and I don't want to write anything too spoiler-y. Nov 19, Amanda Leon rated it really liked it Shelves: Still, despite the fact that this was just one long ship ride, I found it really entertaining. Dickinson really knows how to introduce new characters and make you care out them. Why is she the only one with a first person pov and not anyone else, including the main character?
The first person threw me off and the information her perspective gave could have been delivered in other ways. I also found the random graphic descriptions of sex out of place in the writing. For example, that random girl who was getting head by a prostitute in the middle of an public execution while holding a bag of money, why??????? This is contrasted with two sex scenes with Baru that were written tastefully and treated her sexuality respectfully within the story.
Overall, a solid book but suffers from middle book syndrome which is a shame. Nov 07, Lis rated it it was amazing Shelves: Sep 05, Liv rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is one of those books. One that will not let you rest. It will challenge you, it will seduce you, it will ensnare you, it will break you The only fault I can find with this book is that the next book I pick up will feel totally inadequate in comparison.
Oh, and I might actually go mad waiting for the continuation of Baru's story. So please, Mr Dickinson, write with all haste. Oct 01, mo marked it as arc-tbr. The Traitor Baru Cormorant 1: Jun 20, Breda rated it it was amazing. Cannot wait for the third! Nov 11, Filip rated it it was amazing Shelves: This review was originally posted over at BookNest. And what a sequel it is; welcome, then, dear reader, to my review of The Mons This review was originally posted over at BookNest.
And what a sequel it is; welcome, then, dear reader, to my review of The Monster Baru Cormorant. A masterfully crafted tale of deception and intrigue in a beautifully constructed fantasy world, Seth Dickinson's debut will leave you craving for so much more. Baru Cormorant is a fascinating protagonist, a savant moved by a singular purpose - to change an opressive empire preoccupied by a vision of genetic perfection, from within.
In pursuit of this one goal, Baru Cormorant will readily sacrifice everything. Few fantasy novel endings in recent memory have packed such a punch - Cormorant's last betrayal is all-engulfing and absolutely gut-wrenching. I just can't wait for the sequel! Turns out, I could! Now then, onto the heart of this review! It tells the story of Agonist, imperial agent to the Falcresti Throne, on her quest to further her influence over the Masquerade. The free market does the rest!
But this novel is a lot different. Characters both old and new receive PoVs; the one I most enjoyed was the first-person PoV of Xate Yawa, the former Jurispotence of Ardwynn, an old hand at the game Baru has only recently began to play. The Monster Baru Cormorant surprised me by going in a very different direction than the one I expected it would go in. Hounded by her enemies, her mind shattered, this book offers more than one glimpse at Baru Cormorant at her very lowest, mad with grief, self-pitying and oftentimes drunk.
I loved it, but I do have a few complaints. Like its predecessor, this novel too is broken into three parts. The pace of the first part, I felt was just a hint too slow. I forgive that though since this first third of the novel also uses the imperative voice in a brilliant, beautiful and thoroughly effective way.
Book Of Monsters: General Magmar
Read on at your own peril! The introduction of this particular element towards the end of the book feels somewhat jarring; Seth Dickinson has created a world steeped in such realism, and introducing a sort of magic to it was unexpected. The Monster Baru Cormorant was an excellent sequel that never ceased to surprise and thrill me. This book is a solid 4. Nov 07, Benjamin Appleby-Dean rated it it was amazing Shelves: Seth Dickinson subverts expectations with his second book.
Although Baru's ambitions are even grander, her powers vastly increased and her worldview magnified, the actual page-to-page action of her story has shrunk: The stakes are higher war between empires; the possible fall of civilisation itself , but Baru's own mission is reduced to a couple of island economies, a Seth Dickinson subverts expectations with his second book. The stakes are higher war between empires; the possible fall of civilisation itself , but Baru's own mission is reduced to a couple of island economies, a handful of ship pursuits, and a half-dozen companions as ambitious, warped and potentially monstrous as herself.
All of this is necessary because Baru has lost her own clarity-haunted by new injuries and overwhelming guilt, discarding her formal restraint in favour of a kind of perverse hedonism, all the while grappling with her own ambitions and the question of how much she is prepared to sacrifice to the causes of revenge and power.
Her economic insights and manipulations, so key to the plot of Traitor , are now offhand and callous. Her goals are as much personal as they are philosophical. The Monster Baru Cormorant is an internal journey for Dickinson's savant heroine, and one that crucially prepares her for the global events clearly building in the next book. Unlike Traitor , the book hops around between half-a-dozen viewpoints but remains firmly centred on Baru herself, even while the diverse voices of our narrators both showcase Dickinson's skill and throw into sharp contrast the fractured style of Baru's own narrative.
Even though the book's events are smaller-scale, the worldview feels significantly broader. Monster finally gives us a glimpse of this world's fantastic elements - which are all the more imaginatively bizarre for being so the afterword claims broadly based on real-world phenomena. While Traitor clung to a level of realism that made it feel more like historical fiction than fantasy if such a thing can ever be said about a wholly invented world , this book shows a little of its true colours-and is all the richer for it.
This is a less complete book than its predecessor - ending on a firm cliffhanger, resolving none of its own events - and it's impossible to tell how Baru's story may end; but the journey is undeniably brilliant. Nov 12, Jessica Strider rated it it was amazing. She has also made a lot of enemies, one of whom is a navy admiral, who decides to mutiny in order to bring Baru to a form of justice.
There are plots within plots, and two main points of view, that of Baru told in third person and Xate Yawa told in first person. There are also flashbacks to a previous war from the viewpoint of Tau-indi, a prince of the Oriati Mbo, which gives cultural and historical information for the continent and for the war of ideas between the cryptarchs. The worldbuilding is incredibly intricate. I loved the attention to detail. Very serious consequences, for what seems like limited gains on her part.
This makes her an increasingly hard character to like or sympathize with. Which I believe is the point. A lot of the action is set-up for the next book, so the plot here feels scattered at times. Having said that, the level of intrigue is high and I never felt bored. Be prepared to remember a lot of names and get lost in intrigue.
If you like morally dubious characters, this book is for you. Dec 06, Sean Kelley rated it it was amazing. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. You feel those happy neurons firing in your brain and you can't stop turning pages and then it's over! So you read the sequel expecting it to do the same, or similar things to the first. If you read "The Traitor Baru Cormorant" something you probably enjoyed was watching Baru, through sheer force of will, and intellect, put a plan together, meticulously put the pieces together to execute that plan, and then you the reader realizing she was actually trying to accomplish something VERY different than what you expected.
If that's what you enjoyed about Traitor, your expectation might be that something similar could occur in "The Monster Baru Cormorant" and on some small levels it does. Baru is still brilliant. She still uses her mind to play a great game, now on a map of the whole world and not just one of Aurdwynn. But to a great extent, this book deals with the consequences of Baru's plan coming to fruition in Traitor. Because Baru "won," and figured out the Traitor's Qualm, she now has some very scary people coming after her, from her lover Tain Hu's cousin, the terrifying Tain Shir, to the powerful Admiral Juris Ormsment, to her newly empowered rival from Aurdwynn, Xate Yawa.
Baru is also given a much bigger problem to solve, taking down the Oriati Mbo by uncovering a secret society called the Cancrioth.