Book Review: Kinning by Nisi Shawl
Originally posted on 27 Apr 2024
- Title: Kinning
- Author: Nisi Shawl
- Year: 2024
- Type: Fiction
This is the second book in the Everfair series. I have no idea why I picked it up at the library, because I didn’t especially like Everfair (though I really wanted to).
But pick it up I did, and read it I did, and enjoy it I did not.
Shawl obviously has a keen mind and a fascinating imagination. She’s creating a alt-history world that’s filled with vivid details. There should be a lot to like here, but it wasn’t enough.
The story felt disjointed. Confused. Too many characters and voices and locations, all constantly and sometimes abruptly shifting. This all got worse as the book progressed, the eponymous “kinning” kicked in, and pronouns and points of view became clear as mud.
I need to remember not to accidentally check the next Everfair book out of the library. It’s really not my cup of tea.