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sophiewilliams's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
readgreed's review against another edition
4.0
As a final part of the trilogy, the scope of this book expanded a bit beyond what made the political intrigue fascinating to read and follow. Too many elements got thrown in and while the overall flow was possible to follow, the foregone conclusion seemed a bit of a cheat.
lnatl's review against another edition
4.0
Eu li os dois primeiros livros dessa trilogia em 2014-2016 por aí e fiquei completamente apaixonada. Em 2017 iniciei a leitura desse livro, mas abandonei devido a um acontecimento e ano passado ou esse (n me lembro direito), retomei a leitura do início e empaquei em 30% e nesses últimos 6 dias desenrolei e li ele todo.
Provavelmente, se tivesse lido ele em 2017 teria sido 5 estrelas por fechar uma das trilogias mais incríveis e bem estruturadas de fantasia que já li. Contudo, ao ler agr em 2022 pude apreciar a genialidade da história e retomar o carinho que tinha pelos personagens porém cm uma certa distância oq acabou ocasionando a nota de 4 estrelas.
Fico feliz por finalmente encerrar essa jornada !
Provavelmente, se tivesse lido ele em 2017 teria sido 5 estrelas por fechar uma das trilogias mais incríveis e bem estruturadas de fantasia que já li. Contudo, ao ler agr em 2022 pude apreciar a genialidade da história e retomar o carinho que tinha pelos personagens porém cm uma certa distância oq acabou ocasionando a nota de 4 estrelas.
Fico feliz por finalmente encerrar essa jornada !
kieralesley's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic conclusion to the series!
This series is an excellent example of how a trilogy should work, with each book raising the stakes and the scope of the plot to both build on and eclipse the previous instalment. Each of the books in this series confronts Mara with both an element of her society to question and an existential threat. However, having left off Servant of the Empire with Mara and the Akoma not only on the top of the political pile, but adopted into the Emperor’s family to boot, you have to wonder what Mara has left to confront, disrupt and conquer.
Turns out a lot.
In this book Mara tackles the Great Ones, the Anasati and the Hamoi Tong. The Cho-Ja also play a significant role. I’m not going to go into detail about the plot because this book, even more than the previous two, wouldn’t be well-served by giving the twists away.
Mistress is really about the country and culture of Tsuranuanni as a whole. What was fascinating to me as a reader was how much, like Mara, I had accepted as unquestioning facts of life in this world and setting. How little we’d seen or thought about the borders of the world and conduct, and – rift aside – what might lie beyond. It is humbling to see Mara face down these challenges presented to her in this book, even when that meant confronting some uncomfortable truths about herself, her society and their history.
Arakasi and Lujan also really step up in the book each concluding what, in hindsight, are pretty impressive individual trajectories across the series. Arakasi in particular faces a deep personal crisis which is a bold narrative move that pays off beautifully. He also gets one of the most stand-out scenes in the whole trilogy here. The climax is spectacular: dynamic, perfectly paced, and with imagery that will stick with me long after the nuance of the plot fades.
I also liked that this series takes place over a long period of time – decades – and we get to see Mara develop and change as a character and a woman. It’s not often that you get to stay with a protagonist over that long a time period, usually their story is a piece of their lives, whereas this trilogy encompasses almost all of Mara’s adult life. It’s refreshing.
There were some slower interludes that I found, pacing-wise, were a little more uneven than Servant, particularly through the third-quarter.
I also found the individual Magicians a bit tough to differentiate. Their characterisation was quite similar, even when they had differing opinions, names and occupied different ‘sides’ of the debate and conflict. They were minor characters, but I tended to read them as one or two major groups with multiple voices rather than as individuals.
Ultimately, though, these were minor problems in an otherwise remarkable novel and series.
Mara’s story is one how in order to face things bigger than you are, you have to become the sort of person who can do that – even if it means coming to some brutal realisations about yourself and things you have previously assumed to be true. It’s also about how it’s not enough to do it once in a lifetime. You don’t necessarily get to go home and put your feet up after you win your first big fight. You will likely have to do it over and over again, for bigger stakes. Mara does this with humility, confidence and daring. She’s not physically strong, she has no magic, she makes big mistakes that cost her and those close to her dearly, but she never fails to roll up her sleeves, use her wits and attack the problem in front of her. Even if it feels insurmountable. Even if she’s grieving or tired. Even if it takes her years. That’s the sort of narrative and protagonist that lets this series hold up much better than it has any right to after more than 25 years.
This series is an excellent example of how a trilogy should work, with each book raising the stakes and the scope of the plot to both build on and eclipse the previous instalment. Each of the books in this series confronts Mara with both an element of her society to question and an existential threat. However, having left off Servant of the Empire with Mara and the Akoma not only on the top of the political pile, but adopted into the Emperor’s family to boot, you have to wonder what Mara has left to confront, disrupt and conquer.
Turns out a lot.
In this book Mara tackles the Great Ones, the Anasati and the Hamoi Tong. The Cho-Ja also play a significant role. I’m not going to go into detail about the plot because this book, even more than the previous two, wouldn’t be well-served by giving the twists away.
Mistress is really about the country and culture of Tsuranuanni as a whole. What was fascinating to me as a reader was how much, like Mara, I had accepted as unquestioning facts of life in this world and setting. How little we’d seen or thought about the borders of the world and conduct, and – rift aside – what might lie beyond. It is humbling to see Mara face down these challenges presented to her in this book, even when that meant confronting some uncomfortable truths about herself, her society and their history.
Arakasi and Lujan also really step up in the book each concluding what, in hindsight, are pretty impressive individual trajectories across the series. Arakasi in particular faces a deep personal crisis which is a bold narrative move that pays off beautifully. He also gets one of the most stand-out scenes in the whole trilogy here. The climax is spectacular: dynamic, perfectly paced, and with imagery that will stick with me long after the nuance of the plot fades.
I also liked that this series takes place over a long period of time – decades – and we get to see Mara develop and change as a character and a woman. It’s not often that you get to stay with a protagonist over that long a time period, usually their story is a piece of their lives, whereas this trilogy encompasses almost all of Mara’s adult life. It’s refreshing.
There were some slower interludes that I found, pacing-wise, were a little more uneven than Servant, particularly through the third-quarter.
I also found the individual Magicians a bit tough to differentiate. Their characterisation was quite similar, even when they had differing opinions, names and occupied different ‘sides’ of the debate and conflict. They were minor characters, but I tended to read them as one or two major groups with multiple voices rather than as individuals.
Ultimately, though, these were minor problems in an otherwise remarkable novel and series.
Mara’s story is one how in order to face things bigger than you are, you have to become the sort of person who can do that – even if it means coming to some brutal realisations about yourself and things you have previously assumed to be true. It’s also about how it’s not enough to do it once in a lifetime. You don’t necessarily get to go home and put your feet up after you win your first big fight. You will likely have to do it over and over again, for bigger stakes. Mara does this with humility, confidence and daring. She’s not physically strong, she has no magic, she makes big mistakes that cost her and those close to her dearly, but she never fails to roll up her sleeves, use her wits and attack the problem in front of her. Even if it feels insurmountable. Even if she’s grieving or tired. Even if it takes her years. That’s the sort of narrative and protagonist that lets this series hold up much better than it has any right to after more than 25 years.
tessan91's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and War
Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, and Suicide
m3th0s's review against another edition
5.0
For a trilogy about politics in a far away empire, have to say these are really amazing books! Started slowly but as they developed they grip you and just can't put them down. Another prime example of Feist's awesome writing.
sergei_ter_tumasov's review against another edition
2.0
Полнейшее разочарование!!! Такое ощущение, что фантазия у авторов иссякла, и начались сплошные повторения и воспоминания. Причём одно и то же воспоминание повторяется по несколько раз. Фактически, процентов 40-50 всего повествования это пересказ двух предыдущих частей. Чувствую себя обманутым, потому что (как мне кажется) авторы воспользовались популярностью 1 и 2 части и над 3 особо не утруждались, хотя финальная книга как раз таки должна получаться самая интересная, ведь дело идёт к развязке. А здесь и интриги-то особой и не было, соответственно и финал получился скучный и бледный!!!
dapper's review against another edition
5.0
If only Chumaka could have joined with Arakasi, and Mara.. they could take over the world.
A weird thought to summarize a massive and expansive epic trilogy, but nonetheless is my take away.
I loved Chumaka and he deserved so much better than Jiro
A weird thought to summarize a massive and expansive epic trilogy, but nonetheless is my take away.
I loved Chumaka and he deserved so much better than Jiro
vinjii's review against another edition
4.25
After three months, I am done with the Empire Trilogy and am looking forward to diving further into the Riftwar Cycle. If you're at all interested in Feist's work and the rest of the Riftwar Cycle, start with the Riftwar Saga Trilogy before you read the Empire Trilogy. It'll provide background info, I was lacking while reading it. It's not absolutely necessary but it'll add depth to the world.
I would hate to spoil anyone on this lovely trilogy, which is why I'll keep the plot info to a minimum.
The trilogy is set in a world inspired by Asia. There's not a lot of magic, instead it's all about intrigue and politics.
Mara is possibly the best female fantasy character I've encountered so far. She kicks ass, is intelligent, cunning and the entire tale is one big chess game filled with politics and betrayal. Mara does not use strength and violence to win this game but her wit.
The entire cast of characters is well developed. The villains are intriguing and relatable.
I enjoyed every part of this trilogy, even the romance. In fact this had a romance that warmed my heart and made me happy. (Rare, I'm usually grumpy!)
Recommended to everyone who likes either Feist or Wurts, and who enjoys witty politicians betraying each other.
I would hate to spoil anyone on this lovely trilogy, which is why I'll keep the plot info to a minimum.
The trilogy is set in a world inspired by Asia. There's not a lot of magic, instead it's all about intrigue and politics.
Mara is possibly the best female fantasy character I've encountered so far. She kicks ass, is intelligent, cunning and the entire tale is one big chess game filled with politics and betrayal. Mara does not use strength and violence to win this game but her wit.
The entire cast of characters is well developed. The villains are intriguing and relatable.
I enjoyed every part of this trilogy, even the romance. In fact this had a romance that warmed my heart and made me happy. (Rare, I'm usually grumpy!)
Recommended to everyone who likes either Feist or Wurts, and who enjoys witty politicians betraying each other.