This fantasy story starts with the character Arden on earth as a common toiler who is not very happy with his job, where people are used and abused without a thought. So, when the beautiful Estra finds him, and offers him a literal out-of-this world to free himself of his horrible life, he was skeptical, but ready to try something new. The imagery and imagination throughout this book is overwhelming. Most stories build to a climax, but the whole book is just about one big climax in itself. I will never think of "digestion" in the same way again. The vat, with its unusual ability to wipe bad memories, is an entertaining thought that I wish we did have as humans. The cranes are hard to understand. Even though I read the whole book, they were still hard to understand, but don't get too caught up in their importance. One reviewer, Tao Lang Lee (Amazon reviewer), described this as not so much of a romance as it is more of a deconstruction of relationships that are founded upon lust and jealousy. I think he hit the nail on the head. Deconstruction, demolition and power are all big themes throughout this book. The love relationship and consummation are very interesting, and that is all I will say so that this does not turn into a spoiler alert review. Ingis is the opposing powerful cloud god who loves Estra, even though she had already ended their relationship before returning to earth. I am haunted by the brain images painted of clouds digesting clouds and humans. Occasionally, it does have a religious feel, like the a gray devil that rose out of evil, and the title given "King of Heaven". Don't be surprised if you can't put the book down, or keep reading and re-reading, asking yourself "What???" ( )

This book was really weird and kind of poorly written, in my opinion. I couldn't finish it all the way...it's also weird and fishy to me that I received two of these books from 'giveaways', which I don't remember entering. I've heard of the different places where this book can be the result of the giveaway, but something seems off to me about this book and the giveaways tied to it.
If you want to check it out, feel free, and hey if you need a copy, let me know since I got two, but like I said I wouldn't recommend this. ( )

Rating at 2 stars for "it was okay", which accurately represents how I felt about this book. I finished it, and I liked parts of it, but I can't say that I enjoyed the story enough to rate it 3 for "liked it".

The book started out with a sci fi-like scene in a dystopian future, which seemed like a good premise. Then Estra mysteriously shows up, literally out of the blue, and our main character Arden takes her in and hides her, at high risk to himself. All of this is rather surprising, as he's just met this woman and knows nothing about her at all.

Then the story veers into something more like a many times handed down fairy tale as Arden and Estra leave America to live in the clouds and have to hide from Estra's former lover or perhaps both lose their lives.

In short, the book gives the impression of something from a high school creative writing course: Strong on imagery and feeling, but short on actual logic. Perhaps that is the point?

As a side note, I think the novel would be better marketed with a fantasy-type cover evoking a fairy tale. As it stands, the light bulb for electricity, and the clouds within, while accurate to parts of the story, confuse the reader who would likely be expecting more science fiction based on this image.

A big thank you to Rich Shapero and Book Riot for the kindness of providing me with a complimentary copy of Balcony of Fog. ( )

Summary: In a post-nuclear world, a laborer and a fugitive from a vengeful lover inhabiting a thunderhead meet up, transform to cloud-beings and eventually engage in a climactic battle.

Arden is a toiler in a post-nuclear war of toilers and overlords. He builds and repairs sluices channeling the water from ever present storms. He dreams of more, sailing away on the Mariod, named after a woman who sacrificed herself for him. After a beating from an overlord, he slips away to his boat and encounters a woman who seems to descend out of the sky. Estra is escaping an angry thunderhead driven by her former lover Ingis.

Of course they instantly fall into love and into the sack. Then when their escape plan is frustrated, Estra leads Arden into a transformation allowing him to ascend to the clouds. Arden finds himself transformed into a cloudlike figure capable of riding the clouds. For a while, it seems an idyllic life of incredible beauty. They immerse each other in Vats, cleansing them of bad memories and traumas, Spindles that draw out their wishes, and a pond of which they write their most private thoughts, which are transformed into cranes. Then there is love, where they merge their “motes,” their whole being into each other.

Of course it can’t last. Ingishead driven by a jealous and powerful lover relentlessly pursues them. At one point, Ingishead abducts Estra, with Arden relentlessly pursuing and ultimately rescuing her back. But Arden knows that any victory is temporary until Ingishead is defeated. Even as Arden builds Ardenhead, consuming lesser clouds and learning to wield lightning, there is also an inner conflict. What is Ingis to Estra? Why did she become his lover in the first place? How much of her heart did he still hold?

On one level, the story is about the lead-up to a climactic battle. It is also a study of the corrupting effects of power, which we see at work on Ingis. But will power and jealousy win over love with Arden? Will he become another Ingis.

Meanwhile, the structures of power on earth continue. A vengeful strike at one point seems emotionally cathartic but systemically unsatisfying. The Vats, The Spindles, and the cranes are interesting devices for the emotional healing and self-healing these abused characters need, yet self-revelation carries its own dangers.

There is some interesting world-building and ideas about self-knowledge mixed with what seem to me adolescent fantasy and pettishness. I think a gifted writer could have created a story of greater subtlety. As it stands, it is just OK. I can’t help but wonder if the immersive component of this project, pairing an app with this book, led to writing that does not stand on its own but is driven by the companion technology. Whatever is the case, I’d pass on this one.

____________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

Decamp with an innocent toiler and his mysterious female companion to a metaphoric world in the clouds—a strange, vertiginous perch that reveals startling insights about the twisted dynamics of love and power.

Thank you, Goodreads and Rich Shapero for giving me a chance to read Balcony of Fog!

“King of the Heaven. Beholden to None.”

Ok there a lot of people saying that this book was just flat out awful. I can agree to some of what has been said but, I will not say that was a waste of my time. So here it goes the world building that Rich Shapero did in this book was amazing. Such great detail. He has definitely built a world that is very intriguing. The cloud ships and the realm its self was magical to read about.

Now for the part that I didn’t like. I think the characters back story or their personalities didn’t come out very well or it just wasn’t there at all. If as much thought that went into the world building was put into developing the characters and explaining in some parts why it was even happening this book would have been a lot better. Happy reading everyone! ( )