A review by elderlingfool
Casket of Souls by Lynn Flewelling
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The tone of this book was quite different from the previous one and more similar to the very first book in the series. It was more of a fun mystery adventure than everything else and it caught me a bit by surprise.
While I still enjoyed the book, I couldn't help but miss the dark moments and when there were real stakes for the main characters. Yes, some characters die and yet I never feared for the main cast because of the tone of it.
This one felt a bit like a Sherlock Holmes adventure. It even has a Basket Street (Baker Street). There are people dying in the poorer quarters, but then the mysterious sleeping sickness starts to affect the nobles too. There is also talk of replacing the current queen with her sister, princess Klia. The book is full of political intrigue and some fun action moments, but it's one of those where the reader knows who the culprits are and is just waiting for the characters to catch on, which they take too long to do but it was very satisfying when that finally happens.
I can't help it, but this reminded me of the Hunchback of Notre Dame's sequel. Not quite as good as the previous work and there is a mysterious group that shows up and bad stuff starts happening. Artre even reminds me of the bad guy in that movie with his vanity.
In conclusion, I had a fun time, but I wish the unsatisfying resolution to the plot of the White Road was picked up again. Even though the two characters from that book are mentioned here, I can't help but feel like the series did a reset and it's almost like the last two books didn't happen. The main characters even used the Rhiminee Cat name again when in those previous books they were going by another name and the Cat was supposed to be dead. I can make up an explanation for it in my head, but stuff like that is still upsetting.
While I still enjoyed the book, I couldn't help but miss the dark moments and when there were real stakes for the main characters. Yes, some characters die and yet I never feared for the main cast because of the tone of it.
This one felt a bit like a Sherlock Holmes adventure. It even has a Basket Street (Baker Street). There are people dying in the poorer quarters, but then the mysterious sleeping sickness starts to affect the nobles too. There is also talk of replacing the current queen with her sister, princess Klia. The book is full of political intrigue and some fun action moments, but it's one of those where the reader knows who the culprits are and is just waiting for the characters to catch on, which they take too long to do but it was very satisfying when that finally happens.
I can't help it, but this reminded me of the Hunchback of Notre Dame's sequel. Not quite as good as the previous work and there is a mysterious group that shows up and bad stuff starts happening. Artre even reminds me of the bad guy in that movie with his vanity.
In conclusion, I had a fun time, but I wish the unsatisfying resolution to the plot of the White Road was picked up again. Even though the two characters from that book are mentioned here, I can't help but feel like the series did a reset and it's almost like the last two books didn't happen. The main characters even used the Rhiminee Cat name again when in those previous books they were going by another name and the Cat was supposed to be dead. I can make up an explanation for it in my head, but stuff like that is still upsetting.