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A review by meepelous
Excellence, Vol. 1: Kill the Past by Emilio Lopez, Brandon Thomas, Khary Randolph
2.0
While there's an obvious colour scheme and style going through the book, I would not say that the volume is heavily stylised or anything. It does come across as a bit cold, but that does fit with the theme of estranged father son relationships I guess?
Gender was a pretty big theme in the book. As I said, the plot line is about an estranged father son relationship. Mother cares but is often pushed to the side because of "the blood line" overtones. While I certainly didn't hate the book for it, this ongoing very pseudo traditional idea of the chosen one, blood and father headship really did rub me the wrong way throughout. It also didn't help that I felt like these things were more told to me, rather then shown. Like how much longer it took Spencer to come into his own, for example, is apparently a huge rift between him and his father, but we jump right through that and only briefly reference it later. I guess in pursuit of the "big" plot points? I don't know.
Race is also an obvious point of focus for the book.
Class isn't really discussed, because everyone seems pretty well off. Not a chosen one story about a journey to the top, it's more about the risk that Spencer may be on a journey downward. But then he challenges the status quo.
Ability and disability is perhaps flirted with, given that Spender's potential to not have the magical ability his father is looking for would place him beneath perfectly able. But, as I said, that's brushed over somewhat inexplicably.
Couldn't help seeing all the connections between this and Monday's review, Bitter Root. Ultimately, Bitter Root was a bit more for me but there's plenty of people out there who also enjoy this title. If this sounds like something you might enjoy, do not hesitate to pick it up. Two out of five stars is pretty low for some people, but in my book OK is still a decent rating.
Gender was a pretty big theme in the book. As I said, the plot line is about an estranged father son relationship. Mother cares but is often pushed to the side because of "the blood line" overtones. While I certainly didn't hate the book for it, this ongoing very pseudo traditional idea of the chosen one, blood and father headship really did rub me the wrong way throughout. It also didn't help that I felt like these things were more told to me, rather then shown. Like how much longer it took Spencer to come into his own, for example, is apparently a huge rift between him and his father, but we jump right through that and only briefly reference it later. I guess in pursuit of the "big" plot points? I don't know.
Race is also an obvious point of focus for the book.
Class isn't really discussed, because everyone seems pretty well off. Not a chosen one story about a journey to the top, it's more about the risk that Spencer may be on a journey downward. But then he challenges the status quo.
Ability and disability is perhaps flirted with, given that Spender's potential to not have the magical ability his father is looking for would place him beneath perfectly able. But, as I said, that's brushed over somewhat inexplicably.
Couldn't help seeing all the connections between this and Monday's review, Bitter Root. Ultimately, Bitter Root was a bit more for me but there's plenty of people out there who also enjoy this title. If this sounds like something you might enjoy, do not hesitate to pick it up. Two out of five stars is pretty low for some people, but in my book OK is still a decent rating.