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A review by carwenat
Last Flight by Liane Merciel
5.0
I wasn't sure I would have appreciated Last Flight as much as I did the other DA books, because I knew that there wouldn't be any characters from the games. However, I liked it just as much as Weekes's, and more than Gaider's.
I feel that, although it distances itself from the main storyline, it's the book that sits more closely to the games. The spell the mages use are the ones playable characters use, for example, and because it's set during a Blight, it reminded me a lot of DA:O, especially the Battle of Denerim. In fact, even though Gaider's books are set in the Deep Roads, this time I actually had the feeling that I was reading about the same darkspawn the warden had to battle.
Both main characters are women, elven, and mages. What's more to love? And, for once, they feel /real/: not merely love interests, not "strong female characters", just real. There is also no useless romantic subplot, even though romances are hinted: but even in that case the female character can stand on her feet without becoming the shadow of her male lover. Oh, and there's a genderfluid character, too!!
Every character, even the least important, is multi-faceted and doesn't end up a stereotype. I especially loved Garahel and Issaya, as their character development is amazing, and it is also amazingly shown - not described. I actually felt the characters as they grew up, without the author telling me once.
One thing that I didn't like, was the fact that the narration - although beautifully written - felt cold. This book is full with death and tragedy, but the overall feeling is that of emptyness, sometimes melancholy. Never once I felt sadness, while reading. Deaths happen quickly and just as quickly they are over, without time, I believe, for the reader to empathize with the situation. In the end, I felt as if I loved every character, but wasn't attached to any of them. I believe, however, that that was necessary: Issaya distances herself from emotion, it's she who doesn't get attached, she who doesn't have time to grieve. It's only natural that we do so too, so I think that this actually gives value to the book.
If you need any reason more to read this book: GRIFFONS. Actual griffons. What more could you ask for?
I feel that, although it distances itself from the main storyline, it's the book that sits more closely to the games. The spell the mages use are the ones playable characters use, for example, and because it's set during a Blight, it reminded me a lot of DA:O, especially the Battle of Denerim. In fact, even though Gaider's books are set in the Deep Roads, this time I actually had the feeling that I was reading about the same darkspawn the warden had to battle.
Both main characters are women, elven, and mages. What's more to love? And, for once, they feel /real/: not merely love interests, not "strong female characters", just real. There is also no useless romantic subplot, even though romances are hinted: but even in that case the female character can stand on her feet without becoming the shadow of her male lover. Oh, and there's a genderfluid character, too!!
Every character, even the least important, is multi-faceted and doesn't end up a stereotype. I especially loved Garahel and Issaya, as their character development is amazing, and it is also amazingly shown - not described. I actually felt the characters as they grew up, without the author telling me once.
One thing that I didn't like, was the fact that the narration - although beautifully written - felt cold. This book is full with death and tragedy, but the overall feeling is that of emptyness, sometimes melancholy. Never once I felt sadness, while reading. Deaths happen quickly and just as quickly they are over, without time, I believe, for the reader to empathize with the situation. In the end, I felt as if I loved every character, but wasn't attached to any of them. I believe, however, that that was necessary: Issaya distances herself from emotion, it's she who doesn't get attached, she who doesn't have time to grieve. It's only natural that we do so too, so I think that this actually gives value to the book.
If you need any reason more to read this book: GRIFFONS. Actual griffons. What more could you ask for?