Reviews with content warning for Death - The Councillor

I really liked this book! I struggled to get into it a little in the beginning, I think there was something a little off either with the pacing or the initial world building, but by the end I was really enjoying it. I think the characters brought it through for me, I really liked Lysande as a main character and think she provided a really interesting perspective, and I LOVED all of the side characters. I did guess who the traitor was very early, but that’s never really a problem for me in a book because it just makes me feel smart. I think sometimes the scenes felt a little jumpy, and there were times when the writing felt a little clunky and I had to reread a page or passage to fully get what was trying to be conveyed. I did like the plot overall though, and how it cumulated in a not-quite-ending. I liked the main relationship (despite just how much of a slow burn it was) and how they were constantly at each other’s throats until the end, it was very fun. I also loved the friendships between Lysande and Litany as well as her and Cassia. What can I say I love me a female friendship. I also appreciated the portrayal of addiction, though I’ve never experienced it so can’t say with certainty how accurate it is. I liked the world and the different cities (although I think it could have been set up better) and I think the magic system was interesting (although could have been a little more explored nearer the end).

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misterwisp's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

The way the author writes about "inner world" things like addiction and grief has a lot of impact and resonance. The writing overall feels quite different in an interesting way. Some parts have a real elegance to them. If you like a component of emotional exploration this is definitely worth a try.
It is somewhat slow at times and initially felt hard to get into. There is a big focus on the main character's thoughts and perceptions of things. There is a lot of subtle interpersonal drama, which is broken up by occasional fast paced action.
It proved worth the effort. The ending was great and provided a satisfying payoff of the main story threads leading there. I am left feeling invested in the characters and the world and wishing I had a sequel in my hands already!
Overall it came across as a book of subtlety and understatement in a well done and intriguing way. I can't believe this is a debut novel! Everything in it seems well crafted and thoroughly thought out.

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thoughtsstained's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

LIKES:

Lysande Prior. Oh boy, do I fucking love Lysande Prior? Like, I want to BE HER when I grow up!? The way she grows into a role thrust upon her and allows herself to feel ambition and use her unique talents and strengths is legendary. Her mind is fantastic. The tenacity. I bend a knee to Prior, gladly.
The uniqueness of focus. I've read very few books where the scholar is the prime focus and it was positively refreshing. Plus, it felt like, in many areas, where we'd traditionally focus in one area, it was instead shifted to a different (and more interesting) conflict than the one we expected. (Being purposely vague here, due to avoiding spoilers.)
It's GAAYYYYYYY. Queernorm world? Check. BISEXUAL MAIN CHARACTER!? Yes and my little bi heart did NOT realize how refreshing that would be. Queer relationships unapologetically on the page!? YES.
Beautifully written. Like, holy shit, this was gorgeous!? Plus, it was written with a scholar's perspective in mind and I fucking loved that.
Last 100 pages. So, I started reading the last 100 pages on my lunch break and then promptly turned off my camera during a Zoom meeting at 1pm and read for another hour during work because I couldn't stop (sorry day job). Everything had been set up so perfectly. The twists! The reveals! The sexual tension!!! Setting up a sequel!! I just!!!!

DISLIKES:

Nothing. This is perfection.

The Councillor has skyrocketed to be one of my favorite books (and I don't say that lightly). Combining gorgeous writing with a main character I both admire and fear, with a cast of secondary characters that I'm attached to (hello Litany!!), despite (FUCK YOU, REDACTED) and am, um, way too attracted to (you all know who I mean here, surely). The plot was thrilling, I am 100% invested in what happens next and I am both kicking myself for waiting to read this and berating myself for reading it too soon before the sequel comes out, now stuck longing. Also, can I just saw that queernorm worlds are just so superior?

So, none of us are surprised that The Councillor by E.J. Beaton is getting 5 gems out of 5 gems, right? Gorgeous, shiny gems.

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totallyshelfaware's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.5

Oh wow, what a TRIP. I haven't been sucked in from page one by a book like that in a while.

This book has it all — drama! politics! questionable choices! morally dubious characters! achingly beautiful writing! characters that burrow their way into your heart! queer rep that feels completely organic to the story!

I'm so glad we're getting a sequel because I definitely want more of this world and its characters. ♥️

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tachyondecay's review against another edition

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I am in the minority for this one judging by the rave reviews it is getting ahead of its release. Like many of those other reviewers, I received a copy of The Councillor from NetGalley and DAW in exchange for a review. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a short one: I did not finish this book.

We’re off to a great start. Lysande is an advisor/close friend to Queen Sarelin, who plucked her from an orphanage for her scholastic potential. Sarelin dies unexpectedly (murder!), but not before she secretly named Lysande as her Councillor. Lysande’s sole purpose in this role? Since Sarelin died without an heir, Lysande must select the new monarch of their realm from one of the four rulers of the cities that make up the realm. Of course, those rulers hate each other, and one or more of them might have murdered the queen. Sounds like a fun job.

This is exactly the kind of political intrigue I want from my high fantasy. Toss in the fact that there are a ton of openly queer characters (and it’s normal), and that’s cool: The Councillor should be a book for me. So what gives?

It drags. Like seriously, seriously dragged for me. Page after page after scene after scene of repetitive action and description. I reached a point where I was skimming just to see when something actually happened, and I think I finally got about a quarter of the way into the book before that occurred.

Despite a great setting and cool plot, none of the characterization and especially none of the narration works for me. Nothing gels into a compelling voice that makes me want to sit on the edge of my seat and bite my nails like I did for a book like The Goblin Emperor, which faces a similarly-inexperienced person dealing with huge political machinations.

All I can say, attempting to assuage my feeling bad for writing this review, is that I don’t think these are problems with the book or Beaton’s writing. As I said earlier, the critical consensus seems to be positive, so if you are interested in The Councillor, I would go with that—please don’t take this critique as a recommendation to skip this one. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me, and I decided to accept that and move on. Maybe next time!

Originally posted at Kara.Reviews.

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