Contrarywise
An eccentric trickster god, an expansive magical world, and a wonderfully engaging ensemble make for a promising beginning. Then an increasingly incoherent, world-ending plot introduces divine meddling, rape, and a supposedly heartwarming romance between biological twins. I loved the first third. The rest? What the fuck.
The Garden of the Shaped
Immortal scientists create three races and gradually forget why they made them. A fascinating exploration of creation, privilege, and prejudice loses its momentum when philosophical mysteries give way to a less compelling race war.
Demon Drums
God-killing, magical drums, witches, shapeshifters, and flying dolphins. A fascinating island fantasy with far more ideas than its 240 pages can possibly accommodate.