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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
We're all on quarantine, my city is under military lockdown, and I made a scribd account because what else am I supposed to do during these trying times.
And I swear I'm hungry and worried about said lockdown, but this book made me forget about all that and just immerse myself in A. J. Demas's world for a little while.
I haven't heard of this writer before, but I liked the cover art and thought the summary was interesting, so I gave this novel a try.
Pros:
• the writing is tight and sometimes outright hilarious. Some passages made me laugh out loud, stuff that I didn't expect but gave more colour to Damiskos's POV narration:
“Here he is,” she said, pre- senting him as if he were a dish that the kitchen had worked hard on but that she privately thought unappetizing.
• I really love the chemistry between Damiskos and Varazda. There's that balance of bickering and respect and attraction that honestly gives me life.
• the politics was a surprise, but I love the tension it lent to this plot.No one is sad some of those Pheme-alt righters philosophers died, but I also have to admit I didn't come in here thinking we were gonna see a bunch of annoying better-than-thous get thoroughly trounced, but I'm very happy about that.
• someone else mentioned it in their review that the issues of gender and gender identity are very modern compared to what it would have been in that period in a Mediterranean equivalent. I agree, but I also think that's the power of mannerpunk: why create a whole new world (most of the time with no magic) if you can't infuse modern sensibilities into historical settings?
• Damiskos is honestly a sweetie.
Cons (no there's not a lot)
• I wonder what kind of hobbies and interests Damiskos have that his over the shoulder POV gives us an extensive description of Varazda's outfits.
And I swear I'm hungry and worried about said lockdown, but this book made me forget about all that and just immerse myself in A. J. Demas's world for a little while.
I haven't heard of this writer before, but I liked the cover art and thought the summary was interesting, so I gave this novel a try.
Pros:
• the writing is tight and sometimes outright hilarious. Some passages made me laugh out loud, stuff that I didn't expect but gave more colour to Damiskos's POV narration:
“Here he is,” she said, pre- senting him as if he were a dish that the kitchen had worked hard on but that she privately thought unappetizing.
• I really love the chemistry between Damiskos and Varazda. There's that balance of bickering and respect and attraction that honestly gives me life.
• the politics was a surprise, but I love the tension it lent to this plot.
• someone else mentioned it in their review that the issues of gender and gender identity are very modern compared to what it would have been in that period in a Mediterranean equivalent. I agree, but I also think that's the power of mannerpunk: why create a whole new world (most of the time with no magic) if you can't infuse modern sensibilities into historical settings?
• Damiskos is honestly a sweetie.
Cons (no there's not a lot)
• I wonder what kind of hobbies and interests Damiskos have that his over the shoulder POV gives us an extensive description of Varazda's outfits.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
- gives the impression of having been written using plotting software
- characters are, on a spectrum from “written by Henry James” to “cardboard cutouts”, much closer to the cardboard cutouts end
+ basically a book-length exercise in clowning on philosophy students
+ one of our soldierly hero’s Traits is humour and that works for me
- characters are, on a spectrum from “written by Henry James” to “cardboard cutouts”, much closer to the cardboard cutouts end
+ basically a book-length exercise in clowning on philosophy students
+ one of our soldierly hero’s Traits is humour and that works for me
Absolutely delightful romance set in AJ Demas' alt-Mediterranean Classical world, with a house party, a retired soldier, a hot eunuch sword dancer/spy, and a conspiracy afoot. The slow burn romance goes along with a twisty plot, lots of likeable characters, a very well-realised setting, and a hilarious mickey-take of Greek philosophers. There's depth to it, in the discussions of power, gender, sex, loss, and much more, but it's never weighted down by that and the writing bubbles with life. A pleasure from start to finish, and I am really looking forward to the continuation of the story.