Kam
Gosh but this was a FUN read! Wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but definitely fun regardless.
So this is supposed to be set in the same world as the author’s previous YA series, but I don’t think the reader really needs to read that series to enjoy this one. It does, however, have a very “sink or swim” approach to worldbuilding, which is something I enjoy when done well (as it was in this case), but some readers out there might not like that approach, which means they’ll have a harder time getting into the book than readers who are willing to just dive into the story and figure things out as they go.
In order to do that, though, and still have the book be enjoyable, the author needs to anchor the story in something that immediately grabs the reader’s attention - and in this case, it’s definitely the characters. The protagonists, Iari and Gaer, are thoroughly enjoyable to read about, not least because they’re a study in contrasts: Iari is the reliable and (mostly) steady templar, while Gaer is the clever, more mercurial diplomat/spy. Neither of them is human, but they’re just so damn charismatic that it hardly matters.
I’m also deeply fond of Char, the riev who’s one of the more important secondary characters in this novel. I won’t get into it too deeply because of spoilers, but suffice to say they anchor one of the novel’s major themes, and while they don’t get a lot of time front-and-center in this novel, I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in the next novel in the series.
Speaking of themes, there’s quite a few tackled in this novel - not as thoroughly or as deeply as I might personally like, but given the exigencies of the plot I think that’s understandable. One of the key themes is how war can be a driver for prejudice, both during and long after the war has ended. Another is about identity and personhood: both how prejudice can lead to dehumanization of anyone considered Other, but also how one defines sentience and humanity. There is also the theme of duty and ethics: those two things don’t always overlap, after all, and both Iari and Gaer spend a lot of time navigating between them in ways that both develop them as characters, and drive the plot forward.
Overall, this was a fun scifi mystery read with interesting characters and a plot that keeps everything moving and doesn’t overstay its welcome. While the “sink and swim” approach to worldbuilding will likely turn some readers off, those who stick around will find a story that keeps them hooked until the very end.
Originally posted at kamreadsandrecs.tumblr.com.
Gosh but this was a FUN read! Wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but definitely fun regardless.
So this is supposed to be set in the same world as the author’s previous YA series, but I don’t think the reader really needs to read that series to enjoy this one. It does, however, have a very “sink or swim” approach to worldbuilding, which is something I enjoy when done well (as it was in this case), but some readers out there might not like that approach, which means they’ll have a harder time getting into the book than readers who are willing to just dive into the story and figure things out as they go.
In order to do that, though, and still have the book be enjoyable, the author needs to anchor the story in something that immediately grabs the reader’s attention - and in this case, it’s definitely the characters. The protagonists, Iari and Gaer, are thoroughly enjoyable to read about, not least because they’re a study in contrasts: Iari is the reliable and (mostly) steady templar, while Gaer is the clever, more mercurial diplomat/spy. Neither of them is human, but they’re just so damn charismatic that it hardly matters.
I’m also deeply fond of Char, the riev who’s one of the more important secondary characters in this novel. I won’t get into it too deeply because of spoilers, but suffice to say they anchor one of the novel’s major themes, and while they don’t get a lot of time front-and-center in this novel, I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in the next novel in the series.
Speaking of themes, there’s quite a few tackled in this novel - not as thoroughly or as deeply as I might personally like, but given the exigencies of the plot I think that’s understandable. One of the key themes is how war can be a driver for prejudice, both during and long after the war has ended. Another is about identity and personhood: both how prejudice can lead to dehumanization of anyone considered Other, but also how one defines sentience and humanity. There is also the theme of duty and ethics: those two things don’t always overlap, after all, and both Iari and Gaer spend a lot of time navigating between them in ways that both develop them as characters, and drive the plot forward.
Overall, this was a fun scifi mystery read with interesting characters and a plot that keeps everything moving and doesn’t overstay its welcome. While the “sink and swim” approach to worldbuilding will likely turn some readers off, those who stick around will find a story that keeps them hooked until the very end.
Originally posted at kamreadsandrecs.tumblr.com.