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suzemo's review
3.0
I purchased this book first, then realized that it was the second in the series thanks to Neil Gaiman's intro, and listened to the first one before moving along to this one.
I don't know how necessary it really was, as the main characters in the first book are only secondary characters here (and not really very critical). Alec, one of the main characters in the first book is the crazy Duke who wages (financial) war on his family thanks to some unresolved issues he has with his sister. After breaking his sister's family's bank, a resolution is reached where his niece is sent to him to be trained as a swordsman.
She must now live at the periphery of society instead of taking part in it (much to her initial annoyance) and learns to live as the gender bending family member of a crazy rich (and powerful) man.
She makes friends, engages in bits of the machinations of the nobility, and in the end is the duchess.
I didn't really like this novel as much. I don't know if it's because I was already bored with the style of storytelling from the previous work (the writing, in and of itself is decent enough), or what, but I just wanted to get through the book. Everything Katherine (the niece) gets or does seems to be at the whims of the males or with their "help" - so instead of having a strong female character, or at least something that could have been made into an interesting look at gender politics, we have an almost boring story of "how female characters get pulled around and everything they do or get is through male agency"... The sexuality and debauchery of the first novel is here, again, but doesn't get terribly interesting (indeed, one of the most important plot points is a rape used as a power play).
The ending was super disappointing and anticlimactic. Everyone gets their happy ending without much difficulty and everyone rides off into the sunset happy (or gets their comeuppance, whichever we're supposed to want).
All in all, a bit disappointing. I think if I wanted a seriously mindless easy read, this is the way to go, but that's not where my head-space was.
I don't know how necessary it really was, as the main characters in the first book are only secondary characters here (and not really very critical). Alec, one of the main characters in the first book is the crazy Duke who wages (financial) war on his family thanks to some unresolved issues he has with his sister. After breaking his sister's family's bank, a resolution is reached where his niece is sent to him to be trained as a swordsman.
She must now live at the periphery of society instead of taking part in it (much to her initial annoyance) and learns to live as the gender bending family member of a crazy rich (and powerful) man.
She makes friends, engages in bits of the machinations of the nobility, and in the end is the duchess.
I didn't really like this novel as much. I don't know if it's because I was already bored with the style of storytelling from the previous work (the writing, in and of itself is decent enough), or what, but I just wanted to get through the book. Everything Katherine (the niece) gets or does seems to be at the whims of the males or with their "help" - so instead of having a strong female character, or at least something that could have been made into an interesting look at gender politics, we have an almost boring story of "how female characters get pulled around and everything they do or get is through male agency"... The sexuality and debauchery of the first novel is here, again, but doesn't get terribly interesting (indeed, one of the most important plot points is a rape used as a power play).
The ending was super disappointing and anticlimactic. Everyone gets their happy ending without much difficulty and everyone rides off into the sunset happy (or gets their comeuppance, whichever we're supposed to want).
All in all, a bit disappointing. I think if I wanted a seriously mindless easy read, this is the way to go, but that's not where my head-space was.
tamaraneans's review
4.0
Hmm. HMM. What do I think of this book? That's actually very hard to say. On the one hand I am incredibly appreciative of the characters, their diversity and the general air of sexual acceptance (how often do we have a bisexual female teenager as the lead, one who isn't ashamed of herself for it?), on the other, I am incredibly frustrated that oftentimes with these characters we are only given bits of them to make them sympathetic and interesting, but they neither work through their issues, nor become more than that. The obvious exceptions to the that are Artemisia and Katherine, who became favorites and experience a great deal of growth throughout the book, but male characters, like Marcus and even the Duke, hardly grow at all.
The story follows a young woman, Katherine, who is sent for by her uncle, the "Mad Duke" to become a swordsman for him--a task very much not for young ladies. Katherine agrees to it anyway, not because she's intrigued, but because this very same uncle has spent his life trying to make her family destitute and her agreement means her family's salvation. Thoough she must endure time without her mother and family by her side, she feels it is her duty to try, and she will impress her uncle in all she can.
She arrives at the Mad Duke's house in the hopes she can impress him, but soon discovers that he really did mean swordsman and she must dress as a male and learn swordcraft like a male. It causes her a good deal of emotional torment to dress as a boy, but she adapts and begins to learn her new trade. For a story that makes it a point to call her out on how oddly she's dressed, it never becomes a plot point directed at her personally. The way she dresses is associated with her in a way that doesn't directly affect her choices and treatment--which seems odd given the clear significance of it. Yes, she's treated as an oddity, but not as a clown.
The rest of a book is an intriguing romp into personal proclivities, desires, the necessities of station and honor and how people are bound to the rules even if they hate it. Katherine spends a great deal of time learning about her world, herself and swordfighting, but the story is also told by several other characters, simultaneously and concurrently to the main story. Their own stories are intriguing and I found myself intensely curious to how their stories ended up as well, and I was satisfied and not at the same time.
I did enjoy the book, I did find all of the characters endearing, the story intriguing and while the end was a bit lackluster and too easily resolved, I'm content in the fact things were decisively resolved. What I'm not content with is the character resolutions--of which there are few and far between. The epilogue is woefully lacking in actual conclusions. We never learn the outcome with the Black Rose, we never learn if Katherine takes up with Artemisia and/or Marcus (wouldn't have that been a treat?), we never learn how Katherine feels about being left like that. I suppose we understand the reasons why the Duke does what he does (I have yet to read the prequel to this, Swordpoint, and I am torn between endless curiosity and the trepidation of knowing it will kill my heart), but it's abrupt, and sudden, and it feels like a quick means to an end as opposed to a cohesive resolution. The resolution happens off-screen, I think, and that's why I'm frustrated. I want to see what happens to the characters, how they react to the ending, not see them all content and rearranged in their lives.
I'm not saying this isn't a good book--it is, I truly like it, I'd love to read more, but it just feels unfinished or unresolved. Not in a bad way, but I'm endlessly curious about what happened to certain characters and I can't help but want to know more.
The story follows a young woman, Katherine, who is sent for by her uncle, the "Mad Duke" to become a swordsman for him--a task very much not for young ladies. Katherine agrees to it anyway, not because she's intrigued, but because this very same uncle has spent his life trying to make her family destitute and her agreement means her family's salvation. Thoough she must endure time without her mother and family by her side, she feels it is her duty to try, and she will impress her uncle in all she can.
She arrives at the Mad Duke's house in the hopes she can impress him, but soon discovers that he really did mean swordsman and she must dress as a male and learn swordcraft like a male. It causes her a good deal of emotional torment to dress as a boy, but she adapts and begins to learn her new trade. For a story that makes it a point to call her out on how oddly she's dressed, it never becomes a plot point directed at her personally. The way she dresses is associated with her in a way that doesn't directly affect her choices and treatment--which seems odd given the clear significance of it. Yes, she's treated as an oddity, but not as a clown.
The rest of a book is an intriguing romp into personal proclivities, desires, the necessities of station and honor and how people are bound to the rules even if they hate it. Katherine spends a great deal of time learning about her world, herself and swordfighting, but the story is also told by several other characters, simultaneously and concurrently to the main story. Their own stories are intriguing and I found myself intensely curious to how their stories ended up as well, and I was satisfied and not at the same time.
I did enjoy the book, I did find all of the characters endearing, the story intriguing and while the end was a bit lackluster and too easily resolved, I'm content in the fact things were decisively resolved. What I'm not content with is the character resolutions--of which there are few and far between. The epilogue is woefully lacking in actual conclusions. We never learn the outcome with the Black Rose, we never learn if Katherine takes up with Artemisia and/or Marcus (wouldn't have that been a treat?), we never learn how Katherine feels about being left like that. I suppose we understand the reasons why the Duke does what he does (I have yet to read the prequel to this, Swordpoint, and I am torn between endless curiosity and the trepidation of knowing it will kill my heart), but it's abrupt, and sudden, and it feels like a quick means to an end as opposed to a cohesive resolution. The resolution happens off-screen, I think, and that's why I'm frustrated. I want to see what happens to the characters, how they react to the ending, not see them all content and rearranged in their lives.
I'm not saying this isn't a good book--it is, I truly like it, I'd love to read more, but it just feels unfinished or unresolved. Not in a bad way, but I'm endlessly curious about what happened to certain characters and I can't help but want to know more.
tellingetienne's review
5.0
I somehow didn't? read? this? I swore I had a memory of reading this, as I loved Swordspoint, but apparently I hadn't picked this one up at all. It was delightful and awful and all the things you would expect to another novel set in the same world.
jhouses's review
3.0
Una segunda parte superior a la primera en profundidad e interés. El audiolibro esta estupendamente realizado con un reparto completo y banda sonora. El joven Alex es ahora el Duque Loco Tramontaine y decide bloquear la fortuna familar a menos que su sobrina acceda a vivir con él y entrenarse en el arte de la espada. Intriga, duelos, corrupción y aventura.
saraubs's review
5.0
I really loved this book! Katherine was a phenomenal protagonist and it was so much fun to see characters from Swordspoint make appearances. In particular, I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Alec's early life and upbringing. A worthy companion to one of my favourite novels and it certainly makes me want to pick up the third book soon!
rebeccacider's review
5.0
I may have enjoyed this even more than Swordspoint! This is an ambitious coming-of-age novel, extremely well-told and emotionally honest. And, as a rule of thumb, any book that reminds me of Jane Austen in one chapter and Jean Genet in the next is probably worth reading.
Reread: Bumped up to five stars. Damn I love this book. Katherine is one of the most psychologically realistic teenager characters I've read, and this book does a better job of evoking adolescence than many young adult novels. This is a story about inhabiting fictional worlds and finding yourself in them, about bored teenagers loitering around town and spying on strangers, about piecing together an identity from the different faces adults expect you to show to the world. Oh, and there's Richard and Alec being insufferable as usual.
Reread: Bumped up to five stars. Damn I love this book. Katherine is one of the most psychologically realistic teenager characters I've read, and this book does a better job of evoking adolescence than many young adult novels. This is a story about inhabiting fictional worlds and finding yourself in them, about bored teenagers loitering around town and spying on strangers, about piecing together an identity from the different faces adults expect you to show to the world. Oh, and there's Richard and Alec being insufferable as usual.
platypusinplaid's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
5.0
AUDREY'S ONE-SENTENCE BOOK REVIEWS
POV your eccentric uncle, the Mad Duke, has DECEIVED you into exploring your gender and sexuality by signing you up for swordfighting lessons and gifting you a backstage pass to a takarazuka show
POV your eccentric uncle, the Mad Duke, has DECEIVED you into exploring your gender and sexuality by signing you up for swordfighting lessons and gifting you a backstage pass to a takarazuka show
sapphic_book_dragon's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
saluki's review against another edition
4.0
The Melodrama of Manners continues a generation after Swordspoint closes. Katherine Campion Talbert is delivered to her notorious uncle Alec Campion's Tremontaine estate with youthful romantic notions of coming-out into society at balls and finding the handsome suitor of her dreams. But the Mad Duke has other ideas. Katherine is to learn the sword so she begins to learn sword techniques... reluctantly. Little is she aware of the adventurous and independent course cut out for her.
Alec's character is fleshed out more in this novel. He's perceived as mad but there is method to his madness. He thumbs his nose at society and appears to live in decadent eccentricity but is he truly mad or uncommonly clever? He does try to save those he cares about from oppressive society ideals in a strange round-about way. I love that we find out everything about Alec as he flits between Tremontaine and Riverside, and of course Richard, through the course of this book.
Katherine is dressed as a man but it isn't the usual gender-bending comedy of manners because it's nearly always obvious she is a young woman irregardless of her clothing, especially after her first famous duel. Rather than a young woman's coming-out we experience her coming of age in a time where women are severely restricted and have few options. Katherine is given choice in her role as swordsman especially after she finds her favourite story, "The Swordsman Whose Name Was Not Death", has an upcoming theatrical production. I love metafiction and this framed narrative device reflects the differences between fiction and reality as well as social appearances versus reality. It's interesting how the readers, or the plays audience, react differently to the story and it's effect on their future actions. For Katherine it is a turning point. She is no longer in her own Regency Romance. There is a lot of symbolism of privilege... but of course us readers care more about the privilege of the sword. The Sword is power and I was excited to find out who Katherine would champion with that power.
We not only encounter Alec who I liked much more in his maturity even though he's still a trial to family and society, but we learn more of his lover Richard St Vier, the previously self-exiled Michael Godwin and the Duke's bitter enemy Lord Ferris. Unresolved plots from Swordspoint come to fruition. But this doesn't read as a sequel as such because it's clearly Katherine's experiences, so it can be read without reading Swordspoint first. For me, this novel is better. There is more comedy, more commentary about honour, more likeable characters and a few we love to hate, and a distinct learning curve both mentally and physically for our protagonist Katherine. I found myself caring about secondary characters; the Ugly Girl Flavia, Teresa Grey the Black Rose, Katherine's two close friends Lady Artemisia and Marcus, far more than I did in the first book. But most parental figures left little to be admired.
And, the swordsmanship was excellent.
Have to say the beginning was a little slow but it's one of those novels that deserves rereading for the depth of it's social intrigue, sexual politics and complex themes. I hadn't expected the outcome... but it was great, if a little hurried.
Thoroughly enjoyed this audio experience. The main narrators Ellen Kushner and Barbara Rosenblat, and the cast in the illuminated key scenes, are all wonderful voice actors.
This felt much more like an Austen writing fantasy with swords and Katherine is a believable protagonist with her youthful dreaming and feisty personality.
Liked it, a lot.