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A review by krilves
Fairs' Point by Melissa Scott
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is the most enjoyable of the books so far - if only because the editing improved! It read smooth the whole way through.
I continue to admire the worldbuilding and the crime plots. They're so imaginative and fascinating - in the real world it's easy enough to come up with a crime: break into a bank, steal from the rich, idk, using conventional methods. But when you have a fantasy setting with laws of physics (or magic) completely different from our own, with a societal structure that's to the left and up (or something), you will have motivations and methods that aren't obvious, and it takes a tremendous imagination to work that out. In a world that looks like this, what would one steal? why? how? is there a cool method they can use that isn't at odds with the existing worldbuilding and laws, that would make this plot intriguing and fun not just for the characters solving it, but the reader? the answer is yes, and Melissa Scott has done it. (Again.)
My other favourite thing about this series is that it's about the regular people. It's not about The Chosen One who has to save the world and the few Plot Relevant People they come across in their Quest. This is about a regular city full of regular people with regular jobs and regular relationships. They have normal people problems, like what to have for dinner. They have normal people relationship problems as well - so far Philip's and Nico's relationship problems can be characterised by 'my career is at odds with your career, how do we make it work without having to give up our careers, or each other?' and I found that so very refreshing? Especially as they become more and more secure in their romantic relationship (and deal with it like mature adults!) and do away with their jealousy, because they know the jealousy isn't rational, etc. I love it.
I continue to admire the worldbuilding and the crime plots. They're so imaginative and fascinating - in the real world it's easy enough to come up with a crime: break into a bank, steal from the rich, idk, using conventional methods. But when you have a fantasy setting with laws of physics (or magic) completely different from our own, with a societal structure that's to the left and up (or something), you will have motivations and methods that aren't obvious, and it takes a tremendous imagination to work that out. In a world that looks like this, what would one steal? why? how? is there a cool method they can use that isn't at odds with the existing worldbuilding and laws, that would make this plot intriguing and fun not just for the characters solving it, but the reader? the answer is yes, and Melissa Scott has done it. (Again.)
My other favourite thing about this series is that it's about the regular people. It's not about The Chosen One who has to save the world and the few Plot Relevant People they come across in their Quest. This is about a regular city full of regular people with regular jobs and regular relationships. They have normal people problems, like what to have for dinner. They have normal people relationship problems as well - so far Philip's and Nico's relationship problems can be characterised by 'my career is at odds with your career, how do we make it work without having to give up our careers, or each other?' and I found that so very refreshing? Especially as they become more and more secure in their romantic relationship (and deal with it like mature adults!) and do away with their jealousy, because they know the jealousy isn't rational, etc. I love it.