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funkyfest 's review for:
Orb Sceptre Throne
by Ian C. Esslemont
I always like Genabackis and Darujhistan, and the plotting was well executed here. I liked in the end where the Imass was like "I've come to kill the Jaghut Tyrant!" and then he's like "ah balls, it's just a normal human tyrant" and leaves. Though of course there was some unexplained sorcery seemingly emanating from the mask.
Esslemont's writing style is pretty solid at this point, too, and I don't reckon it'll change much from here on out, but that's not a bad thing. I like it, even if I'm finding a more muted emotional reaction to things that happen (but that could be for any number of other reasons at this point). The only thing I could do without is the seemingly high number of random horny/sexual thoughts scattered throughout - not that SE's books were free of those (see any male POV within proximity to Masan Gilani), and I don't mind folks being horny out there, but it just seems like more than usual.
Like a scene in Spindle's POV interrupted by him thinking about how nice Picker's boobs are, or Tserig mentioning multiple times that his penis is in working order, K'ess and Fal'ej pre-battle sexual tension... (actually didn't mind that last one so much, it makes sense after a long time in service together and was mutual)
Mostly comments of guys thinking about how nice a certain feature on one of the women are - much like the Masan Gilani thing, it's like after a while I'm like "okay I get it!" It didn't detract overall from all the cool stuff going on aside, though. I did come around to liking the Spawn plotline, which I initially thought was kind of boring, and it was a good continuation of Strange Times in Darujhistan™️. Really cool getting a lot more Seguleh in this one, and seeing the history loop around in false prophecy, as it does.
I even ended up liking Yusef! She had some good character development from being a rascal to actually being willing to seek out what she wants and put in effort to get there, even if she can't quite keep up with high ranking Seguleh and an ascendant, hah!
Esslemont's writing style is pretty solid at this point, too, and I don't reckon it'll change much from here on out, but that's not a bad thing. I like it, even if I'm finding a more muted emotional reaction to things that happen (but that could be for any number of other reasons at this point). The only thing I could do without is the seemingly high number of random horny/sexual thoughts scattered throughout - not that SE's books were free of those (see any male POV within proximity to Masan Gilani), and I don't mind folks being horny out there, but it just seems like more than usual.
Like a scene in Spindle's POV interrupted by him thinking about how nice Picker's boobs are, or Tserig mentioning multiple times that his penis is in working order, K'ess and Fal'ej pre-battle sexual tension... (actually didn't mind that last one so much, it makes sense after a long time in service together and was mutual)
Mostly comments of guys thinking about how nice a certain feature on one of the women are - much like the Masan Gilani thing, it's like after a while I'm like "okay I get it!" It didn't detract overall from all the cool stuff going on aside, though. I did come around to liking the Spawn plotline, which I initially thought was kind of boring, and it was a good continuation of Strange Times in Darujhistan™️. Really cool getting a lot more Seguleh in this one, and seeing the history loop around in false prophecy, as it does.
I even ended up liking Yusef! She had some good character development from being a rascal to actually being willing to seek out what she wants and put in effort to get there, even if she can't quite keep up with high ranking Seguleh and an ascendant, hah!