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A review by jesshale
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
4.0
This book is quite, quite unlike the other books in the Vorkosigan saga - I've seen other reviews saying it's hard to categorise, and that's true. It's not a space opera, it's not a romance, it's almost a coming-of-age except not for young adults. In some ways, it feels like an extended epilogue - nothing really exciting happens, it's all intensely character focused, but not BAD for all that.
It's definitely a treat for Vorkosigan fans - so many old characters make an appearance or are mentioned, and it's pure indulgence to see what-happened-next for Cordelia and Miles.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading but I'm giving four instead of five stars because I wasn't 100% satisfied - I almost wanted Miles to be a bit more blindsided just for the humour of it, and it took me a while to find my footing understanding Cordelia and Oliver's relationship at the start of the book. It also felt like there were lots of threads that COULD have become Part Of The Plot as a chance to show Cordelia and Oliver doing what they do best - the plascrete thing? Mayoral opposition? Cetagandans? - which didn't quite go anywhere. Plus characters like Alex - I felt there was meant to be more there that didn't quite make it.
It's definitely a treat for Vorkosigan fans - so many old characters make an appearance or are mentioned, and it's pure indulgence to see what-happened-next for Cordelia and Miles.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading but I'm giving four instead of five stars because I wasn't 100% satisfied - I almost wanted Miles to be a bit more blindsided just for the humour of it, and it took me a while to find my footing understanding Cordelia and Oliver's relationship at the start of the book. It also felt like there were lots of threads that COULD have become Part Of The Plot as a chance to show Cordelia and Oliver doing what they do best - the plascrete thing? Mayoral opposition? Cetagandans? - which didn't quite go anywhere. Plus characters like Alex - I felt there was meant to be more there that didn't quite make it.