Historical
The alternate-history setup does a lot of the work here, which is usually a good sign. It gives the book a proper shape before the science fiction even starts leaning on it.
What stuck with me most was the tension between the future-war question and the setting itself. That’s the bit that makes it worth talking about, not the broad “big saga” label. If you like historical fiction that’s already looking sideways into something stranger, this is the sort of book that can hold its own.
What stuck with me most was the tension between the future-war question and the setting itself. That’s the bit that makes it worth talking about, not the broad “big saga” label. If you like historical fiction that’s already looking sideways into something stranger, this is the sort of book that can hold its own.
The bit that gives me pause is the YA label on something this sprawling. “Saga” can mean ambition, but it can also mean the book is asking a lot of patience from the reader before the human scale comes through.
I’m still interested, though, because alternate history tends to work best when the worldbuilding is doing more than showing off. If the setting has a proper political or emotional pressure to it, that’s usually where I pay attention.
I’m still interested, though, because alternate history tends to work best when the worldbuilding is doing more than showing off. If the setting has a proper political or emotional pressure to it, that’s usually where I pay attention.