HW

I honestly wasn't as taken with the first two books of the trilogy as I'd hoped—they were very solid and I greatly enjoyed the characters and tone, but was less impressed with the pacing or plotting. Last Argument of Kings has far better momentum, making it a much satisfying a read, in my opinion. After its more sluggish predecessors (that I'd argue don't really have proper arcs), I loved how the various threads of the trilogy—and all of our colourful cast—converge in Last Argument of Kings. I give the book extra props for its ending, which I'm assuming may have disappointed some. It felt much like how many non-Hollywood films end, never a simple black-and-white “good triumphs over evil and all loose ends are neatly wrapped up” affair, often melancholic and open-ended. I'm a big fan of greyness in characters and storytelling, so the trilogy's pretty ballsy conclusion is the icing on the cake for me.

Also, though it hardly needs any more saying, Sand Dan Glokta is really such a fantastic character. His story was the biggest pleasure the trilogy offered me, both due to the man himself and the intriguing plots he always seems surrounded by.

I wasn't too drawn in by any of the characters including (particularly) the protagonist, but the prose and interesting plot kept me invested. I loved the amount of care that went into creating a fictional author and his body of work; the process of writing a biography was pretty fascinating to follow, too. This novel really reminded me of the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke, which I'm a big fan of, not only with its premise but also its ruminations on the nature of free will and existence.

Vast yet intimate in scope with an absorbing, intricate plot and a solid cast of characters, the cherry on top being an incredibly appealing and creative premise (especially for this art history nerd; mileage may vary depending on readers' interest, or lack thereof in fine art). The extra touches such as the transitional Galleria interludes and the fictional painting guides are fantastic. The first “volume” of The Golden Key, Chieva do'Sangua, merely hints at the epic journey through the generations the story unfolds into, leading to a uniquely satisfying and subtly moving conclusion. I also have to note that characters such as Saavedra and Eleyna hold a special appeal for me, as a female reader in the creative field. The Golden Key, though I wouldn't go so far as to call it a masterpiece, is a memorable fantasy creation that will probably stay with me a long while.