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A review by ribbenkast
To Cage a God by Elizabeth May
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
If I had to describe this book in one word it's: ambitious. Full disclosure I am not (yet) a big fantasy reader so maybe I'm a bit too easily impressed. However I did think the world building was great. The magic system was set up really well, it had clear draw backs and limitations and the way the world and its politcs was shaped around the magic system was intriguing.
I loved that the story started essentially in the middle. Our main characters Sera and Galina are essentially roped back into a revolution that their mother started when they can no longer ignore the cruelties of the empress once more. It felt like a very natural point to start from.
I found the characters well written for the most part. I liked that characters could be flawed and complicated such as Irina. There's room for the characters trauma, and the character with chronic pain was handled very well. But the author did not become unnecessarily preachy by giving the empress complicated motivations. She's another monarch in a line of evil monarchs. A fun villain that for once gets to be the villain without a redemption arc.
I had some minor qualms about the writing. Mostly, sometimes it's okay to use the word "said"! Furthermor, Elizabeth May is not that good in "showing" and oftens opts for "telling" us instead how characters feel.
Sometimes the characters behaved in ways that seemed a bit weird to me, especially when it came to the romance. People (Galina mostly) where a little bit too quick to betray their own ideals. I also wonder if Sera and Vitaly ever just hang and have a good time, or is their romance just based on indescribable lust?
I found this easy to get over though, these are just classic romantasy tropes I think. I'm not a romance reader either, but I understand the appeal of characters that need to stay at least 20 feet away from me irl.
In fiction sometimes the plot needs to be driving by things that would be horrible if they happened in the real world. Vitaly would be extremely annoying, obsessive and downright dangerous if he was real, but on the page he was absolutely endearing. I'd assume one would be a better communicator before entering a marriage, but Sera downright refuses to be honest with the person we can assume she loves the most. Yet, the romantic intrigue works for me. If you don't like romance plots that hinge miscommunication maybe don't pick this one up.
Overall the book was a fun romp, the ending was a nice climax and satisfying. If this doesn't get a sequel I can live with it. If it does I would gladly pick it up.
I loved that the story started essentially in the middle. Our main characters Sera and Galina are essentially roped back into a revolution that their mother started when they can no longer ignore the cruelties of the empress once more. It felt like a very natural point to start from.
I found the characters well written for the most part. I liked that characters could be flawed and complicated such as Irina. There's room for the characters trauma, and the character with chronic pain was handled very well. But the author did not become unnecessarily preachy by giving the empress complicated motivations. She's another monarch in a line of evil monarchs. A fun villain that for once gets to be the villain without a redemption arc.
I had some minor qualms about the writing. Mostly, sometimes it's okay to use the word "said"! Furthermor, Elizabeth May is not that good in "showing" and oftens opts for "telling" us instead how characters feel.
Sometimes the characters behaved in ways that seemed a bit weird to me, especially when it came to the romance. People (Galina mostly) where a little bit too quick to betray their own ideals. I also wonder if Sera and Vitaly ever just hang and have a good time, or is their romance just based on indescribable lust?
I found this easy to get over though, these are just classic romantasy tropes I think. I'm not a romance reader either, but I understand the appeal of characters that need to stay at least 20 feet away from me irl.
In fiction sometimes the plot needs to be driving by things that would be horrible if they happened in the real world. Vitaly would be extremely annoying, obsessive and downright dangerous if he was real, but on the page he was absolutely endearing. I'd assume one would be a better communicator before entering a marriage, but Sera downright refuses to be honest with the person we can assume she loves the most. Yet, the romantic intrigue works for me. If you don't like romance plots that hinge miscommunication maybe don't pick this one up.
Overall the book was a fun romp, the ending was a nice climax and satisfying. If this doesn't get a sequel I can live with it. If it does I would gladly pick it up.