babudarabu's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Sexual content, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Torture, Infidelity, and Religious bigotry
magnetgrrl's review
4.0
This one in the series has a weird plot. It makes a bit of sense that not every story can be about a Ranger, a Militiawoman, or a Sister or Temple Guard or Imprinter or Cloner. They were going to have to find some less heroic main characters to write about eventually.
I found this one interesting because it has a bit of the "opposites attract" or "we argue because we really like each other" romance trope, but it didn't fall into either entirely. Also, the main character was far from perfect and I thought her decision at the end was realistic and in line with her character, which impressed me.
The romance in this one had less insta-love than the previous two novels in the series I read and better sex scenes (although, still only one or two of those). I appreciate that these books seem to want to have it all - an engrossing plot, feelings and character based romance, a bit of steamy sex, and sci-fi world-building that's totally awesome, even if treated as very after-the-fact information. If you're writing lesbian romance, you could certainly get away with trying a lot less hard, but Jane Fletcher continues to surprise and delight.
I read this one-third in the series; after Rangers at Roadsend and Temple at Landfall. It's also really interesting to see how the characters in these books tangentially tie together. I appreciate that they are connected, but it's not just like "Oh, we'll take the single wing-woman character from the last book and make the next book about her." There's a lot more to it than that, and with every book, as I recognize the connections between the books, I feel like I learn more about the world these characters inhabit, and its history.
I found this one interesting because it has a bit of the "opposites attract" or "we argue because we really like each other" romance trope, but it didn't fall into either entirely. Also, the main character was far from perfect and I thought her decision at the end was realistic and in line with her character, which impressed me.
The romance in this one had less insta-love than the previous two novels in the series I read and better sex scenes (although, still only one or two of those). I appreciate that these books seem to want to have it all - an engrossing plot, feelings and character based romance, a bit of steamy sex, and sci-fi world-building that's totally awesome, even if treated as very after-the-fact information. If you're writing lesbian romance, you could certainly get away with trying a lot less hard, but Jane Fletcher continues to surprise and delight.
I read this one-third in the series; after Rangers at Roadsend and Temple at Landfall. It's also really interesting to see how the characters in these books tangentially tie together. I appreciate that they are connected, but it's not just like "Oh, we'll take the single wing-woman character from the last book and make the next book about her." There's a lot more to it than that, and with every book, as I recognize the connections between the books, I feel like I learn more about the world these characters inhabit, and its history.
frankvanmeer's review
3.0
It's no secret that I'm utterly intrigued by the world Ms. Fletcher created in the Celaeno series. The first two books are the best I have ever read and I can't help myself thinking about how this world will evolve. Can you imagine that, say 2000 years after this book ends, they have managed space flight and discover this rather large object with the name of their goddess painted on it?
Sadly, for me, Dynasty of Rogues does not reach the same status I have attributed to Temple of Landfall and Walls of Westernfort. The first part is a bit of a rehash of Rangers at Roadsend. Reluctant Ranger gets accused of treachery and we spend the rest of the book with said Ranger trying to prove her innocence.
Thing is, and was a concern of me in Walls of Westernfort, the Guards are just as stupid as ever. You'd think that after 25 years since the foundation of Westernfort, they'd put more time in learning how to survive in the wild. Yet they still blunder about in their shiny red uniforms and getting lost all the time.
The part in Landfall suffers from the same. I can't believe that a faction that has achieved a solid base of power for over 500 years falls for every trick in the book. They step into traps that are so big that they can be seen from the orbit of the original Celaeno with open eyes. But maybe that's because they blindly believe in the book and can see no further than their nose is long. Anyways, much intrigue follows and in the end, we still don't have answers. I'm fucking dying to know what happens next with the Chief Consultant and the Intelligence Corps.
But no go. The last part of the book is spent with our two ladies pining away for another for chapters on end. And for some reason, the author starts throwing around names of the flora. For some reason that irritated the hell out of me. Anyways, just like every other book in the series, all works out and abruptly ends... again. I didn't make an issue of that for the previous books, but now it annoyed me to no end. So many things left unanswered. I honestly think Ms. Fletcher got tired of the series, seeing as the next book is again a prequel.
Which I'm not going to read.
I'll stick with book 1 and 2 and will fantasize about the wonderful world of Celeano, imagining how it will evolve and wondering if they will ever discover their real origins.
Sadly, for me, Dynasty of Rogues does not reach the same status I have attributed to Temple of Landfall and Walls of Westernfort. The first part is a bit of a rehash of Rangers at Roadsend. Reluctant Ranger gets accused of treachery and we spend the rest of the book with said Ranger trying to prove her innocence.
Thing is, and was a concern of me in Walls of Westernfort, the Guards are just as stupid as ever. You'd think that after 25 years since the foundation of Westernfort, they'd put more time in learning how to survive in the wild. Yet they still blunder about in their shiny red uniforms and getting lost all the time.
The part in Landfall suffers from the same. I can't believe that a faction that has achieved a solid base of power for over 500 years falls for every trick in the book. They step into traps that are so big that they can be seen from the orbit of the original Celaeno with open eyes. But maybe that's because they blindly believe in the book and can see no further than their nose is long. Anyways, much intrigue follows and in the end, we still don't have answers. I'm fucking dying to know what happens next with the Chief Consultant and the Intelligence Corps.
But no go. The last part of the book is spent with our two ladies pining away for another for chapters on end. And for some reason, the author starts throwing around names of the flora. For some reason that irritated the hell out of me. Anyways, just like every other book in the series, all works out and abruptly ends... again. I didn't make an issue of that for the previous books, but now it annoyed me to no end. So many things left unanswered. I honestly think Ms. Fletcher got tired of the series, seeing as the next book is again a prequel.
Which I'm not going to read.
I'll stick with book 1 and 2 and will fantasize about the wonderful world of Celeano, imagining how it will evolve and wondering if they will ever discover their real origins.
More...