The Revenge of Eli Monpress

...Well, that was disappointing. And unexpected. And depressing. Oh, don't forget depressing.

I usually like it when series start out kind of lighthearted and get more serious as the story progresses. However, the reason this didn't work for me this time around can be easily summed up.

Josef & Miranda
I've never really been a fan of Miranda. I thought she was kind of fun when she was always chasing (and loosing) Eli and then when they had to team up together. But I've never really liked her. (And now, right now, I hate her. All high and mighty, know what's best shoving someone back to their abuser! ... I really hate her.) Josef I flat-out don't like. Right from the start he was one of those ‘stoic swordsmen' characters and those are exactly the type of characters I never like. The apparent character development in this story made me like him less, because, really, I have little respect for him finding out what I did about his past and he is kind of cruelly oblivious in his treatment of Nico.

Besides, every time Josef starts in with his wanting to be the greatest swordsman in the world and his talk of a sword cutting what the swordsman wants it to, I keep thinking of:



Benehime
She is a total creep. (Think rapist/sexual assaulter.) I really, really hope she dies at the end of the series, but I see absolutely no way that will/can happen/work. Especially without a little detail like destroying the world in the process. (And I won't even go into my special hatred of Sara ‘morality is relative'.)

Didn't I like anything about the book? Actually, I did. Eli. I absolutely adore his character and want to go back to when he was unequivocally the main character in the story. Also, I do admit, I rather like the interesting turns that Nico's character is taking.

That being said, this story is mostly about Josef, Miranda and a new character, the Empress.