Kristin K. (escapeartistk) - reviewed on 4/9/2013 + 207 more book reviews

Having read and enjoyed 'The Wind-up Girl' and (really enjoyed) 'Ship Breaker' by the same author, I was very disappointed in 'The Drowned Cities,' particularly since I read it precisely because its a companion to 'Ship Breaker.' However, besides the drowned cities connection (which was referenced but not elaborated in 'Ship Breaker'), the similarity pretty much ends. Even though Tool, a lesser character from 'Ship Breaker,' becomes a significant character in 'The Drowned Cities,' the characterization is different, such that Tool comes off less humane and sympathetic in the latter. What really dragged the story down for me, though, was the lack of story: Bacigalupis protagonist spends much of the book in redundant deliberations over her ethical dilemmas, which creates the effect of overt moralizing on the authors part. Similar issues were crafted much more deftly in the first book.

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