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A review by niakantorka
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this book even though it apparently is a fantasy retelling of Chinese history that actually happened. I found it fantastic enough not to be bothered by it contrary to other reviews I read. Maybe it’s because I’m a huge Guy Gavriel Kay fan who’s done it like this countless times.
It seems this series will get its own twists and will deviate from history from the second volume on. As usual Ken Liu’s writing was wonderful. Yet, I’m giving it a rating of “just” 4 stars because the ever switching povs and the slow pace of the story was a bit sloggy to get through.
It might be hypocritical of me that I found the violence here at times hard to bear when I’ve had no such qualms about Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (that’s definitely much more violent). Maybe it was because of the povs - when you are in the head of the person dying and their threat just ends it has left a bigger impact on me than people who are able to ‘come back’ somehow.
I’m definitely reading on with these books to see how the momentary equilibrium will be torn to shreds.
It seems this series will get its own twists and will deviate from history from the second volume on. As usual Ken Liu’s writing was wonderful. Yet, I’m giving it a rating of “just” 4 stars because the ever switching povs and the slow pace of the story was a bit sloggy to get through.
It might be hypocritical of me that I found the violence here at times hard to bear when I’ve had no such qualms about Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (that’s definitely much more violent). Maybe it was because of the povs - when you are in the head of the person dying and their threat just ends it has left a bigger impact on me than people who are able to ‘come back’ somehow.
I’m definitely reading on with these books to see how the momentary equilibrium will be torn to shreds.