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linwearcamenel's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sarahbotreads's review against another edition
4.0
I adore Cat Valente's books, that's not news. This one - in which two monks find a tree where books grow like fruit, and in those books read the stories of Prester John, a priest traveling to a magical land; Hagia, a native of Pentexore who marries John; and Imtithal, a royal nursemaid and storyteller - is no different. The language is so beautiful and rich, and the interweaving stories touch on matters of faith, wonder, communication, love, all in an amazing medieval first-contact context.
overhillunderhill's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not entirely sure how I feel. On one hand, I love Valente's story within a story style. On the other, I am not great with religion being crammed down my throat (on account of my childhood). Flipping back to the hand that I liked the book, I like that the rest of the characters giving the monks a hard time. This is why I gave it 3 stars. I just cannot decide. I may have to save my final opinion for the second book.
vedemsie's review against another edition
Dense writing and too religious for my taste
tarabyt3's review against another edition
4.0
As usual Valente does a good job of creating a bizarre and yet very real universe. This book continued in her trend of beautiful but visceral phrasing and she makes it come alive. The twisting of the story and the empty spaces were compelling and I finished feeling unsatisfied but in an okay way? I felt like some of the religious connections in this were a little stretched, unfortunately, but not impossible to follow. That could also be my religious background subconsciously being repelled, as well, though, so take it with a grain of salt. Overall, it was a good read and I'm sure I'll eventually get to the books that follow in the series.
emmc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ergative's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What an outstanding exploration of the Prester John myth. I think Valente did the world-building exquisitely--flavors of Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities in it, especially in the road to the Fountain and the mist city where they talk to Knyz--and properly expands the hinted wonders of that world in such a glorious, magical way. The frame narrative, with its rotting books leaving holes in the primary stories, also worked beautifully to accustom me to the idea that the whole of the Prester John story is unknowable. I'm not entirely sure I want to read the second one, because what I know now has very clear bones: John becomes the king of Pentexore, tries to remake it into the Christian paradise that the letter to the West made it out to be, and somehow that brings disaster--or at least decline. I wonder whether the woman who tends the book trees, who rubs uneasily at her neck, is in fact Hagia, who has somehow grown a new head. She very well could be--that would be a wonderful resonance with poor Imtithal who wants nothing more than to take on a new name and be loved (or known) for who she is as Hajji, rather than who she was as Imtithal the story-teller. But in a way I don't care: The whole point of the book is that there are these glorious tales about this glorious world, and now it's gone because a fucking Christian missionary stumbled in and ruined everything, and I don't really want to see how that happens in the second book. I'd rather leave that part in the lacunae of the story.
nancyotoole's review against another edition
3.0
In the 12th century, the letter of Prester John arrived in Europe. It promised a land of wonder and immortality, ruled by John himself, to all that seek it. The arrival of this letter prompted explorers to travel around the world in search of John's kingdom. Of course, it was all a hoax, but what if it had been true? The Habitation of the Blessed tells the story of a priest named Hiob Von Luzern, who in his travels comes across the accounts of Prester John, Hagia (Prester John's wife), and a collection of stories called The Scarlet Nursery, growing from a tree like fruit. Hiob struggles to translate the text as quickly as possible, for also like fruit, the books are beginning to rot over time.
The Habitation of the Blessed is the fourth novel I have read by Catherynne M. Valente, and I have grown to appreciate what a dependable writer she is. There are certain elements that you can always expect out of her work. The writing has always be lovely, the worldbuilding, impressively lush and detailed, and the characters complex. I also like the fact that each book is different from the rest. Yes, she often draw upon real world myths, and legends to craft her stories, but she's not the type of writer to tell the same story over and over again, until the books begin to blend together.
Similar to Palimpsest, The Habitation of the Blessed features four protagonists. I found Hiob to be the easiest to connect to. Like the reader, he is experiencing the story of John for the first time, and desires to know the truth behind the legend. John is an interesting protagonists, as he is also the villain of the piece. Fortunately, he is not a typical villain. In fact, I often found myself feeling sorry for him, as he struggles to find his place in this new country of unfamiliar customs and creatures. Hagia is perhaps the most important of the narrators, as she provides us necessary information on the Pentexore (the country in question), and a unique perspective on the character of John himself. The Scarlet Nursery, narrated by Imtithal, may seem unconnected at first, but as the story develops, it becomes obvious that this is not the case.
Personally, I did not fall as wholly in love with The Habitation of the Blessed as I did with In the Night Garden (the first Orphan Tales novel). There were times where I felt it dragged a little, and other times where I found myself wishing that we had gotten to learn more about the real story (that the letter was a hoax), than what we learn in the novel. Still, there is plenty to love about The Habitation of the Blessed. I admire Valente's ability to take what may seem strange or even grotesque to us, and make it beautiful. The Habitation of the Blessed is a rich story that feels larger than it's 269 pages. I am planning on finishing the trilogy when future volumes are released.
The Habitation of the Blessed is the fourth novel I have read by Catherynne M. Valente, and I have grown to appreciate what a dependable writer she is. There are certain elements that you can always expect out of her work. The writing has always be lovely, the worldbuilding, impressively lush and detailed, and the characters complex. I also like the fact that each book is different from the rest. Yes, she often draw upon real world myths, and legends to craft her stories, but she's not the type of writer to tell the same story over and over again, until the books begin to blend together.
Similar to Palimpsest, The Habitation of the Blessed features four protagonists. I found Hiob to be the easiest to connect to. Like the reader, he is experiencing the story of John for the first time, and desires to know the truth behind the legend. John is an interesting protagonists, as he is also the villain of the piece. Fortunately, he is not a typical villain. In fact, I often found myself feeling sorry for him, as he struggles to find his place in this new country of unfamiliar customs and creatures. Hagia is perhaps the most important of the narrators, as she provides us necessary information on the Pentexore (the country in question), and a unique perspective on the character of John himself. The Scarlet Nursery, narrated by Imtithal, may seem unconnected at first, but as the story develops, it becomes obvious that this is not the case.
Personally, I did not fall as wholly in love with The Habitation of the Blessed as I did with In the Night Garden (the first Orphan Tales novel). There were times where I felt it dragged a little, and other times where I found myself wishing that we had gotten to learn more about the real story (that the letter was a hoax), than what we learn in the novel. Still, there is plenty to love about The Habitation of the Blessed. I admire Valente's ability to take what may seem strange or even grotesque to us, and make it beautiful. The Habitation of the Blessed is a rich story that feels larger than it's 269 pages. I am planning on finishing the trilogy when future volumes are released.