Marie Brennan: Driftwood

 Hi everyone

I just finished Driftwood, a standalone novel by Marie Brennan, the author of the Lady Trent series, which I really enjoyed. I read this one on my e-reader, and while I loved the world and its creativity, I’m left feeling a bit conflicted

"Who is Last?
Fame is rare in Driftwood- it’s hard to get famous if you don’t stick around long enough for people to know you. But many know the guide, Last, a one-blooded survivor who has seen his world end many lifetimes ago. For Driftwood is a strange place of slow apocalypses, where continents eventually crumble into mere neighborhoods, pulled inexorably towards the center in the Crush. Cultures clash, countries fall, and everything eventually disintegrates.
Within the Shreds, a rumor goes around that Last has died. Drifters come together to commemorate him. But who really was Last? "

I'm conflicted. The story was confusing and all over the place. Because it's so short and Brennan wanted to write multiple characters it felt disjointed. The whole novel consists of several shortstories centered around this 'person' Last. I liked the world, the different people and cultures. But I never felt connected to the characters or the story.

Driftwood is a fascinating concept. Brennan’s worldbuilding is as rich and imaginative as ever, and I loved exploring the different people, cultures, and remnants of lost civilizations. The story is creative and very atmospheric. 
But the story also felt disjointed. Because it’s so short, and Brennan tries to weave together multiple perspectives and timelines, it never quite works. The novel is structured as a series of short stories centered around the enigmatic figure of Last, but I never felt connected to him or to the larger narrative. The characters come and go, and just as I started to care about one, the story moved on to the next. It left me wanting more depth, more cohesion, more emotional weight.

Have you read Driftwood? Did you connect with it more than I did, or did you feel the same? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena