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k_bb's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This was quite laborious to read and overall I’m not sure it was worth the labour. The use of language was frustrating, although I became accustomed to it after some time. The names and honorifics were so cumbersome to read that it actually impeded the flow of the narrative. I found the political scenes tiresome, especially because politics was actually dealt with quite superficially at the end of the day. I felt the characters were flat and the commentary insipid. I love fantasy and read this because it was recommended as “cozy fantasy”, but perhaps this is just not the type of fantasy I enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
localcryptid's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I think there is a specific audience for this book, but unfortunately it wasn't me.
The writing itself was a big drawback. The shift between plain English and more archaic English (thee, thou, willst, etc) felt forced and a bit jarring. I think the intent was to demonstrate a level of formality and ritual, but it didn't feel particularly well executed. It maybe would have worked a bit better if we had had more time with Maia before he was taken to the main court.
The characters also feel immensely underdeveloped. Maia is the narrative focus, and unfortunately this means that none of the other characters get much time to develop. The antagonist stay antagonistic for exactly the reasons you expect them to. They feel very one-dimensional and boring. The singular betrayal of the mage is a bit of a suprise, but because it is also a suprise to Maia it doesn't really feel like a useful plot point. It would've been nice to see some of his dissatisfaction foreshadowed. But his betrayal just kind of comes out of left field, is unsuccessful, he kills himself, and we get a lot of filler discussion of people being unhappy with the betrayal but that doesn't do much to really develop the character relationships. . The supporting characters continue to like Maia for the same reasons they start off liking Maia. Some of them get a small vignette to explain why they like Maia, but there are very few characters that switch from disliking Maia to liking him. At best you will see a shift from ambivalent to care. It feels like a failure of political intrigue.
There are several plot points that feel, at best, dissappointing in the way they are treated. Spoilers for discussion of the plot, discussion of suicide, and discussion of homophobia. Firstly, I particularly I hated the way that ritual suicide came into play in the plot. It's not a topic I care for under any circumstance, but when the mage who betrays Maia is forced to commit suicide they way he is disucssed after death is upsetting. Prior to killing himself he asks Maia to witness the event because he has no one else. The scene itself was graphic, but worse is the cleric who says he was exaggerating when he said he had no one left. It feels like an unnecessary jab at people who commit suicide. That may feel like an unkind assumption and a bit of a reach, but considering the way the singular gay relationship is handled I stand by that reading of it. Which brings me to my second big nit-pick: homophobia. It feels as though we are supposed to see Maia as benevolent for continuing to work with a gay man despite viewing his sexuality as "unnatural love" because the gay man acknowledged the relationship was wrong and chose to leave the church. Distasteful as it is, I could perhaps excuse that description in something written in 2004. In 2014? What was the point, unless it was something the author genuinely believes? Neither of these things felt necessary for larger story. It's dissappointing so say the least that the author felt it necessary to include them.
The big "twist" of the novel is also dissappointing in that the first time it happens it's shocking. Unexpected! Exciting! And then it happens again. And then it happens *a third time*. And it doesn't feel shocking or unexpected or exciting anymore. It just feels like a waiting game to see if we get to make it to the end of the book before the another antagonist tries for another round of the same plot point.
In all, I had friends who were excited about the book, loved the characters, and loved the plot, but for me there were just too many small issues that piled up and never let me enjoy it. I was dissappoined in the book and I was dissappointed in not being able to join my peers in enjoying it.
The writing itself was a big drawback. The shift between plain English and more archaic English (thee, thou, willst, etc) felt forced and a bit jarring. I think the intent was to demonstrate a level of formality and ritual, but it didn't feel particularly well executed. It maybe would have worked a bit better if we had had more time with Maia before he was taken to the main court.
The characters also feel immensely underdeveloped. Maia is the narrative focus, and unfortunately this means that none of the other characters get much time to develop. The antagonist stay antagonistic for exactly the reasons you expect them to. They feel very one-dimensional and boring.
There are several plot points that feel, at best, dissappointing in the way they are treated. Spoilers for discussion of the plot, discussion of suicide, and discussion of homophobia.
The big "twist" of the novel is also dissappointing in that the first time it happens it's shocking. Unexpected! Exciting! And then it happens again. And then it happens *a third time*. And it doesn't feel shocking or unexpected or exciting anymore. It just feels like a waiting game to see if we get to make it to the end of the book before the another antagonist tries for another round of the same plot point.
In all, I had friends who were excited about the book, loved the characters, and loved the plot, but for me there were just too many small issues that piled up and never let me enjoy it. I was dissappoined in the book and I was dissappointed in not being able to join my peers in enjoying it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual harassment
Ritual suicidehamstringy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is the sort of book that, had I read it between the ages of 8 and 13, I would have imprinted on so hard.
It’s decidedly not perfect (it falls into the monarchist fantasy trap a lot), but I did really appreciate the core story of a boy choosing over and over again to be kind.
It’s decidedly not perfect (it falls into the monarchist fantasy trap a lot), but I did really appreciate the core story of a boy choosing over and over again to be kind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia
leguinstan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Sexism
pvbobrien's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
briely's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, and Kidnapping
walkie_check's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
onironic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I listened to this with a mid-quality screen-reader and I had no problems following it, except for some confusion between who was who in a couple minor characters with similar sounding names. Nothing that caused any major problems understanding what was happening, though. I'll admit though, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it when the very first thing I heard was a five minute list of names, but I am SO glad I stuck it out. I feel like any way I could talk about this book wouldn't do it justice. On the surface, it maybe doesn't sound like it should be as interesting as it is. It's very politics-heavy and takes place nearly entirely in just a few rooms. The story is in the intricacies of the court and politics, and the world-building, all fleshed out by the amazing cast of characters and the slightly unorthodox found family plot that builds throughout the book. Very, very dark things happen, but the purpose of the book isn't to be edgy or to ride realism straight into the ground. It's about people being people, in the worst and best ways. It's hopeful. It's about how important it is to be kind, even when it's hard, and to listen, and to care. I don't regret reading this book at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Violence, and Sexual harassment