olityr's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Better than the Lord-Protector's Daughter, but not as good as the rest of the series.
janettedv's review against another edition
4.0
Not his best but I do love the Corean Chronicles even though many people don't.
sniperpumpkin's review
3.0
Not the best Modesitt ever, I'm afraid, but still a solid entry from one of my favorite authors. He spends a lot of time going throughout the challenges inherent in running a government in a semi-medieval culture. The day to day business of fixing a government hobbled by years of weak leadership and endemic corruption were just the sort of writing I expect from Modesitt. The MC was pleasant enough and dealt with the challenges of being a young female ruler in a male dominated society fairly well, but she didn't quite gel for me as a character (though, I can't quite put my finger on why).
From a technical standpoint, I had some issues with the beginning of the book, it just starts right up, assuming that you've read the short story that started this tale. It's a bit abrupt, and a touch more exposition near the front would have smoothed out a few of the rough edges. I've also noticed a few turns of phrase that he uses quite a lot that start to feel a bit stale (e.g. x was anything but y).
More broadly, Corus has never felt quite as solid, as real, as his other worlds, like Recluse or Defalk. This is something of a problem, because at least a third of the reason I enjoy Modesitt is because of his strong world building. His magic systems are usually very consistent and rigorous, but Talent has never really seemed distinct enough, and feels a bit like it's been sloshed together with elements from other systems.
This is still an enjoyable read, but fans may feel a bit like they've been here before, and newcomers will be a bit lost. Recommended provisionally
From a technical standpoint, I had some issues with the beginning of the book, it just starts right up, assuming that you've read the short story that started this tale. It's a bit abrupt, and a touch more exposition near the front would have smoothed out a few of the rough edges. I've also noticed a few turns of phrase that he uses quite a lot that start to feel a bit stale (e.g. x was anything but y).
More broadly, Corus has never felt quite as solid, as real, as his other worlds, like Recluse or Defalk. This is something of a problem, because at least a third of the reason I enjoy Modesitt is because of his strong world building. His magic systems are usually very consistent and rigorous, but Talent has never really seemed distinct enough, and feels a bit like it's been sloshed together with elements from other systems.
This is still an enjoyable read, but fans may feel a bit like they've been here before, and newcomers will be a bit lost. Recommended provisionally
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