Praise for Martha Wells and the Books of the Raksura
The Cloud Roads
“[Wells’ Raksura books] are dense, and complex, with truly amazing world building, and non-human characters who are quite genuinely alien, yet still comprehensible and sympathetic. The characters, particularly the protagonist, Moon, are compelling and flawed and likable. The plots are solid and fast moving. But it’s the world that… just, wow! There is a depth and breadth and sheer alienness here that I have rarely seen in any novel. Shape-shifters, flying ships, city-trees, six kazillion sentient races, floating islands, and on and on and on.”
—Kelly McCullough, author of the WebMage series and the Fallen Blade novels
“The Cloud Roads has wildly original worldbuilding, diverse and engaging characters, and a thrilling adventure plot. It’s that rarest of fantasies: fresh and surprising, with a story that doesn’t go where ten thousand others have gone before. I can’t wait for my next chance to visit the Three Worlds!”
—N. K. Jemisin, author of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
“Filled with vivid action and memorable characters, The Cloud Roads is a terrific science fiction adventure story with a heart. I read it eagerly and look forward to its sequel with great anticipation.”
—Sarah Prineas, author of The Magic Thief
“It reminds me of the SF/F fantasy I read as a teen, long before YA was categorized. Those books explored adult concepts without ‘adult content’; the complexity of morality and the potential, uncaring harshness of life. This story’s conclusion satisfies on all those counts as well as leaving me eager for the sequel.”
—Juliet E. McKenna, Interzone
“There’s so much to like here: multiple sapient species sharing a world (or NOT sharing) with complex gender roles, wildly differing societies, and varying technologies. This is rigorous fantasy without the trappings of European medievalism. And most of all, it’s riveting storytelling.”
—Steven Gould, author of Jumper and 7th Sigma
“Martha Wells’ books always make me remember why I love to read. In The Cloud Roads, she invents yet another rich and astonishingly detailed setting, where many races and cultures uneasily coexist in a world constantly threatened by soulless predators. But the vivid worldbuilding and nonstop action really serve as a backdrop for the heart of the novel—the universal human themes of loneliness, loss, and the powerful drive to find somewhere to belong.”
—Sharon Shinn, author of Troubled Waters
“Wells … has created a new world of dragonlike shapeshifters and human tribes that could serve as the background for future novels in this exotic setting. Concise storytelling and believable characters make this a good addition to most fantasy collections.”
—Library Journal
“A rousing tale of a lost boy who finds his way home and discovers that he has a role to play in saving the world. High-octane fight scenes nicely contrast with Moon’s emotional growth and developing romance. Genre fans looking for something different will find this just what they needed.”
—School Library Journal Blog
“I loved this book. This has Wells’ signature worldbuilding and wholly real character development, and her wry voice shines through. I can’t even explain how real the world felt, in which each race and city and culture had such well-drawn back story that they lived on even outside the main plot.”
—Patrice Sarath, author of Gordath Wood and Red Gold Bridge
“The Cloud Roads is a terrific fantasy novel that stands out due to imaginative worldbuilding, accomplished writing and engaging storytelling. For everyone else, The Cloud Roads is a proud example of what the genre is capable of producing …”
—Fantasy Book Critic
“First off, the world revealed within this story is nothing short of amazingly detailed and intriguing…. you’ll find this an imaginative and engaging novel.”
—John Vogt, Examiner.com
The Serpent Sea
“Using its alien protagonist to explore the politics of gender and belonging, this is a fascinating read for SF readers looking for something out of the ordinary.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The Serpent Sea is a wonderful and spellbinding sequel to The Cloud Roads, which was one of the best fantasy books of 2011. It gloriously continues the saga of the shapeshifting Raksura.”
“With these books Wells is writing at the top of her game, and given their breadth, originality, and complexity, this series is showing indications it could become one of the landmark series of the genre.”
—Adventures Fantastic
“I loved The Serpent Sea. It’s extraordinary story telling with engaging characters in an enchanting world I want to visit.”
—Diana Pharaoh Francis, author of the Path and Crosspointe series
“Another excellent and wonderful view into the universe of the Three Worlds and its fascinating inhabitants.”
—SF Signal
“Moon is a delightful character and a great focal point for the story. The world the author has created is wonderfully complex and vivid and has wonderful layers of characters, cultures and creatures…. Reading this series is a choice [readers] will not regret.”
—Portland Book Review
“Wells remains a compelling storyteller whose clear prose, goal-driven plotting, and witty, companionable characters should win her fans among those who enjoy the works of writers such as John Scalzi and Lois McMaster Bujold.”
—Matt Denault, Strange Horizons
“The Serpent Sea is a worthy sequel to The Cloud Roads and it features all of the strengths (fantastic world-building, great story, awesome characters) of that first novel. It is so easy to fall in love with this series and the reasons are manifold.”
—The Book Smugglers
The Siren Depths
“I really loved Book 3, which wound up as my favorite book of the trilogy. […] I’ll be pushing it on everybody who loves great writing, ornate worlds and wonderfully-drawn nonhuman characters. And I am also looking up Martha Wells’ backlist, right now.”
—Rachel Neumeier, author of Lord of the Changing Winds and Black Dog
“This is the type of Fantasy series I absolutely love—and highly recommend as a worthwhile series to read and fall in love with. […]The Siren Depths closes the series really well.”
—The Book Smugglers
“The first two books, The Cloud Roads and The Serpent Sea, were excellent, but in my opinion The Siren Depths is an even better and more satisfying book, because it takes the series to a whole new level of depth.”
“The Siren Depths has more of what I’ve come to love about the Books of the Raksura—a compelling story, great world-building in a unique setting, and lovable characters with very realistic problems. In my opinion, it’s also the most satisfying installment in the series.”
—Fantasy Café
“Truly inventive and stunningly imaginative worldbuilding perfectly melded with vivid, engaging characters make the Books of the Raksura one of my all-time favorite science-fiction series.”
—Kate Elliott, author of The Spiritwalker Trilogy
“Martha Wells writes fantasy the way it was meant to be—poignant, evocative, and astonishing. Prepare to be captivated ‘til the sun comes up.”
—Kameron Hurley, author of God’s War, Infidel, and Rapture
Stories of the Raksura: Volume One
“Wells is adept at suggesting a long, complex history for her world with economy… Longtime fans and new readers alike will enjoy Wells’ deft touch with characterization and the fantastic.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An excellent collection of Raksura stories… demonstrates that there are plenty of intriguing stories to tell of the Raksura and the Three Worlds.”
“The worldbuilding and characters in these stories are as wonderful as the novels and I had no difficulty immersing myself into Wells’ world and societies again.”
—SF Signal