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A review by allierose2
Guardian of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
On the plus side, this was an extremely easy read especially for its length. By no means did I feel like I was suffering through it. But on the other hand, so little actually happens in this book, and Daughter and Guardian should absolutely have been one story. The front half of this one was repetitive as hell, and they could’ve easily been 1, 5-600 page book instead of 2, 400s.
Beyond that my central complaint is that this world didn’t make sense. I’m sorry, but if your ruling family isn’t supported by the populace, not the nobility, nor supported by an outside power, WHY the fuck are they still in power at all? It felt like narratively the author needed Lyr to feel powerless in every aspect, but she’s a literal princess and it was nonsense that she had no political or social power. Also, the choice to have her dad, the king, basically not exist as a character in a political fantasy was a wild choice. Ultimately it just seemed like if Lyr’s family was as powerless as they were portrayed to be, then there really was no reason to jump through all these hoops to keep them alive— and the Imperator probably would’ve just had Lyr killed as soon as she was revealed to be powerless. Who would’ve complained about it? Her dad? Mr “Im not narratively important enough to have lines”? Her bratty sisters who can barely leave their bedrooms? Hm, yeah, somehow I think the emperor wouldn’t have cared that much.
Also, yeah I’m just gonna say it, Tristan is a lil pissbaby and I don’t LIKE him but it still sucks to use him for his position and then cheat on him for the entirety of this book. It was shitty of her to treat him like trash.
Beyond that my central complaint is that this world didn’t make sense. I’m sorry, but if your ruling family isn’t supported by the populace, not the nobility, nor supported by an outside power, WHY the fuck are they still in power at all? It felt like narratively the author needed Lyr to feel powerless in every aspect, but she’s a literal princess and it was nonsense that she had no political or social power. Also, the choice to have her dad, the king, basically not exist as a character in a political fantasy was a wild choice. Ultimately it just seemed like if Lyr’s family was as powerless as they were portrayed to be, then there really was no reason to jump through all these hoops to keep them alive— and the Imperator probably would’ve just had Lyr killed as soon as she was revealed to be powerless. Who would’ve complained about it? Her dad? Mr “Im not narratively important enough to have lines”? Her bratty sisters who can barely leave their bedrooms? Hm, yeah, somehow I think the emperor wouldn’t have cared that much.
Also, yeah I’m just gonna say it, Tristan is a lil pissbaby and I don’t LIKE him but it still sucks to use him for his position and then cheat on him for the entirety of this book. It was shitty of her to treat him like trash.