Senlin Ascends

What can you say about this book. For a start, I think that this is the first book in ages that I have given a five star review to, and this book deserves it so much. I saw the praise that the book was receiving from critics and other authors and thought I would give it a try. Unfortunately, I could not put it down.
The prose of the book is gorgeous, Bancroft's imagination is outstanding and the development of the characters is excellent. In fact, I am quickly running out of superlatives to describe this book.

For those that haven't read this and fancy reading this, the story concerns itself with the hero of the title, Thomas Senlin, a fish out of water schoolteacher who takes his young bride to the famed Tower of Babel. The story moves extremely fast from their arrival at the Tower's market and the loss of Thomas's new bride whilst on their honeymoon.

What follows are Thomas's adventures and misadventures in order to attempt to locate his missing bride.

This is wonderfully written book, reminding me at times of Johnathon Swift, but primarily GK Chesterton, particularly the dreamlike absurdness of the Man who was Thursday. However, the story can turn on a sixpence to violent undertones.

I really recommend this book, and am moving on to the second one. I hope that it is as good as this!

I read Senlin Ascends back in June and meant to leave a review then, but of course, life kept happening. There were more books to read and what was postponed ended up forgotten.
As I'm now finally starting book 2, I decided to take a few minutes to write down my thoughts about this brilliant book.
It's not often a book grabs me from the beginning and when they do, I usually have a fairly good idea of the type of story I'm reading and what to expect.
I was completely lost with this one.
Almost every theory and expectation I came up with was wrong. I must have spent the first half of Senlin Ascends alternating between moments of ‘oh, dear' and ‘what the f#ck?' talking to myself like a crazy person. I loved the weirdness and mystery of it all, the vivid descriptions and the beautiful prose.
Senlin Ascends is unlike anything I've read before and Senlin is such an endearing character, perfect for this story.
It's not easy to review this book without spoilers. In sum, Senlin Ascends is quite the intellectual and emotional adventure, filled with witty humour, bizarre characters and situations. I was almost sad when things finally started to make sense.
I'm looking forward to continue this series.

Got about 65% of the way through the book and just couldn't freaking take it any more. The sheer STUPIDITY of the main character (and his wife) really grates, and the fact that the book is simply reaction after reaction to circumstances makes for tedious reading. The whining, the idiocy – oh good freaking lord, the IDIOCY – became too much.

Holy crap this book. I had high expectations from everyone's lofty reviews. WRONG WRONG WRONG. I am so angry that I wasted time on this horrible drivel.

This is one of those books that I kept on hearing about in hushed tones as something of a hidden gem. I was not disappointed by it - it is one of those rare books that truly lives up to it's hype and then exceeds it!

It is hard to really describe what Senlin Ascends is. It is fantasy, but with a reference to ancient myths (the Tower of Babel for example) and reads like a twisted fantasy take on Heart of Darkness or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It is a descent (ascent?) into madness and strangeness, defined by this central tower and its different levels. Each level has its own distinct theme, dangers and weirdness. The imagination on display is mind boggling - this is easily one of the most unique takes on the genre I have seen.

The central story follows the quest of one Tom Senlin to find his wife, who goes missing right at the start of the madness that is the Tower of Babel. As we travel and ascend the tower, we follow Tom as he grows as a character through the madcap experiences and dangers in the tower. It is the growth of this character that forms the beating heart of this book.

I also need to give a shout out to the Subterranean Press edition of this. The artwork in this edition is honestly the most beautiful I have seen in a book.

This books was a mad rush of psychedelic craziness, grounded by the quest of its central character. This book is truly unique. If you haven't read it you really should!

The book was ... Here goes nothing. I don't really know how to describe it. On the one hand I genuinely enjoyed the world and the characters and mostly unpredictable plot twists. Especially delicious was the change in the main character. On the other hand we have plot moving at the speed of retired turtle, thank gods not all the time, but first half of the book was difficult to get through.

All in all, the ending of the book left more questions than answers and I would like to know what happens next. I will continue with the series.

Thomas Senlin is lost and trapped in the Tower of Babel, looking for his missing newlywed wife. The timid headmaster must become someone else if he's to have any hope of finding her. This is the first book in a quest tale that has its interesting moments, but I found the ascent through the first four rings of Babel exhausting, perhaps because most of the people Senlin meets seem so duplicitous. I don't know if I'll continue reading this series. I'll have to think about it.

I've gotten an ARC from [a:Benedict Patrick 15139422 Benedict Patrick http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487193678p2/15139422.jpg] back in around November or so. In one of my emails to him I remember mentioning how the amazing covers of his books really did help to get me interested, which is always a good thing for an indie author trying to gain popularity. This book is another great example for that; don't judge a book by its cover, but shit, good art always inspires me to pick it up. Interesting art comes with an interesting story in this case. It's... not easy to talk about this one without giving things away and taking away from the weirdness that I think you should experience for yourself. Thomas Senlin is not a great person. He's the headmaster of a school in a little fishing village, which also makes him the only teacher there. His manners are stiff, he doesn't care about anything grandiose and boring things fit him perfectly. We can call him anxious and a coward. Still, the lovely Marya marries him and even with their differences, they are happy. Their honeymoon takes them to the amazing Tower of Babel, this gigantic complex of everything fun you can just imagine. It would have been cool if they didn't get separated in the market around the tower, which leaves Senlin having to be brave, resourceful and smart to find her again. When I think of this book, I have to say that it is not for people who are not in for something different. It has a style that makes the whole thing feel like a bit of a dream, it's whimsical and horrible and just... something else. Personally I found it interesting, but I know it wouldn't be for everyone. Which is all fine, of course, I think it's great that a new author (and already a poet) is willing to take this risk. Not necessarily the easiest to read in places, but I find it worth the effort. Flawed characters are also my thing. I'm so tired of perfect people, especially ones who are somehow always morally perfect and just need to be better than everyone, because it makes their deeds weightless; you know that even if they do things wrong, it will turn out that they were actually right from the very beginning, you just didn't see it. Senlin is lovely, because he avoids this. Not a bad man, not really. Not hero material either. By the end you will see him becoming much bolder, ready for adventure and more and more equipped to fulfil his mission. Again, I have no idea how to describe it. Just give it a go, it really does deserve more attention, as it's something different and it could be a pretty great choice for people who are looking something out there and refreshingly different in the fantasy genre. Definitely going on to read the second book in the series and if it keeps this up I'm going to be excited about the book to come in the rest of the series, as I think there will be some interesting conclusions and great ideas about the whole tower system, which just started to happen at the end of this one. Good night and learn to enjoy your home sweet home instead!

4.5 out of 5 stars – see this review and others here.

I was completely taken with Senlin Ascends right from the outset. Author Josiah Bancroft's words paint a vivid picture of a peculiar world where nothing is as it seems. It's Tim Burton meets Wes Anderson meets something completely its own.

The story follows Thomas Senlin as he climbs the massive Tower of Babel in search of his missing wife. Senlin encounters a compelling cavalcade of characters who he uses as stepping stones to reach his ultimate goal, while they use him to further their (often) nefarious aims. These symbiotic relationships teach Senlin about the true nature of the tower and about the man he must become in order to succeed.

Bancroft's prose is lyrical and conveys a sense of grand adventure that I rarely find in my reading life. I am perplexed about the lack of mainstream attention Senlin Ascends has received since its release several years ago, but I plan to keep the positive word-of-mouth going as much as I can.

Unpopular opinion time!
It's been a few days since I finished Senlin Ascends and I still don't know how I feel about it. It's one of those books.

Thomas Senlin and his wife Marya are on honeymoon at the famous,  gigantic Tower of Babel. So much to see! On the very first day of their honeymoon, in the chaotic market of the tower, Marya and Senlin lose each other and thus begin Senlin's quest to find his wife.

This book has a huge hype around it. For a long time, I have not come across a book that is so beloved and praised, especially among self-published books. And it is a debut! So when I started the book, I have already fallen into the hype.

And this is the main reason why I gave the book 3 stars in the end.

The Tower of Babel and the life in it are very different from the calm, calculated, and orderly life that Senlin is used to. What he has to do to survive, and find her mate in this world he has fallen into is far from a classic heroic tale. Senlin is a regular guy, a teacher, a bit conservative and happy in his comfort zone. So in the time it took to build Senlin's character and this crazy world, about halfway through the book, not much happens. The story starts to pick up when the story forces Senlin to leave his comfort zone and do things he wouldn't expect from himself.

Josiah Bancroft is very creative and his writing style is great. Vibrant. Flows smoothly. I feel like I could find my way in the tower with his descriptions. Nothing overwhelming, nothing pretentious, no flowers. It's sublime. I was thinking about what to say as a review when I was in the middle of the book, I was sure of this; the writing is wonderful, but I can't immerse myself in the book. That started to change towards the end but I think it was too late for me to engage with the story fully and crave for the next one. While the path Senlin follows in search of Marya and the clues he finds in every step make a great contribution to the world-building, it also takes away from the pacing. So apparently for me, action is worth a thousand words.

While the premise is very straightforward, there are so many characters who jump in and out of the story and I couldn't connect with any of them. Even at the end of the book, when everything came together, all I cared about was Senlin and Marya and I wasn't 100% interested in them either. I think the strongest, the most prominent character in this book was The Tower of Babel. Besides, the main plot is interrupted by side quests often, and just like the side characters, I thought that these quests only disrupt the flow. As someone whose favorite games are RPGs and who prefers side quests to main quest most of the time, it felt very strange to me to think this way.

But you know, this is a debut and I ended up hopeful about the future installments. After all this, I still will continue to read the rest of the Books of Babel series. Although I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping for, I want to see what else will the Tower of Babel and its ringdoms bring to Senlin. But not immediately.

What do you think? Have you read Senlin Ascends? Let's chat!

Very rich worldbuilding ??? very intriguing concept of the tower built up of ringdoms. (There's a lot to unpack in reference to modern society, if one felt inclined to do so).

Great set of characters.

A very unique book with a couple of sequels ready to dive into.

I really enjoyed it. My only annoyance is that I felt much more invested in the fate of the side characters (Edith and Marya especially) than of the main character, Thomas Senlin. The story is from his POV and his naivity made me distrust every single thing that was ever said to him. I suppose I I'll have to read on to find out?

This was not what I expected. Not in a bad way though. I knew it was a fantasy about a tower and that was about it. I wasn't expecting Senlin. His character was so refreshing. He's not a well-built bad ass, he's just a regular guy. Quite nerdy in fact. I too am a nerd, so I loved him. I am excited to continue the series.

If not the best book I read in 2019, it's gotta be up there in the top 3. Now one of my favorite books, Senlin Ascends is a non-stop addiction. It was difficult to put down. Now that I've finished it, I need my fix and scrap up some money for its sequel or I will lose it.

One of the greatest things about this book is how Josiah differentiates each ringdom within the wondrous and enigmatic tower, which is the setting for the majority of the book. You think you start to understand it's mysterious, and then we enter a new level of madness. I'm not usually one that is easily impressed with a setting.

But nothing makes a 5 star for me without authentic characters. And I always love stories where I enjoy the supporting characters more so than the protagonist. These additions provided Senlin with such a brilliant character arc in the end.

This one is a zoppity, 110%

I look at my own life and all I see is ambivalence and confusion. Nothing dramatic happens, at least not suddenly. In real life, nothing happens quickly. Everything just erodes. And it's confusing and frustrating and dull. God, can it be dull. But then you have the Parlor, and everything has a point. Yes, it's simple. Yes, it's stupid. But there is a plot. A week ago, I would've given anything for a life with a plot. Now, I say, bring on the dullness.

A third of the way into this book, I was nervous. I was nervous that I thought it was going to be a slog. It had opened strongly, but it was so bizarre and seemingly directionless, that I thought it had been overhyped and would disappoint me. Thankfully, I was wrong.

Thomas Senlin, a headmaster from a small village, has dreamed of going to the Tower of Babel his whole life. For his honeymoon, he decides to take his new bride to his dream location. However, the Tower is not at all what he expected. Within minutes of arriving, his wife Marya is separated from him, and he must find her. The Tower, however, is a microcosm of activity that Senlin doesn't anticipate. He must resist the influences and trials within in level of the Tower in order to be reunited with Marya.

“You've made it impossible for me to read a book in peace. When you're not here, I just gaze at the words until they tumble off the page into a puddle in my lap. Instead of reading, I sit there and review the hours of the day I spent in your company, and I am more charmed by that story than anything the author has scribbled down. I have never been lonely in my life, but you have made me lonely. When you are gone, I am a moping ruin. I thought I understood the world fairly well. But you have made it all mysterious again. And it's unnerving and frightening and wonderful, and I want it to continue. I want all your mysteries. And if I could, I would give you a hundred pianos.”

Tom, as a superior student of the Tower, keep after your wife. It is easier to accept who you've become than to recollect who you were. Go after her.

Because, see, by the time they get this deep into the Tower, most have had the character beaten out of them. They are willing to say anything to get what they want. You can't reason with them or trust them. To know a person, to understand their character, you must know who they were before the Tower shook them to their roots. If you do not know how they changed, you do not know who they became.

“I hope it hasn't come to that. We shouldn't have to go around congratulating each other for behaving with basic human dignity.”

I'm going to feel very weak, and you're going to feel very dumb. But that's how it always is in the beginning. Learning starts with failure.”

Shout out to Mark Lawrence for putting this book on my radar! I don't have much of a track record writing reviews on here but it would be negligent of me not to say a few words of praise.

Unlike some reviews, I was not immediately sucked into the novel. I wasn't sure what to expect heading in and found myself as baffled as Senlin in the early chapters. But, just like our hero, I learned to quickly do away with my naivete as the story rose with the tower. Josiah Bancroft has delivered a wholly original, wholly engaging work of speculative fiction. It is charming, witty, sometimes hilarious, often terrifying, and I cannot wait to dive into the next book!

This was a good break from regular fantasy. Don't get me wrong this still has world building and a fascinating world it is too. Its still got some interesting magic and some strange worlds. But lets not any of that sidetrack us from the main focus of the book that are its characters. Senlin itself is very well written but I was amazed that Bancroft was able to craft his wife so nicely that the whole premise of the book does not seem stretched. So go ahead and read through the pages and enjoy a relaxed ride up the tower of a totally different kind

What an interesting ride. Bancroft is an incredible writer and what an imagination! It is a dark yet somewhat hopeful adventure story about a man who lost his wife. I was kind of just going along following the protagonist because I was mildly intrigued and curious about where the story was going, but halfway through I was fully engaged and will definitely continue on with the sequel.

Loooooove it. I don't understand why some people feel like this book is full of despair and hopelessness. I loved Senlin and how much he grew as a character throughout the book.

The world building is amazing. And it really does feels like a classic in the making.

I am trying very hard not to pick the second book right now and start reading it.

Treasure, that is what you are
Honey, you're my golden star...

I know I took a long time to finish this but it's a fantastic, fantastic book!
Bancroft is an extremely talented writer. The world is absolutely nuts and so bloody fascinating!
The character work is amazing! Not only is the main character one of the best I've ever read, the side characters, chef's kiss!
I loved literally everything about this book. Great humour, hella engaging and also philosophical, really fascinating world and fantastic characters.
Amaze.