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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
3.5 stars.
MUCH better than the previous two. Satisfying adventure plot, even if some things were forgotten along the way. The tattered threads of romance subplots are the weakest parts, which is apparently a thing in this series. I still hope Vale and Kai are happy interspecies boyfriends offscreen, and I still wish that were happening onscreen.
Other things:
Fails the Lexa test, as the queer lady character both turns out to be somewhat evil AND dies at the end for no reason whatsoever. It doesn't even advance the plot. It's just gratuitous getting rid of the lesbian fae, as opposed to, say, blasting her into another world and making use of her at some point in the future when there's need of a new macguffin. She would be the hero of her own tale there, as befits the fae, and it would have as much dramatic impact as being horribly crushed by a giant bookshelf.
Walks back the androgyny panic of Book #2 in favor of a simple "dragons are whatever gender they claim to be; biology doesn't enter into it" (paraphrasing Kai). I'm not sure that's the same thing as calling Li Ming a transman, though? Would he call himself trans? IDK. It's hard to know because this series is so Victorian in some of its sensibilities and so 21st century+ in others.
MUCH better than the previous two. Satisfying adventure plot, even if some things were forgotten along the way. The tattered threads of romance subplots are the weakest parts, which is apparently a thing in this series. I still hope Vale and Kai are happy interspecies boyfriends offscreen, and I still wish that were happening onscreen.
Other things:
Fails the Lexa test, as the queer lady character both turns out to be somewhat evil AND dies at the end for no reason whatsoever. It doesn't even advance the plot. It's just gratuitous getting rid of the lesbian fae, as opposed to, say, blasting her into another world and making use of her at some point in the future when there's need of a new macguffin. She would be the hero of her own tale there, as befits the fae, and it would have as much dramatic impact as being horribly crushed by a giant bookshelf.
Walks back the androgyny panic of Book #2 in favor of a simple "dragons are whatever gender they claim to be; biology doesn't enter into it" (paraphrasing Kai). I'm not sure that's the same thing as calling Li Ming a transman, though? Would he call himself trans? IDK. It's hard to know because this series is so Victorian in some of its sensibilities and so 21st century+ in others.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
The books build on each other well; hard to keep them straight since they flow pretty seamlessly.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love the worlds that Cogman has created and the characters within it, even though the plot is very predictable.
This series keeps getting better!!!! This was so good. I could do without the hints of romances to come, but beyond that it's just crazy book-loving non-stop action, and so much fun.
This series is getting better with each book. Hopefully it stays that way.
mysterious
tense
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Not as good as The Invisible Library, better than The Masked City. Diverting and fun. I still worry about the hints of a coming romantic triangle. I would like to see more character development in the next installment; there hasn't been much growth or change for Irene, Kai, Vale, or Singh. I'm still loving the way The Language works!