Reviews

Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn

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brim010's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

josiah17's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A smidge better than the first book perhaps? Still collecting my thoughts. Ultimately it's more of the same from the first book. Predictable, although less so with the ending which was actually pretty decent. The side characters are a little better here, probably because they receive some more POV's dedicated to introducing them and trying to flesh them out enough for their role in the narrative. But even then, this series still has almost no nuance to it. Character motivations are expressed so one-dimensionsal to me and Karpyshyn's writing once again feels very readable, but superficial.

Darth Zannah is a decent character I think, and she takes more of the spotlight here as Bane shapes her into his apprentice. But I thought she turned to the dark side wayyyyyy too easily regardless of being a child. It felt like her naivety was turned up several notches.

I do admit I was glad to visit Tython for a little bit, and there was a pretty solid battle that takes place there. I also appreciated more of the exploration with Sith Holocrons as Bane tries to learn how to create one himself and ensure the Sith are preserved for generations.

Altogether, this book is just fine I think. I still really wish this series was better written and had some more depth to it. It's unfortunate, but whatever.

lonestar91's review

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dark informative reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense

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? It's complicated

3.0

It is clear to see how this story has had such longevity. The tonality and voice is reminiscent of some of the most prominent voices in sci-fi mid 20th century. But with the same stark imagery and vivid description, baffling to some extent, comes the same patronizing traits that came with what we now see being the echoes of toxic masculinity. Strange, of course, as this is a female author who chose to make our nameless female the objectified in her story. And yet, this only adds to its allure.

What is so striking and lasting about this novel is that it is a commentary of fixation, obsession. it is using the tool that was used against women of the time to highlight the contrast of how people and characters were handled. It is not only the world that is hard, decaying, and murky, but each of the characters is awash in grey-- traumatized, effected by their own hubris and surrender.

Also as astounding is the foresight Kavan had in what we now see as a rise in climate fiction. Not only in impending possible doom of a planet, but her commentaries and assumption of how the world governments and different populations would respond --how much goes ignored because people don't like to look at hopeless things-- is absolutely eerie.

While I can't say I adored this, I certainly see the craft within.