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A review by shanzehimran
Sword of Fire by Katharine Kerr
Did not finish book.
2.0
** MIGHT HAVE SPOILERS**
I have not read any of the previous Deverry books before. I had to DNF this book because it stopped becoming engaging to me around 3/4ths of the way through. I enjoyed the world-building thoroughly in the beginning but I think the use of a patriarchal society diluted the actions of Alyssa and Dovina because it seemed like all they had to do to attract attention was be well-spoken, which honestly was more of an iffy theme than anything. It meant the characters seemed to fall short in personality and development, and Cavan being in love with Alyssa because he thought she was "not like other girls" despite that there was an entire university full of women scholars made me feel like it just undermined education for women in general.
Cavan is the type of love interest I would have enjoyed, because I like the roguish kinds, but his attitude towards Alyssa and the themes of purity put me off. It is understandable as it is supposed to be a historical depiction of fantasy, but the theme of a patriarchal, highly "purity culture" society seemed less fun to read when fantasy can easily be a depiction of societal problems that aren't real. Additionally, there was no real conclusion to the patriarchal problem. It almost just continued to exist, because the real problem being solved was that of economical reform, and undermined the need for there to be a patriarchy in the first place.
Also, for absolutely no reason, Cavan admits that people of dark skin color makes him uncomfortable? I don't even think I saw any resolution to that. Out of no where, the person we are supposed to be rooting for has a problem with *skin color* that has nothing to do with the book whatsoever, and has no solution where we see him change. We see him admit that he needs to be better because it was the very people who were helping him, but it was the most unnecessary detail to include. In fact, it was around this part, or a little after, that I DNF-ed this.
I was far more invested in Dovina's story because she seemed far more clever, and I liked her romance story way more as well.
It was an okay book, entertaining for the most part, but more problematic in areas that I care to admit. Alyssa was bland and a Mary Sue, and Dovina was my favorite character.
I have not read any of the previous Deverry books before. I had to DNF this book because it stopped becoming engaging to me around 3/4ths of the way through. I enjoyed the world-building thoroughly in the beginning but I think the use of a patriarchal society diluted the actions of Alyssa and Dovina because it seemed like all they had to do to attract attention was be well-spoken, which honestly was more of an iffy theme than anything. It meant the characters seemed to fall short in personality and development, and Cavan being in love with Alyssa because he thought she was "not like other girls" despite that there was an entire university full of women scholars made me feel like it just undermined education for women in general.
Cavan is the type of love interest I would have enjoyed, because I like the roguish kinds, but his attitude towards Alyssa and the themes of purity put me off. It is understandable as it is supposed to be a historical depiction of fantasy, but the theme of a patriarchal, highly "purity culture" society seemed less fun to read when fantasy can easily be a depiction of societal problems that aren't real. Additionally, there was no real conclusion to the patriarchal problem. It almost just continued to exist, because the real problem being solved was that of economical reform, and undermined the need for there to be a patriarchy in the first place.
Also, for absolutely no reason, Cavan admits that people of dark skin color makes him uncomfortable? I don't even think I saw any resolution to that. Out of no where, the person we are supposed to be rooting for has a problem with *skin color* that has nothing to do with the book whatsoever, and has no solution where we see him change. We see him admit that he needs to be better because it was the very people who were helping him, but it was the most unnecessary detail to include. In fact, it was around this part, or a little after, that I DNF-ed this.
I was far more invested in Dovina's story because she seemed far more clever, and I liked her romance story way more as well.
Spoiler
The general plot about how reform was difficult because it was tradition and tradition doesn't change, and then most of the book being them just searching for one manuscript to prove that tradition, actually, was different was more of a basic plot than what I think I expected, but it was not too bad.It was an okay book, entertaining for the most part, but more problematic in areas that I care to admit. Alyssa was bland and a Mary Sue, and Dovina was my favorite character.