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robotnik's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sarabande's sophomore effort, Corridor of Storms, is a huge step above his first novel, Beyond the Sea of Ice. After reading the first, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue, but the second installment is solid, interesting, and I am now invested in the series and the characters.
I was fascinated to learn about the Corridor of Storms, where it lay, and that it actually existed in part as the land bridge that brought people to the American continent. It must have been magnificent and terrifying to behold.
As per usual with these stories, there is a man in power who wants nothing more than to stay in power, and will stop at nothing until he sees his goals through. People mean little to him unless they can help him achieve his aspirations. Consequently, there is much violence and death in this novel, including animals, children, and adults. This is not uncommon for an indigenous historical fiction story, but this feels more violent than most in the genre.
At first, I thought the "child" was supposed to be a neanderthal, I wonder if it was meant more as a yeti/sasquatch type creature. The author speculates in the notes that there were many tales of such creatures existing, but no solid proof. As neanderthals most likely disappeared via survival of the fittest and interbreeding with homo sapiens, I'd like to think that's what the Wanawut in this novel were- in order to keep it rooted in reality.
I really enjoyed the evolution of Karana as a character, and following Torka and Lonit through the Corridor of Storms and back again. I also like how this author seamlessly blends the story with the people's way of life; their beliefs, their practices, what they ate and how they lived and hunted. Some stories can focus too much on these parts and lose the reader in the mire of historical facts.
Overall, this was a well told narrative, and I'm excited to see what the next installment brings.
I was fascinated to learn about the Corridor of Storms, where it lay, and that it actually existed in part as the land bridge that brought people to the American continent. It must have been magnificent and terrifying to behold.
As per usual with these stories, there is a man in power who wants nothing more than to stay in power, and will stop at nothing until he sees his goals through. People mean little to him unless they can help him achieve his aspirations. Consequently, there is much violence and death in this novel, including animals, children, and adults. This is not uncommon for an indigenous historical fiction story, but this feels more violent than most in the genre.
At first, I thought the "child" was supposed to be a neanderthal, I wonder if it was meant more as a yeti/sasquatch type creature. The author speculates in the notes that there were many tales of such creatures existing, but no solid proof. As neanderthals most likely disappeared via survival of the fittest and interbreeding with homo sapiens, I'd like to think that's what the Wanawut in this novel were- in order to keep it rooted in reality.
I really enjoyed the evolution of Karana as a character, and following Torka and Lonit through the Corridor of Storms and back again. I also like how this author seamlessly blends the story with the people's way of life; their beliefs, their practices, what they ate and how they lived and hunted. Some stories can focus too much on these parts and lose the reader in the mire of historical facts.
Overall, this was a well told narrative, and I'm excited to see what the next installment brings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
bahoulie's review against another edition
2.0
There were definitely good parts to this book, but it had two major problems. First the main characters were either too good, or totally evil. Very little nuance. Also, as happens to often, much of the tension in the book was provided by people misunderstanding each other for lack of talking. Drives me a bit nuts.
kairosdreaming's review against another edition
3.0
Corridor of Storms is the 2nd book in the First Americans series. If you haven't read the first book, I highly suggest you go start there, otherwise you'll be a bit lost in this book.
Torka and his band (3 women, a boy, and some children) have been living in a sheltered valley for about three years. However, when one of the women is having a troubled pregnancy, he knows they must leave their valley and search out the gathering of other tribes. The boy, Karana, is not at all happy about this excursion. He remembers the violence of other people and when they reach the gathering, there are some there who like Torka and some that would do anything to see him dead.
Torka, for all that he is brave and bold, does not have a lick of good sense. Constantly he is warned not to do something, only to do it anyway thinking it is in his women's best interest. And since Lonit is normally such a strong character, it is surprising to see her so wimpy and simpering in this book. Karana is about the only one with sense, and even he is a little too brash at times. Then there's the bad guys, especially Navahk. He is pure evil. There really is no redeeming goodness in him. Which kind of makes it too easy to dislike him and wish the worst on him. The best bad guys have an ounce of humanity that can confuse the reader's feelings.
And then there's the fact that this plot is almost identical to that of the first book. Torka living peacefully and happily in the small band but then wanting to find other people. Torka finding other people and life goes all wrong before he finally strikes out on his own again. You'd think he'd have learned after several repeated mistakes. This book, like the first, is very violent too. And there is a lot of sexual violence in this one. So much that it even disturbed me a bit and I'm normally pretty unflappable when it comes to reading stuff like that. The amount of hate and anger and description can be hard to take at times. Consider yourself warned even if you do normally have a strong constitution for stuff like that. Aside from the violence, Sarabande is a descriptive writer for everything else. That is the redeeming quality of this book. He's able to bring the prehistoric world to life.
Not as good as the first book but I'll still continue reading the series. My hope is that it will bounce back and redeem the characters. Two and a half stars for this one though.
Corridor of Storms
Copyright 1988
420 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2013
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
Torka and his band (3 women, a boy, and some children) have been living in a sheltered valley for about three years. However, when one of the women is having a troubled pregnancy, he knows they must leave their valley and search out the gathering of other tribes. The boy, Karana, is not at all happy about this excursion. He remembers the violence of other people and when they reach the gathering, there are some there who like Torka and some that would do anything to see him dead.
Torka, for all that he is brave and bold, does not have a lick of good sense. Constantly he is warned not to do something, only to do it anyway thinking it is in his women's best interest. And since Lonit is normally such a strong character, it is surprising to see her so wimpy and simpering in this book. Karana is about the only one with sense, and even he is a little too brash at times. Then there's the bad guys, especially Navahk. He is pure evil. There really is no redeeming goodness in him. Which kind of makes it too easy to dislike him and wish the worst on him. The best bad guys have an ounce of humanity that can confuse the reader's feelings.
And then there's the fact that this plot is almost identical to that of the first book. Torka living peacefully and happily in the small band but then wanting to find other people. Torka finding other people and life goes all wrong before he finally strikes out on his own again. You'd think he'd have learned after several repeated mistakes. This book, like the first, is very violent too. And there is a lot of sexual violence in this one. So much that it even disturbed me a bit and I'm normally pretty unflappable when it comes to reading stuff like that. The amount of hate and anger and description can be hard to take at times. Consider yourself warned even if you do normally have a strong constitution for stuff like that. Aside from the violence, Sarabande is a descriptive writer for everything else. That is the redeeming quality of this book. He's able to bring the prehistoric world to life.
Not as good as the first book but I'll still continue reading the series. My hope is that it will bounce back and redeem the characters. Two and a half stars for this one though.
Corridor of Storms
Copyright 1988
420 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2013
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
3hundtony's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25