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A review by catherine_t
Redoubt by Mercedes Lackey
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Herald-Trainee Mags has come a long way: from child slave in a gem mine to hero of the Kirball field. He's made friends with his year-mates and team-mates. He's been working with King's Own Herald Nikolas, learning the tricks of the spy trade. In fact, he's doing so well at this last, Nikolas decides to let him run an undercover operation in town on his own.
But one night, Mags is opening the pawnshop--the front for the operation--when he's hit from behind. When he wakes up, he's blindfolded and trussed up like a chicken for the roasting pan, in a conveyance of some kind. Worse, he's head-blind: his Gift of Mindspeech is gone. He can't even sense Dallen, his Companion. If he can't sense Dallen, then Dallen can't sense him, either. And if Dallen can't sense him, then Mags may be on his way to his end...
I found Redoubt rather slow-going. The actual impelling event doesn't happen until halfway through the book. The first half is mainly about Mags' relationships with his friends and Nikolas (and more games of Kirball). Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed it, all of it. But when I read the precis on the back cover, I expected events to move along faster.
On the other hand, the pace definitely allows for more character development. Lackey definitely knows what she's doing. Recommended.
But one night, Mags is opening the pawnshop--the front for the operation--when he's hit from behind. When he wakes up, he's blindfolded and trussed up like a chicken for the roasting pan, in a conveyance of some kind. Worse, he's head-blind: his Gift of Mindspeech is gone. He can't even sense Dallen, his Companion. If he can't sense Dallen, then Dallen can't sense him, either. And if Dallen can't sense him, then Mags may be on his way to his end...
I found Redoubt rather slow-going. The actual impelling event doesn't happen until halfway through the book. The first half is mainly about Mags' relationships with his friends and Nikolas (and more games of Kirball). Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed it, all of it. But when I read the precis on the back cover, I expected events to move along faster.
On the other hand, the pace definitely allows for more character development. Lackey definitely knows what she's doing. Recommended.