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A review by caterina_x
A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham
5.0
This is what I love about this book:
The characters are superb. There are no people with supernatural powers or Chosen ones that from birth were meant to save the world. There are no omnipotent wizards with spells, sage mentors, and warriors that can't be beaten in battle. There aren't even villains who are evil just for the sake of it, laughing their evil laugh while twirling moustaches. Here instead we have real people with real life powers and limitations and motivations: a princess that suffocates under the patriarchy, a disowned son dragged to take part in a tradition he had refused to participate in, a disgraced poet trying to find the truth, a young poet falling in love while holding the greatest power of the city, the andat (an idea given form and flesh and will). These people make good and bad decisions like you and I would have made. They were not predetermined to greatness by some kind of mystic power, but take matters in their own hands and try to do the best they can given the circumstances.
The fantasy element here is unique and also not the focus of the story. Unique because the power of the andat (the idea given form) is something I haven't encountered before. It is a great symbol for the power of (advanced) technology. Someone holding the technology to make stone soft which can help the city's economy but also devastate an enemy nation. It's an immense power to weild and the poet that weilds it holds an exceptionally powerful position in the kingdom. But the andat is always in the periphery in the book, (although his existence does move the plot forward in one case) which I don't really mind. I am a fan of seeing the political machinations and the human drama unfold. This is a fantasy with no elves and spells and swords, so readers who are looking for these things will be disappointed.
The world of the Khaiem feels very real to me. One of the things I like about fantasy is reading new worlds and I liked being in this one. Abrahams is talented at giving evocative, vivid descriptions with just a few sentences.
The plot is tight and exciting. The first book was more languorous, perhaps to echo the hot and humid harbour of Saraykeht. The story here is tighter, the plotting is better and the ending more satisfying. I was surprised at some of the events and plot turns and there were times when I reacted to the events on the page with a NO! that made the family come check if I'm ok. Forinstance, when Cehmai tells Idaan that Otah is still alive.
Highly recommended (and if I could, I'd buy it for all my friends so I'd have someone to talk about this to.)
The characters are superb. There are no people with supernatural powers or Chosen ones that from birth were meant to save the world. There are no omnipotent wizards with spells, sage mentors, and warriors that can't be beaten in battle. There aren't even villains who are evil just for the sake of it, laughing their evil laugh while twirling moustaches. Here instead we have real people with real life powers and limitations and motivations: a princess that suffocates under the patriarchy, a disowned son dragged to take part in a tradition he had refused to participate in, a disgraced poet trying to find the truth, a young poet falling in love while holding the greatest power of the city, the andat (an idea given form and flesh and will). These people make good and bad decisions like you and I would have made. They were not predetermined to greatness by some kind of mystic power, but take matters in their own hands and try to do the best they can given the circumstances.
The fantasy element here is unique and also not the focus of the story. Unique because the power of the andat (the idea given form) is something I haven't encountered before. It is a great symbol for the power of (advanced) technology. Someone holding the technology to make stone soft which can help the city's economy but also devastate an enemy nation. It's an immense power to weild and the poet that weilds it holds an exceptionally powerful position in the kingdom. But the andat is always in the periphery in the book, (although his existence does move the plot forward in one case) which I don't really mind. I am a fan of seeing the political machinations and the human drama unfold. This is a fantasy with no elves and spells and swords, so readers who are looking for these things will be disappointed.
The world of the Khaiem feels very real to me. One of the things I like about fantasy is reading new worlds and I liked being in this one. Abrahams is talented at giving evocative, vivid descriptions with just a few sentences.
The plot is tight and exciting. The first book was more languorous, perhaps to echo the hot and humid harbour of Saraykeht. The story here is tighter, the plotting is better and the ending more satisfying. I was surprised at some of the events and plot turns and there were times when I reacted to the events on the page with a NO! that made the family come check if I'm ok.
Highly recommended (and if I could, I'd buy it for all my friends so I'd have someone to talk about this to.)