A review by bookswithjk
The Councillor by E.J. Beaton

challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A well-crafted political debut that suffers from pacing. There’s only fifteen chapters, but they are very long chapters that often undercut the tension of certain revelations (the White Queen’s identity, Fontaine, and what happened to Prior at the climax).  Also, while I did appreciate the drug addiction subplot, I do wish it played a bigger role in the overall story - we see her steadily build an addictive habit, but then she’s suddenly able to quit cold turkey towards the end without negative side effects? Perhaps I missed something, or maybe her maturation enabled her to beat her addiction. Either way, I did enjoy the story, and I do hope there’s a sequel in the works! 
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