Book Review -- The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells

[alfreda89]

The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome to a panorama of world building that you may not have seen for a while. Martha Wells always takes us places we haven’t been before, and in her Books of the Raksura, her new series from Night Shade Books, she’s brought us SF that is wonder, exploration and adventure all rolled into one. Moon is a young orphaned adult adrift in a world not his own. He can pass, for the most part, among the people he lives with, but he hides a dangerous secret. He has another form – and he can fly. A strong resemblance to a dangerous flying species called the Fell has caused him catastrophic problems in the past – and nearly gets him killed once again.

But this time, someone chooses to save him – someone who bears a strong resemblance to him. Someone who claims to know what he is, and where he belongs. So Moon’s journey continues, from loss to hope and finally, in the end, finding belonging and love.

This book has many different sub-themes – friendship between different people (who in this book are literally different peoples!) belonging, alliances with Others for mutual benefit and protection, fighting for life and freedom – but the strongest thread in the weaving is Moon’s search for self, and a place to call home.

The only reason I haven’t re-read this book yet is because it remains so vivid in my mind. I nominated this for the Nebula award. Recommended!

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User marthawells referenced to your post from No title (http://marthawells.livejournal.com/472923.html) saying: [...] for less pollen. That's about all I've got today. *** Katharine Kimbriel reviewed The Cloud Roads [...]