Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very odd. I really enjoyed how the first chapter was set up and the narrative that was played out in that first chapter. As the book went on, I became a little confused as to what was happening. I was reminded at times of The Spear Cuts Through Water with the imagery of a theater and the characters being on a stage enacting history in a shadowy world. I think this is one I should read instead of listening to the audiobook as I feel the complexity of the narrative requires closer study and rereading. Overall, I was captivated by many points in the story.

Overall, I love the story! It is a fresh and new perspective on a classic story. Unfortunately, I didn't click with the narrator and it was very difficult to get into the story because of it. I will recommend this book to others with the caveat about the narration.

If you go into this thinking it is a romance, you will be disappointed. This is a series of interconnected short stories (solely interconnected by the reincarnations of Annelid and Leveret.) The writing is evocative and beautiful, and I will definitely read future books by Chandrasekera (and take a look at his debut novel.) I cannot think of a book that is comparable to Rakesfall - it is unique in all aspects and difficult to include alongside read-alikes. I would recommend this book for fans of Doctor Who, as these characters also travel through time and space including the end of times.

Vajra Chandrasekera has gone and done it again. Just like in his last book (the now Nebula-winning Saint of Bright Doors), Rakesfall was dizzyingly innovative and a thrilling ride, at the end of which you may not have been entirely sure what happened, but KNOW something has irrevocably changed in how you view storytelling. This is a narrative about narratives, complete with nested folklore, history, and a play, and yet it is a tale of living, dying, merging, splitting, and rebirth, as unendingly vast as the Mahayana itself. With Rakesfall, Vajra Chandrasekera has solidified his status as a genre-defying iconoclast in the world of SF&F. In many ways, Rakesfall is kinder to the reader in its pacing and narrative storm, with more obvious signposts in terms of historical, geographical, political, and spiritual references. That said, every time you think you've figured out the ground beneath your feet, you are swept off into the churn of life, death and rebirth in worlds that are at once familiar yet borne of realities shattered by violence that reverberate through time and space in every direction. I cannot recommend this enough, and I also cannot be wary enough with my recommendation because this is not your typical epic fantasy, and you have to be prepared to be humbled by it.
Two books in, I have decided that Vajra Chandrasekera's works reminds me of the works and bonkers world-building of David Mitchell, back when I was still a Cloud Atlas fangirl. Both of their works are wildly experimental in order to relay big spiritual narratives that span worlds and realities and multiple books. However, where Chandrasekera's voice is excoriatingly anti-colonial and abidingly spiritual in the very lived-in Buddhist traditions of the author's Sri Lankan heritage, Mitchell's attempts beyond Cloud Atlas always remained firmly in the realm of pretentious and condescending, at worst, and White Girl Yoga spiritualism, at best. Rakesfall does not condescend but engages you in a shared grief and purpose, and invites you to revisit forgotten corners of memory and histories that have been told too many times by different victors, and will be told again again till the end of human spirit.
I HIGHLY recommend reading this in audiobook format. Shiromi Arserio's narration leaves you in awe of how gorgeously written this is, and ever so masterfully empowers the heart of this stunning work. It may also be all you have to hold on to when you inevitably realize that you are perhaps way out of your depth in this ambitious work of reclamation of everything that the was lost to the violence of colonialism over minds, bodies and spirits.

Rakesfall was an intriguing premise, however the execution just didn't draw me in false I expected. It was quite difficult to follow the storyline even as my interest was piqued. Chandrasekera is a talented writer with big ideas and I do look forward to what else he can bring to the SFF genre.

A fun read, something I need more of, Chandrasekera does a great job keeping the stakes high and the characters believable.

This was definitely unlike anything I've read before! Part history, part romance, part sci-fi story. It was great on audio and kept my interest from start to finish. Would recommend for fans of authors like S.A. Chakraborty. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I also couldn't resist this because of the GORGEOUS pink cover!! Chef's kiss!!

I was pretty confused during the first 25% of this but after reading the synopsis, I better understood what was going on. My biggest complaint about this book is that it's so short that you don't get a lot of time to understand what's going on with the main characters and why they're living so many lives. By the 2nd or 3rd life I finally understood what was going on but I was so far into the book that I feel like I missed so much of the character development because I was trying so hard to wrap my head around what was actually going on. This could've absolutely been a me thing, since it's pretty clear in the synopsis what was going on, but it did bring down my enjoyment of the book by a lot. I was super interested in seeing Sri Lanka's history through the eyes of someone living it though! It's always super interesting to learn more about cultures outside of my own, and this was no different. I'm not fully sure if Vajra's writing is for me so I'd have to read more he's written to better get a grasp on his writing style. I did have a pretty good time otherwise! I didn't get super attached to the characters but it was always fun to see the two main characters meeting up.

I have read audiobooks by this narrator before and I have enjoyed them in the past. I think her voice is pleasant to listen to and always keeps me interested in the story.

Okay, this was a bit too heady for me. I liked the idea of it but the readability was not there. I grew up on classic sci-fi and this just didn't land the way I think the author intended

This book was just midline for me. or mid as the kids say. it wasn't bad. it wasn't great. it was just sort of a book. not something to remember or recommend.

Reading this book felt like a fever dream. As a fan of so many genres, the variety of tale types scratched itches in every corner of my brain. The writing is alluring and surreal and that kept me hooked for a while, however, after a while, the vignettes and the threads between them because became hard to follow. Ultimately, beautifully written and narrated.

This was most certainly not the book for me. I don't do well with more experimental writing and I did not realize this was the master course of experimental writing before I started to engage with. I'm sure others who enjoyed this type of writing, would gain a lot from this book. It's an interesting premise. But most certainly not for me

This was so beautifully written. I just couldn't get over that. The story and characters themselves are also good but this story is just immensely well written.

This book was not what I expected it to be, but I was pleasantly surprised. The relationships between the characters felt authentic and the magic was believable. I did find the audiobook hard to follow along/keep up with. But I think if I was reading the physical book I could have kept up.

Overall the book held my attention and I enjoyed it but it was not “in-put-down able” for me.

wow! Rakesfall was an excellent read. I loved the historical element of the Sri Lankan civil war, it was very interesting. Loved the characters.

This is one of those books you love to listen to but you have no idea what they are about. Nothing to do with author, everything to do with me. I had a hard time getting into it and understanding it.

As a huge fan of the author’s debut, of course I had to request this arc!

Vajra Chandrasekera’s mastery with words is unmatched. And it definitely shows in this work.

But unlike The Saint of Bright Doors, Rakesfall is unfortunately a lot less cohesive and a lot more difficult to fully understand. It reads more like a series of vignettes than a novel with a central plot. (Maybe that was the intention?) I wish it was marketed more as a series of interconnected short stories than an epic encompassing novel. I had to stop reading and start over a month later because this was one of those works where you have to be in the right mindset.

I will say though, the audiobook narrator, Shiromi Arserio, had the perfect voice and diction for this fever dream of a novel. After listening to her narration, it’s difficult to imagine any other narrator giving justice to this story. (And I’m saying this as someone who consumes 80% of books through audio.) I really hope she gets some kind of recognition for her work on Rakesfall.

If you’re thinking of reading this novel, jump in with an open mind and let the author’s words wrap around you because he’s truly a wordsmith. Don’t be like me and expect a coherent, straightforward novel because you’ll be disappointed.

While this wasn’t my favorite, I’m still excited for the author’s future works.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Lore, and Tordotcom Publishing for the arcs.

Rakesfall is a poetic and intricately woven narrative that immerses readers in a rich tapestry of Sri Lankan cultural influences. Chandrasekera's writing is complex and layered, making it a book best savored slowly rather than binge-read. The non-linear storytelling and deeply interwoven mythologies create an experience rather than a traditional plot-driven story. Fans of Simon Jimenez will appreciate the unique style and depth of this work, making it an excellent gift for those who seek challenging and thought-provoking literature.

Shiromi Arserio's narration adds a captivating layer to the audiobook, her pacing and tone perfectly complementing the lyrical prose. Her character voices are distinct and engaging, enhancing the listening experience. While the book’s abstract and non-linear structure may not be for everyone, those who enjoy a poetic and immersive journey will find Rakesfall a compelling and rewarding listen.

While I think the concept behind this story is intriguing and I enjoyed the portrayal of the afterlife and reincarnation themes throughout this book, I found it incredibly hard to follow in audio format and ultimately did not finish. I imagine this would have resonated more with me if I read this in a different format, and I plan to give it another try in physical or digital format soon.

The narrator was good, there were no issues there, the intonations and character voices were great.

I will come back to update my review when I finish this story and have a better concept of an opinion on it overall.

I really appreciated the deep thoughts on death, theology, meaning of life. I especially appreciated the audiobook which I think helped me digest this book. It at times was confusing weaving story within story but very interesting concepts.