Too Like the Lightning

Ada Palmer, the author of "Too Like the Lightning," is obviously brilliant and talented, and she does a lot of clever and unique things in this book. I would be surprised if it does not receive some award noms.

However, even though I can acknowledge that this a remarkably well-done book, I did not enjoy it at all. I felt there was a lack of storytelling; the whole thing read like a novelization of the author's notes on the intricate world and the enormous cast. I was bored with the pages upon pages of politics, and I grew weary of the detailed descriptions of the appearance of every single character ([who may or may not be male and/or female ad nauseam]. I could have put the book down at any time and never gone back to it and not cared in the least.

"Too Like the Lightning" was only a 2 star read for me (but I will most likely be in the exception with that rating).