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kilroyPrint date: 2003 (20s: 1, 50s: 2, 60s: 4, 70s: 9, 80s: 7, 90s: 7, 00s: 21, 10s: 1)
I love Ista so much. Really that's the review in a nutshell.
I was lucky enough to read The Curse of Chalion last year, and it was the best fantasy I'd read in a very long time. This book is much the same and possibly better. When I say "flair for dialogue" in the other review, what I really mean is wit-- the book is whip-smart and self-effacing in a way that reminds me vaguely of Oscar Wilde. Emma Thompson should play Ista in a perfect world.
And Ista... oh, I can't think of anything more I'd like in a main character. She's escaping from her own life, trying to get away from old mistakes that she's accepted but never really moved on from. She's cranky and sarcastic from being through the metaphorical wars, but she's still honest, practical, and courageous. Everyone looks at her like she's crazy (she was!) and she just doesn't care. She's a complete oddball and she owns it. She's my hero in so many ways.
Good sense tells me that I should talk about the plot here, or the gods, or any of the other various structures of the story-- but I'm quite nearly at a loss about what to say. The plot was full of surprises and yet still landed in a place that made complete sense. The callbacks to the first book were just that, letting new readers into this book unhindered by required prior knowledge. And the gods... it was a fascinating idea before, and it still is now. I'm probably biased to like this particular story, as the Bastard would unquestionably be my patron of the Five; but the unique theological perspective is worth the price of admission on its own.
I'm beginning to develop a contrary opinion to my historical one regarding series. When I was younger, it was all about getting it now and gorging yourself on the awesome as quickly as possible. The long waits between novels were always agonizing. Now, though... there's something about returning to a universe you love that just isn't the same as if you'd stuck around. All the old doors open again and you find yourself unexpectedly home.
Verdict: Keep and lend to as many people as possible. (33.5/86)
Page count: 470 (18007 total)
Completed: 52 (24 female authors, 26 male authors, 2 anthology)
Rejected: 34 (20 male authors, 14 female authors)
Next book due: Tuesday, June 14th.
I love Ista so much. Really that's the review in a nutshell.
I was lucky enough to read The Curse of Chalion last year, and it was the best fantasy I'd read in a very long time. This book is much the same and possibly better. When I say "flair for dialogue" in the other review, what I really mean is wit-- the book is whip-smart and self-effacing in a way that reminds me vaguely of Oscar Wilde. Emma Thompson should play Ista in a perfect world.
And Ista... oh, I can't think of anything more I'd like in a main character. She's escaping from her own life, trying to get away from old mistakes that she's accepted but never really moved on from. She's cranky and sarcastic from being through the metaphorical wars, but she's still honest, practical, and courageous. Everyone looks at her like she's crazy (she was!) and she just doesn't care. She's a complete oddball and she owns it. She's my hero in so many ways.
Good sense tells me that I should talk about the plot here, or the gods, or any of the other various structures of the story-- but I'm quite nearly at a loss about what to say. The plot was full of surprises and yet still landed in a place that made complete sense. The callbacks to the first book were just that, letting new readers into this book unhindered by required prior knowledge. And the gods... it was a fascinating idea before, and it still is now. I'm probably biased to like this particular story, as the Bastard would unquestionably be my patron of the Five; but the unique theological perspective is worth the price of admission on its own.
I'm beginning to develop a contrary opinion to my historical one regarding series. When I was younger, it was all about getting it now and gorging yourself on the awesome as quickly as possible. The long waits between novels were always agonizing. Now, though... there's something about returning to a universe you love that just isn't the same as if you'd stuck around. All the old doors open again and you find yourself unexpectedly home.
Verdict: Keep and lend to as many people as possible. (33.5/86)
Page count: 470 (18007 total)
Completed: 52 (24 female authors, 26 male authors, 2 anthology)
Rejected: 34 (20 male authors, 14 female authors)
Next book due: Tuesday, June 14th.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-01 08:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-02 02:26 pm (UTC)