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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Goodness, this was a delight! High fantasy in a matriarchal society and with queer themes--definitely not a romance, at least not yet, but it's clear there's ~something~ between the two male leads that apparently develops in the future books. Procedural/case!fic type read, and a bit slow to start, but by the end I was hooked. World-building was a little confusing at times, but not to the point where I ever felt truly lost, and I'm excited to keep reading the series!
Ooooh, just delightful! I'm so glad to have stumbled across this, it's exactly the sort of thing I enjoy vanishing into: lush worldbuilding, with loads of thick description I can wander around in. If anything, there's almost too much, but it's just right for me, really--the challenge of words used in unfamiliar/creative ways, and the heady blend of invented Euro-esque designations and names is the sort of thing you just have to roll with until you get into the groove of it (and also, be warned: it's a copyediting mess). Rathe and Eslingen are terrific characters, the zing between them handled with a light, deft touch--tantalizing and classy! A wonderful cast of characters large and small, in fact, with high marks for Monteia, Ister b'Estorr, and the Butcher's guild generally. On the whole, POINT OF HOPES calls to mind most of all Heather Rose Jones's Alpennia series (which I completely adore), although it's quite different both magically and romantically.
I was going to give this 4 stars because I'm trying to rein in my tendency to overload on stars, but you know what? I freaking well really enjoyed POINT OF HOPES. Give this thing 5 stars, and stand back now while I dive into reading the sequel.
Final note: POINT OF HOPES was published 1997, and Bujold's utterly perfect THE CURSE OF CHALION published in 2003. There's a distant, vaguely referenced land in POINT called Cazaril -- which is of course our protagonist's name in CHALION. Spontaneously co-arising name inventions? Anyone?
I was going to give this 4 stars because I'm trying to rein in my tendency to overload on stars, but you know what? I freaking well really enjoyed POINT OF HOPES. Give this thing 5 stars, and stand back now while I dive into reading the sequel.
Final note: POINT OF HOPES was published 1997, and Bujold's utterly perfect THE CURSE OF CHALION published in 2003. There's a distant, vaguely referenced land in POINT called Cazaril -- which is of course our protagonist's name in CHALION. Spontaneously co-arising name inventions? Anyone?
Melissa Scott's mystery/investigation books are becoming definite comfort reads for me. [b:Death by Silver|17453991|Death by Silver (Julian Lynes and Ned Mathey, #1)|Melissa Scott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362185426s/17453991.jpg|24343410] and its sequel were already on that list, and now I'm adding the Astreiant books as well. This one doesn't actually have any romance in it, but the development of Philip and Nico's working relationship is just lovely, and it was established to my satisfaction that both of them are queer. It's slow-paced, but that worked for me here, as that time goes into creating a host of interesting characters and a complex world of politics and magic. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for fans of real mysteries or lots of action, but it was just the type of soothing fantasy novel I was looking for.
Point of Hopes is an interesting tale that relies a lot on the fantastic world that Scott and Barnett have built. The city of Astreion feels real and actualized, with the different parts (or Points) done in such detail that they felt like real neighborhoods. The characters were greatly developed and interesting, and the society itself is fairly unique (despite the fact that it is yet another pseudo-14th century England so common in High Fantasy stories). The importance of astrology and mysticism gives it an added flair and color.
That said, the concept of magic (as important as it is to the story) feels strangely nebulous. There's no real concept beyond Magists are involved with the stars and its all-important astrology; there is mention of necromancers and some explanation of their powers, but little else. Considering the importance of magic to the conclusion, this feels very much like an oversight.
The pacing also felt a little off, galloping towards the end after lingering and simmering in Astreion for 11 or so chapters.
Regardless, I think the positives greatly outweigh the negatives and I am quite excited to try the next book in the series.
That said, the concept of magic (as important as it is to the story) feels strangely nebulous. There's no real concept beyond Magists are involved with the stars and its all-important astrology; there is mention of necromancers and some explanation of their powers, but little else. Considering the importance of magic to the conclusion, this feels very much like an oversight.
The pacing also felt a little off, galloping towards the end after lingering and simmering in Astreion for 11 or so chapters.
Regardless, I think the positives greatly outweigh the negatives and I am quite excited to try the next book in the series.
I loved this book and this series until it stopped due to illness. But this complex fantasy world looks so familiar and yet so foreign at the same time. A world where your horoscope really does matter, magic happens, and a day-to-day policeman or Pointsman has a wonderful cast of characters to deal with....and a new potential love on the horizon. I sorely wish for more Points books
Tamora Pierce did this plot better, and with more interesting characters.
It sure took its time to build the City As Character, which I usually appreciate, but the fact remains that all that City-As-Character building made the plot very slow (I knew several hundred pages before Rathe figured it out that the hedge astrologers were behind it all), and the City-As-Character wasn't really interesting enough to justify it all.
slow-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated