That we are capable only of being what we are remains our unforgivable sin.

At first, I couldn't figure out why I was enjoying this book so much more than the first. There were creepy creatures, lovable companions, and the most enjoyable fantasy world building that I've yet to get from these books! Yet, our main character is still the shit head that he is. So, what was it about this book that I enjoyed so immensely? Then, it hit me, there hadn't been a single woman around Severian for the first, like, 3/4 of the book. Keep Severian away from women and it turns out the book is quite enjoyable! However, I was lulled into a false sense of security. As soon as the women came back into the picture, I was reminded why I hate this character and these books so much. Beyond the blatant misogyny and violence against women, many parts of the story are just way too convenient. Plot points don't have the surprise or the punch that I've come to expect in sci-fi and fantasy, because everything is just so damn convenient. At this point, nothing from these books surprises me or brings me joy, with the exception of the rare instances that Wolfe comes up with a very unique and intriguing idea. The world building can, at times, be very enjoyable and cool. Beyond that, these books can be a slog. Once again I read this alongside the podcast Shelved By Genre, and thanks to them I had a much better time reading the book than I would have alone. Can't recommend them enough!

The cat was amused at these two idiot humans, talking about how unfair death is, when it's one of the few things everyone gets. Death is a magnificent invention, the cat knew, because it's the impermanence of life that makes it beautiful.

A road trip full of humor, sadness, bed time stories, and an orange cat named Pancakes who can sense death, what's not to love about this book? I always think heartbreak is best served next to a plate of comedy, and on that, this book delivers. The humor mixed with heartache was perfectly balanced. I loved each and every character in this book. I laughed with them, cried with them, and honestly felt like I was part of their little family. The characters felt so real and relatable. Hartnett seems to have captured real people that I know and put them into the page.

Hartnett has created such a touching story depicting the beauty and cruelties of life. Loss, grief, community, forgiveness, and love are all explored in this book in a way that makes readers feel they aren't alone. I think that's the overall message of this book, that life, though short and sometimes cruel, can be beautiful. That we are all connected and need one another.

The worst person you know tells you his life story, and he leaves out absolutely no detail.

Seriously though, this was an interesting read for me. Firstly, because I just plain didn't like it. I can recognize the mastery that was used to create this book, and I understand there's much to dive into and pull apart. However, it's just not (to my taste) good. Every character was unlikable, and the plot mostly happens TO our shithead main character rather than actions moving plot forward. I did my best to ignore my annoyance with the main character in order to be able to appreciate the skill of the world building and character writing, and overall I think I managed to find a zen state and didn't let the unlikableness of the main character keep me from engaging with the work. Full of sexism, homophobia, fat phobia, self-importance, over-glazed prose, and confusing cadence, The Shadow of the Torturer isn't exactly a fun read. That said, there is fun to be had in breaking down this dense and complex sci-fi/fantasy. I can't think of a single person I'd recommend this series to, but if you are wanting a really dense, beast of a series to dive into and work like a project, this series is a good one to do it with. I read this alongside the podcast Shelved by Genre, which helped my understanding of the world (and Gene Wolfe in general) a lot. I highly recommend it. There are SO many fascinating world building choices and moments of prose that I would have missed had it not been for this podcast!