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pers's review
5.0
This is a SF romance, rather than the usual Vorkosigan adventure - it is reminiscent of Shards of Honour, and I really enjoyed it.
glennisleblanc's review
5.0
This is the latest in the Vorkosigan series and spoils everything so do not start with this book if you haven’t read any of them before. I loved this book because the focus does come back on Cordelia, the reason why I started reading the books. Cordelia is going ahead with the rest of her life and stepping away from being Vicereine of Sergyar. The biggest part of that is deciding to have more children thanks to technology they will be Miles younger siblings but will have the Naismith name and be girls. The book is about starting new phases in life after death and finding love again. The irony is that the love was there before just that the reader didn’t know about it.
The main theme of the book living after the death of love and finding love again. I don’t want to give away the main revelations that happen in the book but I shed several happy tears as I read it and I think I’ll be doing a rereading of it in the near future.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher.
The main theme of the book living after the death of love and finding love again. I don’t want to give away the main revelations that happen in the book but I shed several happy tears as I read it and I think I’ll be doing a rereading of it in the near future.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher.
goodbyepuckpie's review
5.0
[eARC]
No spoilers, but instead let me just say this inspired the equivalent of joyous running around in circles shrieking with delight. :D
No spoilers, but instead let me just say this inspired the equivalent of joyous running around in circles shrieking with delight. :D
alimich31's review
4.0
Wow, LMB was right when she said this was unmarketable! Very very different from any other book in the Vorkosiverse; not plot heavy, this one is purely character driven. I can see how others might be turned off by this, because even other books that were very internal, where Miles spends time figuring things out in his head (Mirror Dance, Memory), still had a host of external plot elements. But internal, character-driven books make me happy, so I was pleased as punch to be following Cordelia around and spending time in her head.
CORDELIA. Ahh, my literary girlcrush. I was frequently cackling aloud at the things she said and thought, and it was a joy to have another Cordelia-focused book. Delightful to spend time on Sergyar, too, and see how a planet is colonized and built.
I could see this as the last book in the series, and while this makes me sad, I felt that it was a fitting capstone.
And as for the big spoiler... Cordelia/Jole, formerly Cordelia/Aral/Jole, formerly Cordelia/Aral + Aral/Jole. Well, (a) I was prepared for it because I heard about it months ago, and (b) I read a really fantastic fanfic series that set me up for it. So I don't see it as "ruining" one of my favorite ships, but just adding another dimension to it.
Canonical OT3 with bisexuality. :D
CORDELIA. Ahh, my literary girlcrush. I was frequently cackling aloud at the things she said and thought, and it was a joy to have another Cordelia-focused book. Delightful to spend time on Sergyar, too, and see how a planet is colonized and built.
I could see this as the last book in the series, and while this makes me sad, I felt that it was a fitting capstone.
Canonical OT3 with bisexuality. :D
faethered's review
3.0
If we're looking at this book from a purely objective standpoint, I'll admit it isn't all that great. It's meandering fluff with only pathetic attempts at a plot. There's not even real emotional conflict.
But the thing is, I can't look at this book objectively, because it's finally another Cordelia book, and I missed her viewpoint so much. It is just as delightful as ever. And just as importantly, this book tells a bisexual polyamorous story that I've never seen told, not even in fanfiction. These feelings are utterly real and true to anyone who's been poly, and yet no one has written about them as far as I know, and I am so grateful to Lois that I'm willing to look past the book's many faults and embrace this rare example of a nuanced, profound, and respectful poly narrative.
But the thing is, I can't look at this book objectively, because it's finally another Cordelia book, and I missed her viewpoint so much. It is just as delightful as ever. And just as importantly, this book tells a bisexual polyamorous story that I've never seen told, not even in fanfiction. These feelings are utterly real and true to anyone who's been poly, and yet no one has written about them as far as I know, and I am so grateful to Lois that I'm willing to look past the book's many faults and embrace this rare example of a nuanced, profound, and respectful poly narrative.
celli's review
5.0
Sorry, cannot discuss without massive spoilers. If you clicked this by accident, RUN NOW.
I don't know if Lois has declared this to be the last book in the series, but it feels like it. Not as High Adventure as the others (although not devoid of action). It felt like saying goodbye - checking in with so many of the characters and seeing them happy.
But it wasn't just a book-length epilogue. I feel like I've been given a gift - in the middle of more than one emotional journey and some great side plots, we got all these glimpses into the past. I always knew Cordelia and Aral were having a full and fascinating life when Miles wasn't looking, and now I have proof! Hints and stories and (oh my god I want fic) just enough to really get you to rethink some of the past books in a good way.
And now allow me to discuss RELATIONSHIPS. Namely, the Cordelia/Aral/Jole relationship. I had always wanted more queer characters and BOOM. A triad! Like, OKAY. I was texting a friend while reading it:
SHE JUST REVEALED A CANON THREESOME
PRETTY SURE
EITHER THAT OR V POLY BUT I THINK THREESOME
*wheezes*
(pause for friend to laugh at me)
Okay, looks like...poly v with special occasion threesomes? But a lot of emotional intimacy
Aral, the central point here, has been dead three years, and his widow and his lover are just really starting to thaw again
But she says things like "and then you came back to us"
* note: I doublechecked my poly terms and I think I got them all right? But please correct me if I'm wrong!
(also did I mention fic? PLEASE BRING IT ALL TO ME.)
It just felt really right for all three of their characters. Especially with the extra history - the moment where Jole realizes Cordelia recognizes his need to be a part of the news about Aral, I almost cried.
And poor Miles, learning all these new things. I think he would have been more Betan about it if it hadn't been his mom and dad.
So if it's the last book I will still be sad, because I love these people so. But also if it's the last book, I will be content, because it completes the circuit from Shards of Honor all the way home.
I don't know if Lois has declared this to be the last book in the series, but it feels like it. Not as High Adventure as the others (although not devoid of action). It felt like saying goodbye - checking in with so many of the characters and seeing them happy.
But it wasn't just a book-length epilogue. I feel like I've been given a gift - in the middle of more than one emotional journey and some great side plots, we got all these glimpses into the past. I always knew Cordelia and Aral were having a full and fascinating life when Miles wasn't looking, and now I have proof! Hints and stories and (oh my god I want fic) just enough to really get you to rethink some of the past books in a good way.
And now allow me to discuss RELATIONSHIPS. Namely, the Cordelia/Aral/Jole relationship. I had always wanted more queer characters and BOOM. A triad! Like, OKAY. I was texting a friend while reading it:
SHE JUST REVEALED A CANON THREESOME
PRETTY SURE
EITHER THAT OR V POLY BUT I THINK THREESOME
*wheezes*
(pause for friend to laugh at me)
Okay, looks like...poly v with special occasion threesomes? But a lot of emotional intimacy
Aral, the central point here, has been dead three years, and his widow and his lover are just really starting to thaw again
But she says things like "and then you came back to us"
* note: I doublechecked my poly terms and I think I got them all right? But please correct me if I'm wrong!
(also did I mention fic? PLEASE BRING IT ALL TO ME.)
It just felt really right for all three of their characters. Especially with the extra history - the moment where Jole realizes Cordelia recognizes his need to be a part of the news about Aral, I almost cried.
And poor Miles, learning all these new things. I think he would have been more Betan about it if it hadn't been his mom and dad.
So if it's the last book I will still be sad, because I love these people so. But also if it's the last book, I will be content, because it completes the circuit from Shards of Honor all the way home.
rigormorphis's review
5.0
I adored this book. Completely adored it. I can't write a review right now since I'm on the mobile app and I really hate typing on my phone, but I'm going to try to come back and write some thoughts down once my laptop returns from the war.
ishmael's review
3.0
A quieter, more personal book compared to the rest of the series. Things long hinted at come to light thanks to getting away from Miles' PoV.
It deals with grief, past polyamorous relationships, love after 50, retirement, and the desire for kids. While I'm glad a book with these topics exists they're also not topics I feel a huge desire to read about. It's disappointing that queer relationships are largely relegated to offscreen time in this series. But since it's the last book in a long series the previous experience with most of the characters bridged the gap to make for a good read. I'm curious where the next book will go--will any of the kids get a PoV? I'd like to see it get back to more action/mystery now that it's had this interlude.
It deals with grief, past polyamorous relationships, love after 50, retirement, and the desire for kids. While I'm glad a book with these topics exists they're also not topics I feel a huge desire to read about. It's disappointing that queer relationships are largely relegated to offscreen time in this series. But since it's the last book in a long series the previous experience with most of the characters bridged the gap to make for a good read. I'm curious where the next book will go--will any of the kids get a PoV? I'd like to see it get back to more action/mystery now that it's had this interlude.
olegx's review
5.0
https://olegeightnine.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/lois-mcmaster-bujold-gentleman-jole-and-the-red-queen/ - традиционно кидаю ссылку на блог, но не буду копировать текст, потому что попытки объяснить цикл обычным людям там больше чем текста про книгу.
Но вот одно предложение про книгу сюда на всякий случай "Не знаю, как оценивать GJatRQ как повествование, но терапевтическое средство для поднятия настроение — безупречное".
Но вот одно предложение про книгу сюда на всякий случай "Не знаю, как оценивать GJatRQ как повествование, но терапевтическое средство для поднятия настроение — безупречное".