Book Review: Corambis (Doctrine of Labyrinths)
I finished Corambis today, and you know what that means. You're in for a book review! :D You lucky people.
But I'm doing this one a little differently, or trying to. I'm going to look back at the series largely as a whole and try to be as little spoilery as possible. So - here goes.
I picked up Melusine because it was one of those many books that I went to the bookstore, picked up, looked at, and put back. Several times. Eventually, I said 'fuck it' and went to the library to check it out. I started the book one night and stayed up until 3 am finishing it. Before I was very far in, I knew that this series was a keeper. And went through the next two just as quickly. The end of The Mirador left me curious and wondering where things were going to go, as well as a little depressed. Several weeks ago Corambis arrived, but I was in the middle of a book and felt bad starting another, so it sat on my windowseat staring at me in reproach until I finally surrendered and started reading.
At about 5 o' clock yesterday.
In short, Corambis was a fantastic finish to an excellent series. Sarah Monette handled the loose ends well, tied things together, made things fit. This series wasn't one of those series, either, that really relied on cliffhangers, so the books were fairly disconnected - The Virtu, Melusine, and The Mirador weren't very connected. This one was, though, and how.
I love this series as much as I do because of Felix. I like Mildmay, but I wouldn't be nearly as invested if it weren't for Felix, who had my attention from the first time he showed up, being a nervous, twitchy, snarktastic little asshole. And even better than his character at the beginning was the way his character truly developed, and that arc continued over this book in a way that I felt was totally in keeping with his character. I can see how other people (I don't know if this is happening) might think Monette copped out on his character, but I don't think so - the Felix in Corambis is the one that I thought was there all along.
(This makes me ridiculously proud of myself, but.)
One of the best things about Corambis, in my opinion, is the lack of romantic subplot. With Mehitabel (who, frankly, I never liked) out of the picture, the story has room to focus on the relationship between Felix and Mildmay - the part I like the best. And this book explores it in depth, and explores Felix in depth. This is his book, definitely, and that makes me very happy.
I didn't like the new narrator much, Kay - his habit of dropping words from his sentences got on my nerves a little. I feel like I'm expected to ship Felix/Murtagh, but I don't. Actually, this book made me ship Felix/Mildmay less, and got me more interested in their fraternal relationship (what is up with this brother obsession), and Felix/Gideon more, which I already kind of have. But there was one scene that made me sniffle more than a little (yes I am a sap) and you'll know when you get to it, because it was the one that brought on the latter.
The really odd thing about this book is the way the plot was really incidental. Most of the plot going on was dialogue and thinking and theorizing, there wasn't a lot of action or tension (at least, for me) the way there was in The Mirador, but it worked very well. Monette plays relationships in a glorious way, and it's fun to just watch her set them up. She hardly needs the plot.
In short, I recommend this series to anyone looking for a glorious read that may not last long but is full of pretty and beautiful characters and hurt-so-good moments. In fairness, I have to warn that it's fairly brutal - there are depictions of rape, sadomasochism, suggestions of incest, and a lot of swearing - Mildmay's got a mouth on him - but I wouldn't let it deter you. None of it seems gratuitous, at least to me, and the only real reason it bothered me was to feel sorry for the characters.
More favorite moments in this book than I can count. I'll have to go back and read it again. And soon. But I swear I'll finish my other material first, really! XD
Lise is pleased. The board rests.
(additionally, we have been watching Harry Potter the First in Spanish and it reminds me of 1) how omg little they were and omg adorable little Hermione is in her bitchy know-it-allness, and 2) how much I friggin love Snape. o__o I need to go back and reread. Think I'll go hunt down bits now.
Of course the fact that he has Alan Rickman's sexy sexy voice might have a little to do with remembering this. omgAlan. Talk to me in that voice all night long. Mmm.)
...it doesn't even matter that I can't hear his voice in the movie itself. I hear it in my mind.
Began brainstorming for possible new story. Commitment, I fail at it. XD Also, things I Need to Do: a. Write Corambis based fic. Jot notes. b. catch tags properly c. finish "At the Mountains of Madness" d. sleep moar. e. crush the Egyptian empire. f. Make musical FST for Felix/Malkar (!) e. talk self out of anything stupid
My life, she is busy.
But I'm doing this one a little differently, or trying to. I'm going to look back at the series largely as a whole and try to be as little spoilery as possible. So - here goes.
I picked up Melusine because it was one of those many books that I went to the bookstore, picked up, looked at, and put back. Several times. Eventually, I said 'fuck it' and went to the library to check it out. I started the book one night and stayed up until 3 am finishing it. Before I was very far in, I knew that this series was a keeper. And went through the next two just as quickly. The end of The Mirador left me curious and wondering where things were going to go, as well as a little depressed. Several weeks ago Corambis arrived, but I was in the middle of a book and felt bad starting another, so it sat on my windowseat staring at me in reproach until I finally surrendered and started reading.
At about 5 o' clock yesterday.
In short, Corambis was a fantastic finish to an excellent series. Sarah Monette handled the loose ends well, tied things together, made things fit. This series wasn't one of those series, either, that really relied on cliffhangers, so the books were fairly disconnected - The Virtu, Melusine, and The Mirador weren't very connected. This one was, though, and how.
I love this series as much as I do because of Felix. I like Mildmay, but I wouldn't be nearly as invested if it weren't for Felix, who had my attention from the first time he showed up, being a nervous, twitchy, snarktastic little asshole. And even better than his character at the beginning was the way his character truly developed, and that arc continued over this book in a way that I felt was totally in keeping with his character. I can see how other people (I don't know if this is happening) might think Monette copped out on his character, but I don't think so - the Felix in Corambis is the one that I thought was there all along.
(This makes me ridiculously proud of myself, but.)
One of the best things about Corambis, in my opinion, is the lack of romantic subplot. With Mehitabel (who, frankly, I never liked) out of the picture, the story has room to focus on the relationship between Felix and Mildmay - the part I like the best. And this book explores it in depth, and explores Felix in depth. This is his book, definitely, and that makes me very happy.
I didn't like the new narrator much, Kay - his habit of dropping words from his sentences got on my nerves a little. I feel like I'm expected to ship Felix/Murtagh, but I don't. Actually, this book made me ship Felix/Mildmay less, and got me more interested in their fraternal relationship (what is up with this brother obsession), and Felix/Gideon more, which I already kind of have. But there was one scene that made me sniffle more than a little (yes I am a sap) and you'll know when you get to it, because it was the one that brought on the latter.
The really odd thing about this book is the way the plot was really incidental. Most of the plot going on was dialogue and thinking and theorizing, there wasn't a lot of action or tension (at least, for me) the way there was in The Mirador, but it worked very well. Monette plays relationships in a glorious way, and it's fun to just watch her set them up. She hardly needs the plot.
In short, I recommend this series to anyone looking for a glorious read that may not last long but is full of pretty and beautiful characters and hurt-so-good moments. In fairness, I have to warn that it's fairly brutal - there are depictions of rape, sadomasochism, suggestions of incest, and a lot of swearing - Mildmay's got a mouth on him - but I wouldn't let it deter you. None of it seems gratuitous, at least to me, and the only real reason it bothered me was to feel sorry for the characters.
More favorite moments in this book than I can count. I'll have to go back and read it again. And soon. But I swear I'll finish my other material first, really! XD
Lise is pleased. The board rests.
(additionally, we have been watching Harry Potter the First in Spanish and it reminds me of 1) how omg little they were and omg adorable little Hermione is in her bitchy know-it-allness, and 2) how much I friggin love Snape. o__o I need to go back and reread. Think I'll go hunt down bits now.
Of course the fact that he has Alan Rickman's sexy sexy voice might have a little to do with remembering this. omgAlan. Talk to me in that voice all night long. Mmm.)
...it doesn't even matter that I can't hear his voice in the movie itself. I hear it in my mind.
Began brainstorming for possible new story. Commitment, I fail at it. XD Also, things I Need to Do: a. Write Corambis based fic. Jot notes. b. catch tags properly c. finish "At the Mountains of Madness" d. sleep moar. e. crush the Egyptian empire. f. Make musical FST for Felix/Malkar (!) e. talk self out of anything stupid
My life, she is busy.