To be sure, it functions well enough to convey a story, but it’s certainly not something that grabbed me and held my attention, so to speak. It feels distant and almost apathetic, instead of scintillating and vibrant. Past the first chapter, the writing just does not grab me, does not hold my attention for very long. Right from the get-go, the issue with writing style becomes very apparent. The decision Csorwe makes, in that moment, ripples out into the world, shaping not just her destiny, but the destinies of others as well.

Raised in the House of Silence, she has always known her fate, and she wants nothing more than to meet it with the same calm and dignity as those who have gone before her.īut, on the day of her sacrifice, she is offered a choice: go meekly to her death, or flee it and forge a life of her own. It tells the story of Csorwe, a young woman who has lived most of her life as the Chosen Bride: an oracle, but also a sacrifice for a god known as the Unspoken One. This is something that comes into play in the novel The Unspoken Name ( Tor Books, 2020), first in The Serpent Gates series by A.K. Much like the correct application of varnish or beeswax can bring out the inherent beauty of a piece of wood, writing style can mean the difference between an absorbing read, or a bland one. Still, there’s no denying that style goes a long way towards making sure that all those other elements are presented in their best light. When I’m reading a story, the style in which it’s written is a hook and an enticement to keep going, but there’s more to stories than just style: things like characters, plot, worldbuilding, and themes.

Style is important, sure, but there’s more to something than just its style. Some say that “style is everything,” but I like to think that isn’t true. Please be aware that the page may contain spoilers. Trigger warnings for this novel can be found here, c/o.

The unspoken name book 2