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A review by chirson
A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold
4.0
I feel like my review is sort of pointless because I read Jo Walton's thoughts on this volume on tor.com and I agree with her on all major counts. I don't think the romance between Miles and Ekaterin quite works :| All the issues I have with it are--not sure if addressed is the right word, lampshaded?--in the book itself. They are acknowledged, but then sort of waved away through the power of contrariness. And my contention is basically that compared to the glory that was Cordelia/Aral OTP-ness, Miles/Ekaterin is... so-so at best, and a bad idea for Ekaterin at worst.
This all comes to the fact that 10+ books into the series, I'm at a point where I enjoy most of the characters but I have serious problems with liking Miles. He could use some therapy, Beta-style.
On the other hand, Ivan was amazingly fun to read, Mark and Kareen were largely enjoyable, Ekaterin herself had less interesting an arc, but still good.
The conclusion (sans the embarassing slapstick part) was amazing, tense and so right.
(Will women's lib ever happen on Barrayar? It seems with the advances in reproductive technology, some movement should be inevitable. Maybe in a future volume...)
Spoiler
(He may want to give you a planet, but at his heart of hearts he doesn't really think women and men are equal, Ekaterin, that's the sad truth. Cordelia, you made some bad mistakes along the way. And one of them was probably letting him ever be around Bothari.)This all comes to the fact that 10+ books into the series, I'm at a point where I enjoy most of the characters but I have serious problems with liking Miles. He could use some therapy, Beta-style.
Spoiler
(Also: I find myself quite incapable of cheering on the romantic prospects of a dude who waves away the idea of supporting inheritance rights for women with the thought that that could put him in harm's way so NOPE. Get stuffed, Miles. Some things are bigger than you. Pun seriously unintended.)On the other hand, Ivan was amazingly fun to read, Mark and Kareen were largely enjoyable, Ekaterin herself had less interesting an arc, but still good.
The conclusion (sans the embarassing slapstick part) was amazing, tense and so right.
(Will women's lib ever happen on Barrayar? It seems with the advances in reproductive technology, some movement should be inevitable. Maybe in a future volume...)