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dhee_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Probably the sexiest bk I've read in a minute. 3 perfectly done love interests. Intrigue and mystery even after bk ends. Charice's presence is felt throughout the bk even though she's m.i.a for most of it. The moment we get with her--she's so strong. Not mercurial at all. I love her for it. Her resolve and her taking step back from Lysande because of Sarelin is fascinating. Luca - I like him for what we know of him. He challenges Lysande. He moves the plot along and adds to any scene he is in. I don't trust him. But I am so glad is a part of the story. Not going to lie, he and Lysande danced around each other this whole bk. It was not a will they won't they but rather a question of when. It almost feels it could be anytime now. Derset brought out how vulnerable Lysande is. She was so cautious in expressing her sexuality in its totality Cassia- Sarelin bond was core need for Lysande. Her death left gaping whole in Lysande. I think Cassia being in her life gives something back to Lysande. I loved seeing what friendship with Cassia, an older woman, means to her. I also love Jale moment when he tells Lysande that she's a good listener. It's small compliment but huge moment. The same goes for her friendship with Litany. It's harder for Lysande than most other MCs to make friends. So it means a lot more when she does. It feels like a big win at the end of story.
This is a bk I want to reread soon. Beaton writes challenges, desire and ambition with precision. The fantasy is seamless with internal and political conflict. I cannot wait to get into the thick of Lysande's magic and addiction next bk. Really truly my best of list for 2021.
Spoiler
that she only saw what she wanted to see of Derset. He won her trust when he said he liked what she liked.This is a bk I want to reread soon. Beaton writes challenges, desire and ambition with precision. The fantasy is seamless with internal and political conflict. I cannot wait to get into the thick of Lysande's magic and addiction next bk. Really truly my best of list for 2021.
realmsofmymind's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
When the queen dies suddenly without an heir, Lysande Prior is the last one to expect her appointment as Councillor. She is a scholar by training and, more importantly, lowborn; no one expected her to be given the role of choosing the next ruler of the empire. But with rumored sightings of the White Queen (a long ago defeated usurper of the throne) increasing, Lysande has to accept her position and find a way to keep the empire stable while she makes her choice. The problem is, Lysande knows that the queen died by poison - and the four eligible candidates for the throne are the prime suspects.
THE COUNCILLOR is an intricate fantasy revolving around succession politics, imperfect legacies, and the weaponization of history. It is also somewhat dense and reflective, requiring patience to make it to some extremely rewarding chapters, including a spectacular finale. I love a good story about court intrigue, and THE COUNCILLOR was here to deliver. Lysande may have grown up in the castle, but she's an outsider, dismissed for being an orphan of no standing. Somehow, she has to overcome her doubts and fears and take command of people who don't think she should be in charge. This is a story of a woman growing into her own power in all aspects of her life, and it was rewarding to see her accept her own value and to force others to see it too.
The story definitely throws you into the deep end right off the bat, and it took me a while to sort through the names of the different city states and nearby countries, figuring out who was in the empire and who was without (a map would have been incredibly helpful). Add in a writing style that occasionally wasn't clear about who it was referencing in a sentence, and you have a book that requires a good amount of focus to latch onto in the beginning. And while things in the plot are constantly moving and progressing (the queen is murdered in the first 20 pages after all), there's also a lot of time spent being reflective and processing grief, while also coming to terms with the new power Lysande wields.
This all created a book that, on the whole, was slower-paced than I normally prefer. It has exceedingly long chapters, sometimes 30-40 pages, which is something I personally bounce off against. I like more frequent breaks in writing that allow me an easy off ramp to pause as needed.
But despite that languid pacing there were definitely moments that I found it hard to put the book down. One meeting of the council and an ambassador had me on the edge of my seat, as the outcome could mean not only war, but immediate violence in the room. Another revelation had me outright gasp; and after spending a week getting through the first 300 pages, I read the final 150 in one sitting. What's more, Lysande is never sure who she can trust, forcing her to constantly juggle multiple political alliances both inside and out of the royal court as she tries to keep the kingdom together long enough to instill a new leader.
And even while I griped about it being reflective, it does have interesting things to muse about. Lysande in particular is dealing with the fact that a woman she admired and respected also did a lot of terrible things in the name of the safety and security of the kingdom; she has a growing realization that her own legacy might be undoing that of her predecessor. It also grapples with the adage of history being written by the victor, and how the erasure of certain peoples from the history books is part of preventing them from imagining that they should aspire to anything more.
Lastly, there is a romance subplot in here, though it's not a simple rivals-to-lovers romance. (And to be clear, this book is more sensual than explicit, with fade-to-black before anything gets too spicy.) While Lysande is confidently bi (this being a queernorm world), she is less confident about what she wants in a partner, both romantically and in the bedroom. Part of her evolution is realizing who and what is right for her, as well as the fact that she's in her right to desire those things.
In short, THE COUNCILLOR is worth your time, if you are the kind of person who doesn't mind a slower, denser read. While I admittedly struggled with it on some days and had to wait for the right headspace, when the book clicked for me, it was on fire. THE COUNCILLOR won't be for everyone, but the those able to give it the patience it deserves will find a meaty political fantasy of succession and revolution.
inktreader's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.5
This book sticks out in my mind as a visceral memory of a book that I think I absolutely despised the further I read. I remember reading the synopsis and thinking I was going to get something with significant political intrigue with some sprinkles of romance here and there. It felt more like the actual politics was a sidepiece to the prose describing the attractiveness of the other characters that Lysande meets.
Speaking of the romance, the only ideas we get of Lysande's bisexual relationships occurred before the story starts, and most of what happens in the story seems to revolve around how she is drawn to Luca and his pale skin..so it's mostly heterosexual. I can't recall how many pages of his descriptions I had to read and it felt like the plot was going nowhere. Like, your Queen/Friend was poisoned at the beginning and we're about to have a political conflict but hey--can we PLEASE focus on this instead of doing drugs or banging? Everyone was just incredibly horny. The characters and the world itself felt as deep as cardboard cutouts, and that they were simply backdrops for sex. I almost straight-up DNF'd at 95% because it felt like dragging myself across a bed of nails to get through the last part. There's nothing wrong with the book having smut, but then I think it should've been marketed differently.
Speaking of the romance, the only ideas we get of Lysande's bisexual relationships occurred before the story starts, and most of what happens in the story seems to revolve around how she is drawn to Luca and his pale skin..so it's mostly heterosexual. I can't recall how many pages of his descriptions I had to read and it felt like the plot was going nowhere. Like, your Queen/Friend was poisoned at the beginning and we're about to have a political conflict but hey--can we PLEASE focus on this instead of doing drugs or banging? Everyone was just incredibly horny. The characters and the world itself felt as deep as cardboard cutouts, and that they were simply backdrops for sex. I almost straight-up DNF'd at 95% because it felt like dragging myself across a bed of nails to get through the last part. There's nothing wrong with the book having smut, but then I think it should've been marketed differently.
bookieswithcookie's review against another edition
5.0
Favorite Fantasy of 2021 so far! There's so much to love with lots of political intrigue, a scholar protagonist, and also buckets of queer rep. This book was tailor made for me and I can't wait to read the sequel. This book is criminally underhyped at the moment.
thebookishgarden's review against another edition
5.0
The Councillor is E.J. Beaton's debut novel that nobody should miss the opportunity to read! I am thankful to have received an ARC of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Councillor is a Machiavellian fantasy that follows the quest of Lysande Prior. After the death of Queen Sarelin Brey, Lysande has to find not only a new monarch to rule the throne but also make sure she doesn't choose the queen's murderer.
This novel is filled with so much fantasy, action, mystery, suspense, and intrigue that I loved every bit of it. The most important concept I look for is character development, and it was definitely there! I loved every aspect of Lysande, Luca, Jale, Dante, Cassia, and every other good or evil character involved in the story. The story started out a bit slow before the other monarchs came in, but once everyone came together so did the excitement. I also quite enjoyed the magical elements and political powers that came into play. It led to an even balance of friendships and untrustworthiness in my opinion. There were so many characters that Lysande really enjoyed the company of, but that nagging feeling that one of them might betray her always had me on my toes.
This standalone adult fantasy is a slow-burn plot line, but I felt that it was so easy to get trapped in this book and never want to look away. There are only fifteen long chapters throughout the novel, so the pacing might be a concern to those who don't prefer long chapters. However, I must say that I don't prefer long chapters either, but I loved the characters and plot line so much that it never once felt daunting.
All in all, I give a huge hats off to the author on a well-told story! For this being a debut adult fantasy novel, I am so utterly pleased and excited for more to come from E.J. Beaton's writing!
The Councillor is a Machiavellian fantasy that follows the quest of Lysande Prior. After the death of Queen Sarelin Brey, Lysande has to find not only a new monarch to rule the throne but also make sure she doesn't choose the queen's murderer.
This novel is filled with so much fantasy, action, mystery, suspense, and intrigue that I loved every bit of it. The most important concept I look for is character development, and it was definitely there! I loved every aspect of Lysande, Luca, Jale, Dante, Cassia, and every other good or evil character involved in the story. The story started out a bit slow before the other monarchs came in, but once everyone came together so did the excitement. I also quite enjoyed the magical elements and political powers that came into play. It led to an even balance of friendships and untrustworthiness in my opinion. There were so many characters that Lysande really enjoyed the company of, but that nagging feeling that one of them might betray her always had me on my toes.
This standalone adult fantasy is a slow-burn plot line, but I felt that it was so easy to get trapped in this book and never want to look away. There are only fifteen long chapters throughout the novel, so the pacing might be a concern to those who don't prefer long chapters. However, I must say that I don't prefer long chapters either, but I loved the characters and plot line so much that it never once felt daunting.
All in all, I give a huge hats off to the author on a well-told story! For this being a debut adult fantasy novel, I am so utterly pleased and excited for more to come from E.J. Beaton's writing!
fitzsbeloved's review against another edition
4.0
There are many times I pick up a book and immediately feel engrossed with what I am reading. Other times, I find enjoyment with what I’m reading, but have a hard time finding the motivation with picking it up.
This is one of those times.
The Councillor by E.J. Beaton is a wonderfully crafted political-fantasy following a young scholar that I think many readers would enjoy. Lysande is smart, level-headed, and cunning, despite her struggles with her drug addiction. Her main goal is to figure out who murdered her best friend and queen of the realm, Seralin while also being tasked with deciding which of the four city-rulers will ascend the throne.
The problem here being, obviously, that it’s quite possible that one of the city-rulers might have been the one to kill Seralin.
Of course, the biggest draw here is trying to figure out the mystery alongside Lysande. Each of the city-rulers have their own distinct and enjoyable personalities. I quickly became attached to each of them and couldn’t fathom any of them being the betrayer (if only for the fact that my heart wouldn’t be able to take it).
Dante and Jale, the two star-crossed princes, were probably my favorite. It’s quite evident from the start that they have something going on despite being from two places that really seem to hate each other. Watching their budding romance from the sidelines was definitely one of the highlights for me. I can only hope for more content for them in the future.
Cassia was the one city-ruler I wasn’t sure about from the beginning. She sort of starts off as your typical “strong female” type that seemingly doesn’t have a personality beyond that. But she really grew on me! I especially loved her friendship with Lysande.
Then there’s Luca. I’m probably the least attached to him, which is a shame considering he’s the one Lysande has her eye closest on—both sexually and as a rival. He’s snarky, intelligent, darkly alluring, and reminded me of the adult version of every other YA protagonist. I do find his dynamic with Lysande fun (who doesn’t like rivals with sexual tension), but I did find myself rolling my eyes every time he opened his mouth.
I think the other side characters and their relationships with Lysande to be equally interesting. If anything, I wish we just got more time with individual characters.
The magic here isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, but I am always a sucker for elemental magic. This is a world where magic is frowned upon and people discovered being able to do it are executed. Because of that, there isn’t much use of actual magic on-page, but I what little there was was engaging. And it definitely sets up for future books to have more magical action.
Speaking of action, though:
There isn’t much. Which brings me to my biggest drawback with this book in that it is so painfully slow. Each chapter is long and most of the pages consist of people just talking and scheming. It’s interesting conversation, mind you, but each chapter took me so long to get through that I found myself losing motivation to pick the book up at all (hence why this took me over a week to finish despite not being that long of a book).
If you’re someone who loves politically-driven books and don’t mind minimal action and a slow pace, this is definitely the book for you!
In short: this is a good book! It’s well-crafted and smart. But it’s also one I can see a lot of people being turned off from just by how painfully slow it is. That being said, I am interested in any future installments that might come out in the future.
This is one of those times.
The Councillor by E.J. Beaton is a wonderfully crafted political-fantasy following a young scholar that I think many readers would enjoy. Lysande is smart, level-headed, and cunning, despite her struggles with her drug addiction. Her main goal is to figure out who murdered her best friend and queen of the realm, Seralin while also being tasked with deciding which of the four city-rulers will ascend the throne.
The problem here being, obviously, that it’s quite possible that one of the city-rulers might have been the one to kill Seralin.
Of course, the biggest draw here is trying to figure out the mystery alongside Lysande. Each of the city-rulers have their own distinct and enjoyable personalities. I quickly became attached to each of them and couldn’t fathom any of them being the betrayer (if only for the fact that my heart wouldn’t be able to take it).
Dante and Jale, the two star-crossed princes, were probably my favorite. It’s quite evident from the start that they have something going on despite being from two places that really seem to hate each other. Watching their budding romance from the sidelines was definitely one of the highlights for me. I can only hope for more content for them in the future.
Cassia was the one city-ruler I wasn’t sure about from the beginning. She sort of starts off as your typical “strong female” type that seemingly doesn’t have a personality beyond that. But she really grew on me! I especially loved her friendship with Lysande.
Then there’s Luca. I’m probably the least attached to him, which is a shame considering he’s the one Lysande has her eye closest on—both sexually and as a rival. He’s snarky, intelligent, darkly alluring, and reminded me of the adult version of every other YA protagonist. I do find his dynamic with Lysande fun (who doesn’t like rivals with sexual tension), but I did find myself rolling my eyes every time he opened his mouth.
I think the other side characters and their relationships with Lysande to be equally interesting. If anything, I wish we just got more time with individual characters.
The magic here isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, but I am always a sucker for elemental magic. This is a world where magic is frowned upon and people discovered being able to do it are executed. Because of that, there isn’t much use of actual magic on-page, but I what little there was was engaging. And it definitely sets up for future books to have more magical action.
Speaking of action, though:
There isn’t much. Which brings me to my biggest drawback with this book in that it is so painfully slow. Each chapter is long and most of the pages consist of people just talking and scheming. It’s interesting conversation, mind you, but each chapter took me so long to get through that I found myself losing motivation to pick the book up at all (hence why this took me over a week to finish despite not being that long of a book).
If you’re someone who loves politically-driven books and don’t mind minimal action and a slow pace, this is definitely the book for you!
In short: this is a good book! It’s well-crafted and smart. But it’s also one I can see a lot of people being turned off from just by how painfully slow it is. That being said, I am interested in any future installments that might come out in the future.
lowercase_em's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
mweis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I had preordered this book and then let it wither away unread on my shelves for years, which tracks. What initially drew me in was the political intrigue combined with murder mystery plot and the bisexual scholar main character, all of which was present and done well in this book.
Lysande was such a fascinating main character to follow because she was an orphan, adopted of sorts by the Queen and became a scholar. When the Queen is murdered, she is charged with determining who the next ruler will be but not only does she have to deal with the internal politicking involved with that choice, there is an old enemy using the internal instability to her own advantage. This book is incredibly slow burn in its world building and politicking and I loved the slow drops of information that shed light onto the world.
That being said, there were a couple “big reveals” that felt incredibly obvious to me but were written as if they should be a surprise, which sort of let me down. Also, Lysande is incredibly horny, and while I love the idea of a historicalesque fantasy centering a woman who embraces her sexuality, I personally think grew tired of her constantly thinking about how beautiful everyone was.
While this wasn’t 100% a win, I am interested in seeing where this series goes if a sequel ever gets published.
Lysande was such a fascinating main character to follow because she was an orphan, adopted of sorts by the Queen and became a scholar. When the Queen is murdered, she is charged with determining who the next ruler will be but not only does she have to deal with the internal politicking involved with that choice, there is an old enemy using the internal instability to her own advantage. This book is incredibly slow burn in its world building and politicking and I loved the slow drops of information that shed light onto the world.
That being said, there were a couple “big reveals” that felt incredibly obvious to me but were written as if they should be a surprise, which sort of let me down. Also, Lysande is incredibly horny, and while I love the idea of a historicalesque fantasy centering a woman who embraces her sexuality, I personally think grew tired of her constantly thinking about how beautiful everyone was.
While this wasn’t 100% a win, I am interested in seeing where this series goes if a sequel ever gets published.
taylormsinclair's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
bi_n_large's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, War, Vomit, Blood, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Xenophobia
Minor: Religious bigotry