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timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
A good end to a good series, and yes, it was time to end it. For now, anyway.
I'm with those who noted that this one's a bit repetitive in places. There are only so many ways to say "we're screwed," and it gets annoying in a first-person view when we know they are not actually screwed.
The overall story in this one is interestingly complex, if not always believable. But in a Musketeers tribute, we have to be flexible because sometimes the plot has to step back and allow scenes to happen. And there is plenty of character development.
The Dukes are weak plotwise in this one (except Ossia, who seemed implausibly different from all the rest). But the overall plot required them to be weak, so it's OK.
Trin is just Missy from Doctor Who. I'm OK with that, and by the end we had a pretty good look at how she became what she was, and she didn't seem so unlikely after all.
Falcio's ways to beat an unbeatable opponent get increasingly ludicrous. He does mention his own luck, but some of his planned-ten-moves-ahead things are just silly. I suspect that SdeC realized this and was smiling as he wrote the scene, just as we were on reading it (that's silly, but jolly clever - how Musketeerish)
Battlefield speeches are a fantasy trope, so I guess we allow it. But I am a bit tired of having one person step forward and be heard clearly on a busy battlefield by thousands of soldiers, at least half of whom must be 100 yards away, and some of them behind the speaker.
Duke Jillard was a puzzling storyline with a puzzling ending. In the end, even if it didn't quite work, I award a point for putting it in. Raises the story above other fantasies.
I haven't decided about the whole gods thing. Is this a tribute to Pratchett's Small Gods, and the need-believers thing that's also in Gaiman's American Gods? And how did the Blacksmiths God end up so much stronger? That one was of course essential to book 3, but I never liked the premise of the earlier who's-killing-the-weaker-gods, and they didn't add much to this book except for
that nice bit at the end.
Then we come to the women. There are quite a few women here, which is good.
The Greatcoat women are all leathery types, the kind who run a truck stop diner and can stop six Hells Angels in their tracks with a look.
Chalmers is exceptional.
The Tailor changed sharply over the series.
She and the other female offstage manipulators were a bit over the top by the last reveal.
Valiana, Aline, Ethalia and others seem to flit back and forth between practical, I-Have-A-Solemn-Duty, and Oh-FALcio-you're so RUGged! I don't know what to make of them overall.
Those women, Falcio and the kinglet all have interesting struggles between idealism and practicality. That's another one that raises this series above others.
p.s. If you enjoyed this you'll probably like Steven Brust's Taltos series and his related Phoenix Guards series. The latter is a different kind of tribute to Musketeers.
I'm with those who noted that this one's a bit repetitive in places. There are only so many ways to say "we're screwed," and it gets annoying in a first-person view when we know they are not actually screwed.
The overall story in this one is interestingly complex, if not always believable. But in a Musketeers tribute, we have to be flexible because sometimes the plot has to step back and allow scenes to happen. And there is plenty of character development.
The Dukes are weak plotwise in this one (except Ossia, who seemed implausibly different from all the rest). But the overall plot required them to be weak, so it's OK.
Trin is just Missy from Doctor Who. I'm OK with that, and by the end we had a pretty good look at how she became what she was, and she didn't seem so unlikely after all.
Falcio's ways to beat an unbeatable opponent get increasingly ludicrous. He does mention his own luck, but some of his planned-ten-moves-ahead things are just silly. I suspect that SdeC realized this and was smiling as he wrote the scene, just as we were on reading it (that's silly, but jolly clever - how Musketeerish)
Battlefield speeches are a fantasy trope, so I guess we allow it. But I am a bit tired of having one person step forward and be heard clearly on a busy battlefield by thousands of soldiers, at least half of whom must be 100 yards away, and some of them behind the speaker.
Duke Jillard was a puzzling storyline with a puzzling ending. In the end, even if it didn't quite work, I award a point for putting it in. Raises the story above other fantasies.
I haven't decided about the whole gods thing. Is this a tribute to Pratchett's Small Gods, and the need-believers thing that's also in Gaiman's American Gods? And how did the Blacksmiths God end up so much stronger? That one was of course essential to book 3, but I never liked the premise of the earlier who's-killing-the-weaker-gods, and they didn't add much to this book except for
that nice bit at the end.
Then we come to the women. There are quite a few women here, which is good.
The Greatcoat women are all leathery types, the kind who run a truck stop diner and can stop six Hells Angels in their tracks with a look.
Chalmers is exceptional.
The Tailor changed sharply over the series.
She and the other female offstage manipulators were a bit over the top by the last reveal.
Valiana, Aline, Ethalia and others seem to flit back and forth between practical, I-Have-A-Solemn-Duty, and Oh-FALcio-you're so RUGged! I don't know what to make of them overall.
Those women, Falcio and the kinglet all have interesting struggles between idealism and practicality. That's another one that raises this series above others.
p.s. If you enjoyed this you'll probably like Steven Brust's Taltos series and his related Phoenix Guards series. The latter is a different kind of tribute to Musketeers.
jonwebster's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nicovivi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
desolation73's review against another edition
5.0
Ive enjoyed this serious immensely even if Ive taken two years to finish this series its just because Ive bought too many books and discovered too many new authors since lockdown. I feel this ends the series nicely .
blankpagepanic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
crimsoncor's review against another edition
5.0
Great resolution to the series. I am going to miss these characters
bkathi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brianv's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dromwald's review against another edition
5.0
I think it's testament to the author's narrative that my enthusiasm for this series never waned even into the fourth and final book - this is not always the case, for me at least. This was a superb and entirely apt finale to this quartet and my only disappointment came when the journey came to an end.
Just like in previous books the characters are strong creations and always interesting - never black and white and always cleverly imagined. Brasti remains my favourite; I would so go for a beer (or 8, I imagine) with Brasti Goodbow. What a laugh that would be, although probably ultimately bad for one's health.
I sincerely hope for more opportunity to sample adventures from this author's imagination.
Just like in previous books the characters are strong creations and always interesting - never black and white and always cleverly imagined. Brasti remains my favourite; I would so go for a beer (or 8, I imagine) with Brasti Goodbow. What a laugh that would be, although probably ultimately bad for one's health.
I sincerely hope for more opportunity to sample adventures from this author's imagination.