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A review by depizan
The Way of the Shield by Marshall Ryan Maresca
3.0
This series digs a bit more into the world, as there's a fair amount of politics here. Bits of how Maradaine and Druth function have been there in the background of other books, but the Parliament and various dissatisfied groups are much more front and center here. So we get a better look at the worldbuilding.
(And one thing that I'm finding increasingly baffling in it is the inconsistent sexism. Women are - and as far as I can tell, have historically been - members of the elite orders, yet somehow the military and the constabulary either bar or limit women, and women don't have the right to vote. But they can be in the highly trained (if less regarded now) elite, in the Marshalls (at least as mages), are accepted in the universities, and seem to have equal odds of having magic ability. How did this on again off again sexism develop? It feels a bit too much like our world's sexism projected into a world that wouldn't necessarily have had the same views, but only where it's useful plot-wise. Like being another hurdle for Satrine in the constabulary books.)
That minor quibble - and the fact that the country seems to mostly be running on inertia (perhaps because no big decisions are necessary at present?) - aside, the series continues to be flawed, but fun. And very readable.
(And one thing that I'm finding increasingly baffling in it is the inconsistent sexism. Women are - and as far as I can tell, have historically been - members of the elite orders, yet somehow the military and the constabulary either bar or limit women, and women don't have the right to vote. But they can be in the highly trained (if less regarded now) elite, in the Marshalls (at least as mages), are accepted in the universities, and seem to have equal odds of having magic ability. How did this on again off again sexism develop? It feels a bit too much like our world's sexism projected into a world that wouldn't necessarily have had the same views, but only where it's useful plot-wise. Like being another hurdle for Satrine in the constabulary books.)
That minor quibble - and the fact that the country seems to mostly be running on inertia (perhaps because no big decisions are necessary at present?) - aside, the series continues to be flawed, but fun. And very readable.