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emiann2023's review against another edition
5.0
My only regret with this book is that I read it as an ebook.
Not that ebooks are bad.
This book just felt like the kind of book you want to be holding in your hands as you acquaint yourself with a diverse and delightful cast of characters in a fantastical, rich world full of wit and danger.
This was a book I saw recommended by another author who I think I will like very much. I am glad that I picked it up and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.
Not that ebooks are bad.
This book just felt like the kind of book you want to be holding in your hands as you acquaint yourself with a diverse and delightful cast of characters in a fantastical, rich world full of wit and danger.
This was a book I saw recommended by another author who I think I will like very much. I am glad that I picked it up and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.
hypatiasilver's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.75
rouge_red's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
This wasn't really my cup of tea writing or plot wise. The writing was just a bit too dry for me, and when it came to scenes of action/fighting or romance, I really didn't feel the tension, esp. those romance scenes. Though the author did seed bits of information throughout the novel (i.e. necks!), I never became invested in any of the characters or relationships between anyone. That's not to say Beaton did a poor job, I just wasn't into her writing. Really, my mood was kind of a flat line through the whole book.
Besides that, I have to critique the names. I mean, Vitelongelo? Really? The Councillor is just one of many fantasy novels I've read that bases its world on reality, but sometimes it feels a little lazy. Here we have obvious France, obvious Italy, etc... I wouldn't say world building is her strong suit. Still I wished we had a map to consult.
Litany and Lysande's ability to use her magic without practice. If/when we need someone to be good at something, just make it happen. Lysande is new at her job, doesn't know how to dress or fight particularly well? Litany will do it all and more for you. Lysande might spontaneously explode with power at any time (though this is dropped because all she's worried about are her drugs) but when she needs her ability, she can just use it and with a fair amount of accuracy?
She just trusts Derset because he was the only one who didn't talk shit about her behind her back?
Who else is going to reveal that they're an elemental?
One thing I will say Beaton did well was in showing us Sarelin and Lysande's relationship. The first 70-100 pages went by quite quickly and Sarelin, who we barely get any time with, dies. Since so much of the story hinges on the two's history, I was worried that I just wouldn't care or that Sarelin's influence would be implied but whatever. However, I liked that at the beginning and into the middle of the book, Lysande thinks of Sarelin a lot- about how Sarelin was a mentor and a mother figure who she deeply loved. Lysande needs a lot of guidance initially, thrown as she is into a position of power; but as she comes more into her own, and acknowledges that some of Sarelin's policies don't align with her own values, she looks back on their time fondly, but also more realistically.
But how can you be so confused that Jale and Dante are a thing?
Besides that, I have to critique the names. I mean, Vitelongelo? Really? The Councillor is just one of many fantasy novels I've read that bases its world on reality, but sometimes it feels a little lazy. Here we have obvious France, obvious Italy, etc... I wouldn't say world building is her strong suit. Still I wished we had a map to consult.
Litany and Lysande's ability to use her magic without practice. If/when we need someone to be good at something, just make it happen. Lysande is new at her job, doesn't know how to dress or fight particularly well? Litany will do it all and more for you. Lysande might spontaneously explode with power at any time (though this is dropped because all she's worried about are her drugs) but when she needs her ability, she can just use it and with a fair amount of accuracy?
She just trusts Derset because he was the only one who didn't talk shit about her behind her back?
Who else is going to reveal that they're an elemental?
One thing I will say Beaton did well was in showing us Sarelin and Lysande's relationship. The first 70-100 pages went by quite quickly and Sarelin, who we barely get any time with, dies. Since so much of the story hinges on the two's history, I was worried that I just wouldn't care or that Sarelin's influence would be implied but whatever. However, I liked that at the beginning and into the middle of the book, Lysande thinks of Sarelin a lot- about how Sarelin was a mentor and a mother figure who she deeply loved. Lysande needs a lot of guidance initially, thrown as she is into a position of power; but as she comes more into her own, and acknowledges that some of Sarelin's policies don't align with her own values, she looks back on their time fondly, but also more realistically.
But how can you be so confused that Jale and Dante are a thing?
maiagatlin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.75
laz92's review against another edition
5.0
Very intricate and intriguing, great plot and absorbing characters
antigonus's review against another edition
3.0
Despite being bogged down by pacing issues, E.J. Beaton’s The Councillor is a fine literary fantasy debut, filled with political intrigue, oppression, and the effort required to overturn enforced societal hierarchies, that left me pining for a sequel which is guaranteed to be even more spectacular.
The first thing that struck me about this novel was the main character, Lysande Prior, a palace scholar specialising in the history of the realm and writing a treatise on the attributes that go into the birth of an ideal leader. I came into this book after finishing The Poppy War trilogy, so I was surprised to see the many similarities between Lysande and Rin. Both are war orphans with a penchant for drug abuse and an unquenchable thirst for power; but their motivations and end-goals differ in crucial ways.
Although Lysande has grew up in the palace under the tutelage of Queen Sarelin, she is keenly aware of the ceilings enforced upon various peoples of the realm: Elementals (those who have command over fire, water, air and the mind) are routinely executed, working class people are constantly reminded not to aspire to anything more than what they are born into, and Silverbloods (analogous to aristocracy) rule over everyone. To make things even more interesting, the author has built a world where gender imbalance doesn’t exist and prejudices revolving around sexual orientation are irrelevant (a.k.a. queer-norm). It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into the foundations of this world, and I found it compelling from the start.
Speaking of compelling starts, the mode of world-building chosen by the author made the first quarter of the book difficult to get through. The main character constantly relies on recollections or flashbacks to dwell on personal relationships and past events. Just when I thought the plot was beginning to build some momentum, there was a flashback thrown in to arrest it. In some scenes, there were multiple recollections to wade through, which made the going tough and slow for me as a reader. Fortunately, the frequency of these transitions drops sharply as the book progresses.
The plot primarily unfolds along two paths: Upon the murder of Queen Sarelin, Lysande is tasked with choosing the next ruler of the realm from four worthy candidates, among whom lurks the murderer (the Machiavellian component); and it is also a journey of self-discovery where a palace scholar, with no family name to speak of and only armed with the knowledge gained from books, is thrust into a world of high-stakes politics, governance, leadership and war.
Although it all sounds exciting, the author doesn’t quite manage to execute it smoothly, mainly because the pacing is all over the map, with noticeable crests and troughs. Still, due to the fully fleshed out nature of core characters and their fascinating interaction, The Councillor turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. While the writing does fall on the literary side, it has quite a nice balance to it, and contains evocative descriptions. I, for one, am definitely pumped up for the release of the sequel and confident that E.J. Beaton can deliver something truly special with her sophomore effort.
The first thing that struck me about this novel was the main character, Lysande Prior, a palace scholar specialising in the history of the realm and writing a treatise on the attributes that go into the birth of an ideal leader. I came into this book after finishing The Poppy War trilogy, so I was surprised to see the many similarities between Lysande and Rin. Both are war orphans with a penchant for drug abuse and an unquenchable thirst for power; but their motivations and end-goals differ in crucial ways.
Although Lysande has grew up in the palace under the tutelage of Queen Sarelin, she is keenly aware of the ceilings enforced upon various peoples of the realm: Elementals (those who have command over fire, water, air and the mind) are routinely executed, working class people are constantly reminded not to aspire to anything more than what they are born into, and Silverbloods (analogous to aristocracy) rule over everyone. To make things even more interesting, the author has built a world where gender imbalance doesn’t exist and prejudices revolving around sexual orientation are irrelevant (a.k.a. queer-norm). It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into the foundations of this world, and I found it compelling from the start.
Speaking of compelling starts, the mode of world-building chosen by the author made the first quarter of the book difficult to get through. The main character constantly relies on recollections or flashbacks to dwell on personal relationships and past events. Just when I thought the plot was beginning to build some momentum, there was a flashback thrown in to arrest it. In some scenes, there were multiple recollections to wade through, which made the going tough and slow for me as a reader. Fortunately, the frequency of these transitions drops sharply as the book progresses.
The plot primarily unfolds along two paths: Upon the murder of Queen Sarelin, Lysande is tasked with choosing the next ruler of the realm from four worthy candidates, among whom lurks the murderer (the Machiavellian component); and it is also a journey of self-discovery where a palace scholar, with no family name to speak of and only armed with the knowledge gained from books, is thrust into a world of high-stakes politics, governance, leadership and war.
Although it all sounds exciting, the author doesn’t quite manage to execute it smoothly, mainly because the pacing is all over the map, with noticeable crests and troughs. Still, due to the fully fleshed out nature of core characters and their fascinating interaction, The Councillor turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. While the writing does fall on the literary side, it has quite a nice balance to it, and contains evocative descriptions. I, for one, am definitely pumped up for the release of the sequel and confident that E.J. Beaton can deliver something truly special with her sophomore effort.
genabackis's review
1.0
Political fantasy ? Not at all.
This is a fan fiction written by a h*rny tennager, with elegant prose and some adult machinery (?).
That’s a huuuuuge waste of time.
With a principal character being a crazy cold manipulative person, on Xanax (scales of a chimera ?). I’ve never read such a bad character.
This is a fan fiction written by a h*rny tennager, with elegant prose and some adult machinery (?).
That’s a huuuuuge waste of time.
With a principal character being a crazy cold manipulative person, on Xanax (scales of a chimera ?). I’ve never read such a bad character.
reliures's review against another edition
5.0
This was an incredible book and my reading year definitely started on a high.
After the death of Queen Sarelin, Lysande, the court’s scholar and a simple commoner “adopted” by the queen, rises to become The Councillor of the orphaned Elyria realm and has to appoint a new leader from the different “city-state” rulers of the kingdom.
The action takes place in a renaissance style world with places reminiscent of European and Mediterranean countries. The cultures of each cities were distinctive with their own traditions and history, and the queer normed, gender equal societies made for a rich and interesting world building.
This was definitely a more character oriented book and the main character, Lysande, was very well written. She is a scholar with a cultured and analytical mind that is respectful and considerate of others but as we discover she also holds dark traits and addictions. The book was written in a third person point of view but it was solely through her eyes the story unfolds; however the other characters also felt very real and complex.
It was incredible to delve into her mind and emotions as she deal with the power vacuum created by the death of the queen, the rise of an old enemy but also prejudice, lies and political manoeuvrings. The plot itself was very Machiavellian with many twists and turns, and a great dose of mystery.
The most prevalent fantasy aspect was the appearance of mythical beasts like the chimera or the panther and the practice of elemental magic.
For me one of the biggest quality of this book was its writing. It was so elegant, lush and sensual which is no surprise since the author is also a poet. The descriptions and world-building were integrated seamlessly into the plot with some truly gorgeous prose. There was multiple passages I read over and over just to feel the beauty of the words written again.
The Councillor is a great character-driven political fantasy, I can’t wait to read the next book !
After the death of Queen Sarelin, Lysande, the court’s scholar and a simple commoner “adopted” by the queen, rises to become The Councillor of the orphaned Elyria realm and has to appoint a new leader from the different “city-state” rulers of the kingdom.
The action takes place in a renaissance style world with places reminiscent of European and Mediterranean countries. The cultures of each cities were distinctive with their own traditions and history, and the queer normed, gender equal societies made for a rich and interesting world building.
This was definitely a more character oriented book and the main character, Lysande, was very well written. She is a scholar with a cultured and analytical mind that is respectful and considerate of others but as we discover she also holds dark traits and addictions. The book was written in a third person point of view but it was solely through her eyes the story unfolds; however the other characters also felt very real and complex.
It was incredible to delve into her mind and emotions as she deal with the power vacuum created by the death of the queen, the rise of an old enemy but also prejudice, lies and political manoeuvrings. The plot itself was very Machiavellian with many twists and turns, and a great dose of mystery.
The most prevalent fantasy aspect was the appearance of mythical beasts like the chimera or the panther and the practice of elemental magic.
For me one of the biggest quality of this book was its writing. It was so elegant, lush and sensual which is no surprise since the author is also a poet. The descriptions and world-building were integrated seamlessly into the plot with some truly gorgeous prose. There was multiple passages I read over and over just to feel the beauty of the words written again.
The Councillor is a great character-driven political fantasy, I can’t wait to read the next book !
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this book.
In a world where family connections mean everything, Lysande, an orphan, is nobody. Until, that is, she taken from her orphanage by Sarelin Brey, the queen, and chosen to become part of her household. From a young age, Lysande is obsessed with writing and study, and Sarelin encourages her to be a scholar. As she grows up, Lysande juggles her scholarly work with advising Sarelin and following political intrigues within her country of Elira. But following Sarelin’s poisoning and sudden death, Lysande’s world is upturned, and not just by grief. Sarelin has entrusted a vital and terrifying duty to Lysande: she is appointed Councillor, and must choose which of the five rulers of the city-states will be placed on the throne.
This novel grips the reader from the very beginning. Lysande is a character who truly shines and captures our attention completely. Although she prefers to be by herself in the library, she is no wallflower: she is determined, courageous, and tough as nails, not allowing the complex politics of Elira to get the better of her. Though reluctant at first, Lysande quickly comes to thrive in her role as Councillor, learning to make rapid decisions and weigh up her allies and enemies,. Her insights are vital, as the realm comes under further attack at the hands of the magical White Queen, an old enemy whom Sarelin Brey thought she had defeated for good.
The world of Elira is rich and detailed, and refreshingly populated by queer characters and characters of colour. Though birth and aristocracy matter hugely in the story, there is no discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, or skin colour. This means that marriages between two queens or two princes are possible, and much of the political power rests with women. As well as giving space to powerful and politically savvy women, the novel also challenges concepts of toxic masculinity: in this world, it’s not shameful for men to allow women to take the lead, and they don’t have to take on a dominant role in relationships. Men can equally enjoy perfumes and beautiful clothes, and like to be pampered. By not only allowing women a central role, but also giving male characters space to express themselves in different ways, Beaton points out the inequality in our own society much more shrewdly and successfully than other writers of feminist fantasy.
Lysande is a refreshing characters in lots of ways: though she wants to overturn inequality in her society, she is a flawed person, working in a world that’s trying to squeeze her out. Magical people in Elira are routinely killed, and though Lysande knows this is wrong, she struggles to find ways to stop it. Growing up an orphan, she has witnessed poverty and loss, but, even though she has some political power as the Councillor, she quickly realises how hard it is to make lasting change. Lysande constantly has to compromise, and to weigh up what she can do to promote the most good, without ever truly knowing who her allies are. She’s also impetuous, quick to throw herself into danger, and throughout the novel she’s in the midst of grief, following the death of Sarelin, and her realisation that Sarelin was not the perfect queen Lysande long believed her to be. All this complexity makes Lysande a very memorable and believable character.
This novel also deals with the issue of addiction with care and nuance, something I’ve never seen in a fantasy novel before. Lysande routinely takes “scale”, a drug that seems to be somewhat similar to cocaine in impact, but is made from the ground-up scales of magical creatures called chimeras. Though the scale causes unpleasant side-effects, Lysande takes small quantities daily, and craves the clarity of through and calm the drug brings her. Beaton captures how Lysande incorporates the drug into her daily functioning, and never reduces her personality to “drug addict”: important representation, given how often narratives reduce substance-abusers to nothing more than their addiction. This nuanced take gives the novel an additional dimension.
I recommend The Councillor to anyone who enjoys Machiavellian politics, morally grey characters, and stories about the ways in which we come to compromise ourselves, no matter how idealistic we may be. It’s refreshingly free from tropes about “chosen ones” or “destiny”: instead, it’s a story about the ways in which our life experiences shape us, and how strength of character and hard work are more important than anything that is handed to us. It’s a moving, gripping and complex story, and a really exciting debut. I look forward to more from this world!
In a world where family connections mean everything, Lysande, an orphan, is nobody. Until, that is, she taken from her orphanage by Sarelin Brey, the queen, and chosen to become part of her household. From a young age, Lysande is obsessed with writing and study, and Sarelin encourages her to be a scholar. As she grows up, Lysande juggles her scholarly work with advising Sarelin and following political intrigues within her country of Elira. But following Sarelin’s poisoning and sudden death, Lysande’s world is upturned, and not just by grief. Sarelin has entrusted a vital and terrifying duty to Lysande: she is appointed Councillor, and must choose which of the five rulers of the city-states will be placed on the throne.
This novel grips the reader from the very beginning. Lysande is a character who truly shines and captures our attention completely. Although she prefers to be by herself in the library, she is no wallflower: she is determined, courageous, and tough as nails, not allowing the complex politics of Elira to get the better of her. Though reluctant at first, Lysande quickly comes to thrive in her role as Councillor, learning to make rapid decisions and weigh up her allies and enemies,. Her insights are vital, as the realm comes under further attack at the hands of the magical White Queen, an old enemy whom Sarelin Brey thought she had defeated for good.
The world of Elira is rich and detailed, and refreshingly populated by queer characters and characters of colour. Though birth and aristocracy matter hugely in the story, there is no discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, or skin colour. This means that marriages between two queens or two princes are possible, and much of the political power rests with women. As well as giving space to powerful and politically savvy women, the novel also challenges concepts of toxic masculinity: in this world, it’s not shameful for men to allow women to take the lead, and they don’t have to take on a dominant role in relationships. Men can equally enjoy perfumes and beautiful clothes, and like to be pampered. By not only allowing women a central role, but also giving male characters space to express themselves in different ways, Beaton points out the inequality in our own society much more shrewdly and successfully than other writers of feminist fantasy.
Lysande is a refreshing characters in lots of ways: though she wants to overturn inequality in her society, she is a flawed person, working in a world that’s trying to squeeze her out. Magical people in Elira are routinely killed, and though Lysande knows this is wrong, she struggles to find ways to stop it. Growing up an orphan, she has witnessed poverty and loss, but, even though she has some political power as the Councillor, she quickly realises how hard it is to make lasting change. Lysande constantly has to compromise, and to weigh up what she can do to promote the most good, without ever truly knowing who her allies are. She’s also impetuous, quick to throw herself into danger, and throughout the novel she’s in the midst of grief, following the death of Sarelin, and her realisation that Sarelin was not the perfect queen Lysande long believed her to be. All this complexity makes Lysande a very memorable and believable character.
This novel also deals with the issue of addiction with care and nuance, something I’ve never seen in a fantasy novel before. Lysande routinely takes “scale”, a drug that seems to be somewhat similar to cocaine in impact, but is made from the ground-up scales of magical creatures called chimeras. Though the scale causes unpleasant side-effects, Lysande takes small quantities daily, and craves the clarity of through and calm the drug brings her. Beaton captures how Lysande incorporates the drug into her daily functioning, and never reduces her personality to “drug addict”: important representation, given how often narratives reduce substance-abusers to nothing more than their addiction. This nuanced take gives the novel an additional dimension.
I recommend The Councillor to anyone who enjoys Machiavellian politics, morally grey characters, and stories about the ways in which we come to compromise ourselves, no matter how idealistic we may be. It’s refreshingly free from tropes about “chosen ones” or “destiny”: instead, it’s a story about the ways in which our life experiences shape us, and how strength of character and hard work are more important than anything that is handed to us. It’s a moving, gripping and complex story, and a really exciting debut. I look forward to more from this world!