Welcome
back! First, as it is officially
December and I have the thought to make a note about it, I wanted to update my
NaNoWriMo progress. I failed. Epically.
I didn't have anything ready when I decided to participate a couple days
before the start which was a red flag but still I hoped something would
come. I didn't write more than 900 words
through most of the month other priorities taking precedence and such. Then with two days left in NaNoWriMo I get
inspired and spend a day writing out my thoughts and get almost 7K words. Not the goal of 50K but still I was proud
with that and as it has given me an idea to go forward I want to take it.
Now
onto another charming review for a book I was eagerly anticipating since I knew
of it's existence in the world.
Soundless by Richelle Mead. Her
stand-alone fantasy story and first thing post finishing up the
Bloodlines/Vampire Academy worlds, for the time being anyways.
Rating: 4 Stars
Soundless
takes place in a mountain village where sound does not exist. No one has been able to hear for generations
but they have adapted. Still living up
on the mountain they are unable to sustain themselves and rely on the mercy of
the zipline that brings food up as they send metals down the treacherous
cliffs. Things have been getting tighter
with each passing day as the food sent up lessens and villagers start to lose
their sight our main character Fei and her people are in a bit of a
crisis. All looks bleak until one night
Fei is woken to a noise she doesn't understand.
Hearing has returned to her and while she tries to make sense of it she
can use it to try and save her people.
She sets off down the suicide climb down the mountain with an old friend
with one mission to save her people.
There are many challenges along the journey including old feelings that
continue to press forward even if they are forbidden.
I
didn't know much about the story before going in. I just knew it was a stand-alone which made
me happy and nervous as it was so short.
I really enjoyed the story and the way it was told. I was unsure how there would be much
conversation given no sound but of course the characters have lived with this
forever so they sign. Duh. They have adjusted their lives made adjustments
to communicate which are pretty interesting, signing and just the everyday life
and how they function without sound was interesting. It's frightening as well to think that anyone
could just startle you from behind, anything could happen without warning. It made me realize how much I take for
granted being able to hear. The system
they have set up between the classes, artists and miners, was interesting. Documenting life as it happened seemed a more
coveted and powerful position than those who worked for the metals the brought
food to the village. It's a class system
many can understand and throughout history makes no sense logistically.
Fei
is an artists. She and her sister are
provided for and living the better life, even if it meant giving up something
to obtain. All is going okay until her
sister starts to lose her vision like the others throughout the village. With so little food being sent up, if you
don't do your duty you don't eat. This
is hard for Fei to face, her sister headed in such a position. With her new found ability and after talking
to her old friend Li Wei they decide to try and make it down the mountain and
speak to the keeper of the line who sends them food and make a case for more. The journey is not easy but it didn't
drag. Fei is still adapting to new
sounds and understanding their meaning while Li Wei continues to get under her
skin as they talk about everything from their past to the very present danger
and lack of a real plan. They uncover
terrible truths along the way that leave them unsure of much and in constant
danger.
I
really enjoyed the story and it flew by for me.
I read it quickly and don't remember ever hitting a dull moment, which
considering everything is told without spoken conversations I would sometimes
forget that as the conversations seemed to flow naturally, and for them it
would be. Their interactions with one
another warmed my heart. I could feel my
heart break for the situation they were in and caught between wanting several
outcomes all at once. The characters
and the story were interesting for me and I would recommend it to anyone based
on that alone.
Now
for the things that got me a bit. I
didn't feel much of the Chinese or folklore aspects in the story. There wasn't much of the Chinese influence
through the story aside from names, nothing else that happened made me think
this story was based in that world. The
folklore comes more into play towards the end, as does the fantasy part, the
rest, while I enjoyed the story very much personally, didn't show some of the
key aspects it promised until the end. I
was okay with this again having went in with very little information on it but
if you are craving deep Chinese folklore from start to finish you might be
disappointed. That's the only thing I think
people should know.
Overall
I really enjoyed the story and was pleased with my reading. It being a stand-alone is a bit bittersweet
for me. I was happy to see it all
completed in one novel, everything is pretty much wrapped up but at the same
time there was room I feel to tell more story if Mead ever chooses to do so. I'd love to hear more on the pixiu. I'd love to hear your thoughts below as
always comments feed my blogging heart!
Until
next time…
