The Unbalancing: a Birdverse Novel by R. B. Lemberg
Published by Tachyon Publications
Age Group: Adult
Format: Fiction
Genres and Categories: Disabled and Neurodivergent Authors, LGBTQIA+ Authors, Queer Authors, Epic Fantasy, Magic Users, Mental Health, Neurodivergent, Trauma, Mental Health Representation, OwnVoices Representation, Queer Characters, Various Magic
Series: Birdverse #2
My Rating:
Published on: 20th September 2022
Pages: 256
Disability Representation: Mental Health, Neurodivergent, PTSD, Trauma
Buy this Book! Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / Blackwells / Bookshop.org US / Waterstones
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Beneath the waters by the islands of Gelle-Geu, a star sleeps restlessly. The celebrated new starkeeper Ranra Kekeri, who is preoccupied by the increasing tremors, confronts the problems left behind by her predecessor.

Meanwhile, the poet Erígra Lilún, who merely wants to be left alone, is repeatedly asked by their ancestor Semberí to take over the starkeeping helm. Semberí insists upon telling Lilún mysterious tales of the deliverance of the stars by the goddess Bird.

When Ranra and Lilún meet, sparks begin to fly. An unforeseen configuration of their magical deepnames illuminates the trouble under the tides. For Ranra and Lilún, their story is just beginning; for the people of Gelle-Geu, it may well be too late to save their home.

This book was provided for free by the Publisher and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

Content Warnings:

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The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg is a lyrical fantasy novel featuring a neurodivergent and non-binary protagonist who wants nothing to do with the illustrious role of starkeeper that their ancestor insists they are destined to take over. Instead, Lilun finds another way, working with the new starkeeper Ranra to try to save their doomed home. Keep reading to find out more about this beautiful book!

The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg is quite simply like nothing I have ever read before. It’s listed as a “Birdverse novel” and is the first full-length novel set in this universe Lemberg has created. Prior to this book, Birdverse existed in the form of poems, short stories and a novella. As the name suggests, the Birdverse is a universe based around a bird deity and the world-building is brilliantly crafted. This is an author at the top of their craft, with every aspect of the world expertly crafted, right down to the language used for cursing. I have a fondness for curse words created for fantasy and science fiction, and I love how changing a few letters has such an effect.

There are so many layers to the society of islands of Gelle-Geu, and at first glance, their society appears to be a utopia. It’s a society where people are accepted for who they are, and is built on people doing what they want to do based on their desires and skills. One where there are multiple non-binary identities and traditions built into their society to display their identity with hair tokens. As well as finding out that not everything is as perfect as it appears, with identities not recognised even though there appears to be more awareness and understanding, with the healer-keepers offering free health care to everyone, yet failing to help those with mental health.

This is one of the most beautifully crafted novels I have ever read, with lyrical prose and characters that captivated me. Lilun and Ranra have two very different temperaments, but are also quite similar in many ways. Lilun is neurodivergent, although that exact wording is not used anywhere in the novel. Instead, Lemberg describes Lilun as needing “the world to be quieter, and less bright”, advice that is given to their fathers by the healer-keepers when they are children. When the world becomes too much for them, they have to stop and rest. They have an outdoor pool that their fathers built for them in the garden, and throughout the novel, they have to ask Ranra to slow down.

While Ranra runs at a much faster pace than Lilun is used to and can manage, it’s fuelled by the trauma she has suffered from ongoing emotional abuse from her mother. Despite reaching the highest position in their society, Ranra still struggles with self-confidence, with the feeling that she can do the job of a starkeeper. While she was given help and support to leave her mother’s home and live on her own, the healer-keepers did nothing to heal her mother, just letting her mental health deteriorate. Her behaviour towards Ranra is seen as quirks, as just how she is, and Ranra should just shrug it off.

These two people find each other in the middle of a catastrophe, and as they work to try to save their island home, they grow closer to each other. Lemberg has written a wonderfully compelling book about real people with LGBTQIA+ representation, disability and neurodivergent representation. The Unbalancing is my first introduction to Lemberg’s Birdverse, and I look forward to spending more time in the gorgeous world they have created.

Thank you for reading my review for The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg!

Are you familiar with The Birdverse?

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