this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026
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December book club canceled. Short stories instead!
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I will take the opposing stance.
Of the list, I only read the Children of Time book and it honestly put me off. I found the writing too dry, the characters too unexplored and the narrative too rushed. Stuff was happening at such a fast pace that it was unclear how characters were (emotionally) reacting to it. I found the generational stories particularly off putting, each chapter felt more like a list of facts than a novel. On the other hand, the book was definitely physically long enough, so I wouldn’t want more padding.
After than, I gave up in the whole author.
Huh, I thought it was amazing, and loved the way the characters developed. To each his own.
I’m glad different books appeal to different people! I’m actually really enjoying this thread of readers having different experiences than me :)
Tchaikovskys earlier series Shadows of the Apt is a fantasy that follows about a half dozen characters over ten books, if you want some real thick and detailed characters that’s where you’ll find it from him