Reading roundup: more Prince Jerk, and The Goblin Emperor

[hamsterwoman]

53. Mark Lawrence, King of Thorns (Broken Empire #2) -- Hmm. I still enjoyed it, but, unexpectedly, I found it less fun than the first one. Still a hell of a ride, and impressive in its way, and I have hopes for #3, because I think a lot of the things that made this one less my thing that the first book have resolved themselves by the end. But,

Comments

[ikel89]

It's a clever trick, but has too much the feel of one
I think I enjoyed the trick more than noticed its ~cleverness~ because I think I empathized with Jerk being frustrated by it, I think? As in, he clearly didn't like it, but he was prepared to act with the handicap, and whenever he is set on action (i.e. always:) I'm prepared to sit back and enjoy it :P

the Prince of Arrow shell game was pretty neatIt was, too! I am super-happy I hadn't guessed at it, because I expected him to keep on opposing the prophecy (and hate on Orrin, because "fuck you that's why" gets even better even if he realizes Orrin is the better man) and was interested enough in that take to stop and ponder if it was a trick. And the gruelling practice thingie being a cover-up, too

[egelantier]

::shamelessly cutting it::

re: goblin emperor: as far as i can figure out, based on people's reviews, you won't enjoy it much if you're looking for the court intrigue book (which it isn't, except in a very rudimentary sense that there's a court and some intrigues are happening) and would love it if you're looking for a buildingsroman (which it emphatically is) with a very kind and essentially good protagonists. the major plot events unfold more or less without the protagonist instigating them, because the emotional point of the book in how he reacts to them, and what ethical and emotional decisions he takes.

[ikel89]

book opinions are never unwelcome, woot :D

Oh, thank you! I was getting an impression it's about court intrigue from some of the reviews, so it's good to know this is not the expectation I should be having! I'll keep in mind the bildungsroman, I'm not averse to the genre when the mood's for it:)

[hamsterwoman]

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't read it for the intrigue. Agreed 100% with everything Alina says, especially the reactive nature of everything unfolding (which makes perfect sense given the initial conditions) and the emphasis on a world people with good people, who can be won over by goodness in others. I've read some (fair) reviews that found those aspects frustrating, and I can see why one would, but it worked for me because I liked these characters, bot the one we spend time in the head of and the ones he comes to appreciate

[egelantier]

skipping over from my post because yours deserve a comment :)

i think the whole thing with the setheris was really beautifully done: acknowledging abuse, understanding why, not forgiving it (!!) and yet separating personal from emperor's anyway; and the difference between sethoris-for-maia and sethoris-for-his-wife, and the difference between cruelty and disloyalty and treason; all really thoughtfully done, and highly satisfying

[hamsterwoman]

I think the way Setheris was handled may be my favorite part in the book (even though other things -- Csevet's competence and Csethiro's fierceness -- appeal to me more id-tastically) -- or at least the part that impressed me the most. It was certainly the first aspect that hooked me.

acknowledging abuse, understanding why, not forgiving it (!!) and yet separating personal from emperor's anyway; and the difference between sethoris-for-maia and sethoris-for-his-wife, and the difference between cruelty and disloyalty and treason;

Yes! All of these things. Not forgiving it, and not repenting it, either (though possibly some of that is refuge in audacity for Setheris

[a_phoenixdragon]

*Drive-by Squishes*

[hamsterwoman]

:))

[ikel89]

AHahah just saw the PS XD I was trying to remember who write the most memorable review for GE, and it didn't occur to me to suspect AP, though it was defo her :D

[hamsterwoman]

I think AP's review makes it feel like a more frenetic and intrigue-laden book than it really is, but I agree in other particulars -- especially "все навыки, умения и недостатки героя строго выдержаны в соответствии с его биографией" -- I noticed and really liked that, too, and the worldbuilding aspects that stood out to her.

(I'm proceeding up the thread, so, stay tuned for everything else :)

[asthenie_vd]

to keep being a decent person in the face of sudden power and circumstances where conflict between duty and doing the right thing

This sounds utterly fascinating! :D I think I'll have to avoid the spoilers, because I'm going to have to check this out. ^^

[hamsterwoman]

I really enjoyed that aspect, but I should probably add, non-spoilerly, that the world is sort of on the... fluffy? side? Not in the sense of solid worldbuilding -- that was actually very well done -- but in the sense of tone. Like, Addison/Monette apparently explicitly set out to write Clair as opposed to Noir, so it's a world where a lot of the characters are good and can be won over by goodness. I mention this because I've read some pretty insightful reviews that were bothered by this, and it niggled briefly at me as well, around the middle of the book, before I decided that, what the hell, I liked all these people and wanted the best for them, so why should I be surprised if they feel the same way about each other?

But in any case, I think it's a book worth checking out even though I'm not surprised it doesn't work for everyone, and if you do, I will be most curious to know what you think!

[egelantier]

set out to write Clair as opposed to Noir

HA, i'm fishing for more-books-like-that recs on ffa, and this was the the qualifier i tried to grope for and couldn't find. yes! this is a, mmm, fundamentally good world, almost fairytalish - you know, be good to an old grandma and later on you won't regret it - and it was exactly what i wanted and needed at the moment.

i'm now amused that you've bounced your rec off books of raksura, because it's happening in similarly clair universe. oh, and by the way: if you'll be in the mood to have more of same world feeling AND russian fantasy, this is basically how ratkevich's elf books (or, really, all ratkevich books) work.

(i'm somehow unhappily sure that in less, erm, organized universe an emperor with nobody but his poached secretary for support, that nobody wanted to see on the throne, with a regent-able child as his heir apparent, wouldn't have lived to see his coronation, or much after it. but i'm glad it wasn't this kind of universe).

[hamsterwoman]

fundamentally good world, almost fairytalish - you know, be good to an old grandma and later on you won't regret it -Yes! I had that fairytale thought, too, actually (I think it was the clockmakers and others sending birthday gifts that led to that thought) -- it definitely seems to work along the same moral basis, where if you're kind to old ladies and children, you'll do alright -- not because you're genre-savvy or anything, but if you're genuinely the kind of person who is kind to old ladies and children. It's not a world I find particularly believable, but it's a nice place to inhabit for a while