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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
...oof, I'm going to cause quite a stir with this review.....
My evil queen is best evil queen because she's the most evil, and also the hottest!
No, my evil queen is the best evil queen because she's the most evil and also she's the hottest!
No my evil queen is best evil queen because she's the most evil, and also the hottest, and also cut my hand off. But it's ok, because I'm in love with her, because my evil queen is hottest evil queen
...so I think that more or less well-establishes that...like...why is this one of the most hyped-up books and series I routinely encounter now? It's almost as bad as Bardugo-verse, which is almost such a perfect-copy paste of Attolia anyway that I can copy-paste this very review into Six of Crows and it still fits (close enough).
But after reading this book twice, including the audiobook...well for starters the audiobook confirms why so much of the first reading experience honestly goes over my head. Because it's so boooooorrrrrring. Nothing of note really happens, other than the bolded summary that opens up this review.
And then we get to the "meat" of Attolia, or at least what passes for it. I mean...I don't know what else I can say or how else to even phrase it. Eugenidies hard-core simps for Irene. End of story. There, I said it. This is a ridiculously toxic relationship. Eugenidies lets Irene get away with almost literally anything - including actually literally chopping his hand off. And he's fine with it. Because he wants to do Irene. Because she's hot. I mean, yeah, that's a rather crass way to put it, but...I mean, again, that's an accurate phrasing and imagery.
And then we come to the real problematic issue in which...why is it that women write women characters in the most problematic way to begin with? Bardugo has issues, it's true, deal with it; Susanne Collins seems to think at times the best way to prop up a woman protagonist is on top of a high all-women body count (almost exclusively teens no less). And we don't need to touch the now going-on-two-decades Bella Swan controversy.
Irene is...well, I'm not sure what character archetype she is. Other than, she's a classical representation of what men think of women - sexy vamps that are prone to evil because lol wimmin amirite? Where all of her worth not as a person but just strictly as a thing that happens to exist is entirely tied up in how hot she is and how bangabale she is, and where all of her other traits are going to be verging into "Brian-Griffin-As-Worse-Than-Hitler" territory.
Helen isn't much better, somewhat implied body shaming but also just hot enough that whatever evil she does is forgiven too.
But yeah. What gives?
Let's close out with some final Regular Car Reviews allusions
My queen is best queen because N O T A Q U E E N
Here's my toy queen, here's my real queen! - Eugenidies, you know he totally does this.
Also you may have noticed that this is a literal copy-paste of my review of Queen of Attolia because the two books are literally that interchangeable. But hey, Eugenidies wasn't a complete and total simp in here, so, plus one star!
My evil queen is best evil queen because she's the most evil, and also the hottest!
No, my evil queen is the best evil queen because she's the most evil and also she's the hottest!
No my evil queen is best evil queen because she's the most evil, and also the hottest, and also cut my hand off. But it's ok, because I'm in love with her, because my evil queen is hottest evil queen
...so I think that more or less well-establishes that...like...why is this one of the most hyped-up books and series I routinely encounter now? It's almost as bad as Bardugo-verse, which is almost such a perfect-copy paste of Attolia anyway that I can copy-paste this very review into Six of Crows and it still fits (close enough).
But after reading this book twice, including the audiobook...well for starters the audiobook confirms why so much of the first reading experience honestly goes over my head. Because it's so boooooorrrrrring. Nothing of note really happens, other than the bolded summary that opens up this review.
And then we get to the "meat" of Attolia, or at least what passes for it. I mean...I don't know what else I can say or how else to even phrase it. Eugenidies hard-core simps for Irene. End of story. There, I said it. This is a ridiculously toxic relationship. Eugenidies lets Irene get away with almost literally anything - including actually literally chopping his hand off. And he's fine with it. Because he wants to do Irene. Because she's hot. I mean, yeah, that's a rather crass way to put it, but...I mean, again, that's an accurate phrasing and imagery.
And then we come to the real problematic issue in which...why is it that women write women characters in the most problematic way to begin with? Bardugo has issues, it's true, deal with it; Susanne Collins seems to think at times the best way to prop up a woman protagonist is on top of a high all-women body count (almost exclusively teens no less). And we don't need to touch the now going-on-two-decades Bella Swan controversy.
Irene is...well, I'm not sure what character archetype she is. Other than, she's a classical representation of what men think of women - sexy vamps that are prone to evil because lol wimmin amirite? Where all of her worth not as a person but just strictly as a thing that happens to exist is entirely tied up in how hot she is and how bangabale she is, and where all of her other traits are going to be verging into "Brian-Griffin-As-Worse-Than-Hitler" territory.
Helen isn't much better, somewhat implied body shaming but also just hot enough that whatever evil she does is forgiven too.
But yeah. What gives?
Let's close out with some final Regular Car Reviews allusions
My queen is best queen because N O T A Q U E E N
Here's my toy queen, here's my real queen! - Eugenidies, you know he totally does this.
Also you may have noticed that this is a literal copy-paste of my review of Queen of Attolia because the two books are literally that interchangeable. But hey, Eugenidies wasn't a complete and total simp in here, so, plus one star!
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There wasn’t enough of Eugenides’ usual cleverness to make the most of this book interesting 🫤
This series is SUCH a joy -- I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books, but so far, this has been my favourite. Megan Whalen Turner is such a master of the reveal, studding the narrative with her intentions, making the reader perfectly aware there is more to what they're seeing. Costis is the perfect narrator for this, and the outsider POV absolutely fucking SHINES.
We know Eugenides; we've spent two books with him already, and his charismatic brand of oblivious manipulation flies right over Costis's head. Right up until he sees true emotion from Gen, and then his perspective and impression of his king truly shifts.
It's incredibly satisfying, as all of Gen's schemes are. As Ornon says, he suffers setbacks, but he doesn't quit. And so much of this book is carried by the themes of kindness, and mercy. Qualities Gen embodies, much to the surprise of most of the people around who do not know him. Seeing him win is always hard-won, but deeply rewarding, because he's also flawed, and vulnerable, and so deeply charming.
We know Eugenides; we've spent two books with him already, and his charismatic brand of oblivious manipulation flies right over Costis's head. Right up until he sees true emotion from Gen, and then his perspective and impression of his king truly shifts.
It's incredibly satisfying, as all of Gen's schemes are. As Ornon says, he suffers setbacks, but he doesn't quit. And so much of this book is carried by the themes of kindness, and mercy. Qualities Gen embodies, much to the surprise of most of the people around who do not know him. Seeing him win is always hard-won, but deeply rewarding, because he's also flawed, and vulnerable, and so deeply charming.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
My very favorite in the series and I love them all so much. Gets better with every re-read
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Beloved Costis. This book cemented my love for the series, and has perhaps my favorite narrator.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m impressed that the instalments in this series get better with each time. It’s probably my favourite book in the series so far. I hope the quality is maintained for the next 3 books.
I really enjoyed the new characters and how the perspectives change from book to book.
Another fun, fast-paced read.
I really enjoyed the new characters and how the perspectives change from book to book.
Another fun, fast-paced read.