Reviews

The Master by Claire North

jakegray's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

libertyreads789's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Let's just get the final review done for the novellas in this omnibus, shall we? I've got a migraine, I had to stay late at work, I didn't get my workout in today, and my stress meter is about as high as it can go without me curling up into a ball. But, I will say, I would take all of that over being forced to read this story again. All I really have to say about this series is What the Actual Fuck? I was hoping that this final book would answer a lot of the questions I was having and that it would round out everything very nicely. We started in 17th century Venice--I don't like historical fictions but the political maneuverings were interesting enough--then moved on to 1930s Bangkok--less of a historical lean but such a boring game to follow--and finally we round it out with present day literally everywhere in the entire world. I DID enjoy the way the author managed to finally connect the three stories and make the timelines make sense. But this is one of those stories where it's more important to Teach You A Lesson than it is to Actually Tell A Coherent Story. Which is annoying. I was having an okay enough time until the final handfuls of chapters. Almost none of my actual plot related questions got answered. And then we're left on a cliffhanger for some reason. One of those endings where you get to decide for yourself what happened. Bullshit. At least I read it all back to back instead of spreading it out. I don't think I would have ever finished this omnibus if I stopped after the first one.

elusivity's review

2.0

Infuriating.

The ending,

Spoiler

--centuries of scheming and planning, all for luurve--

so problematic. I think it renders all the intricate shenanigans before it into a tempest in a teapot, and much ado about little--and, when viewed up close, actually explains very little about the hidden protagonist's motivation for throwing all that time and effort into this plan-less plan.

Spoiler

The fact is, I feel there is too much idealization of romantic love these days. It is NOT the answer to all our problems. And by definition, it is the most ephemeral and quickest-passing aspect to love itself. That Silver could not even describe his wife beyond a sentence of "she was amazing" and "better than he at games" or whatever, makes the whole thing even less meaningful.

Love is splendiferous... but love is not simply romantic love. It could also be companionship, friendship, deep mutual knowledge, the appreciation of being fellow fragile humans. It is family, by blood or by creation. It is brotherhood, sisterhood, personhood. Shared trauma. Shared history. Shared hope. It is... a thousand things beyond romantic.

And yet, this ending has no explanation--no more depth, nuance, meaning, complexity, layers--than ROMANTIC LOVE!

I'm not biased against romantic love. I am very easily won over if you could show me why THIS romantic love is so unique as to endure the abandonment of centuries. Let me understand why Silver was such a person who could maintain his feelings for beyond multiple human lifetimes, when the object of his "love" demonstrate by deed and word that she does not reciprocate his feelings in the least, and possibly that she never did. Give me some complexity to his feelings--that it was what propelled him initially, but now is merely a quiet shadow to another, larger, more reasonably-sustainable reason--greater good for humanity, etc.

So my issue with Claire North continues. Intricate and imaginative worlds and plot, but seemingly populated by puppets, not people, with their own churn of thoughts and feelings and experiences that inevitably affect all their decisions and situations.

An interesting read, but a disappointing ending.

jaymeks's review

3.0

I generally liked the story. I thought it wrapped up nicely. There were certain things I hoped were better explained, but thought the overall story (the 3 novellas) were mapped out perfectly. Much like the game that was being played, the novellas played a game, not giving you and ending, but showing you a possibility. I enjoyed the hell out of that.

I also think the writing is wonderful. Having never read the author, I thought the storytelling was well done for such few words, all things considered.

manuelte's review

5.0

A fitting conclusion to the trilogy. Well played, players. Well played.

zozoisgolden's review

3.0

Review coming.

occasional_owl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

supperrupper's review

3.0

I would kinda like to see this series made into movies, I think the concept is really good. But the ending was very wishy washy and kind of nihilistic. I enjoyed the series it was entertaining but I wouldn't say it was fantastic by any means. There was potential but I think this ending kind of killed it.

ronsos's review

4.0

I enjoyed this series, very well done.

tosca2005's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0