A review by thecriticalreader
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

 
Context: 
I decided to read The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu because I was in the mood for epic fantasy and have heard a lot of positive things about it. I borrowed it from my library through the Libby App.
 
Review:
I don’t think that anyone has ever told Ken Liu about the “show, not tell” rule in writing. Everything—and I mean everything—is spelled out for the reader in The Grace of Kings. He constantly explains what is happening, who the characters are, what the characters are thinking, what personality traits the characters have, why the characters are doing something, what philosophical themes and questions the reader should ponder, why a certain aspect of the plot is important or impactful, etc. Exchanges between characters go something like this:
 
Character 1: I am feeling _____ because ______ elements of my upbringing conditioned me to react this way.
 
Character 2: You are indeed _______. Would you like to hear my plan to achieve ______, which will fulfill your ______ desires in ________ exact way? 
 
Character 1: Sure, what is your plan?
 
Character 2: My plan is to trick the enemy using _____ tactics. They will fall for these tricks because of ______ elements of their personality or planning.
 
Character 1: Wow, your plan is so smart because they will not see ______ tactics coming, because of ______ elements of the personality or planning.
 
As you can tell, this can become frustrating and repetitive quickly. That being said, there are a few advantages to this writing style. It makes an otherwise intimidating epic fantasy book incredibly easy to digest, as the reader never has to do any thinking for themselves. Since many consider The Grace of Kings to be a prologue of sorts for the rest of the series, Liu can cram an enormous amount of plot and action into one book. He tells the reader exactly what they need to know so that each scene propels the storyline forward. In this way, The Grace of Kings is a fast-paced and exciting read, a somewhat uncommon trait in epic fantasy tomes. 
 
Liu’s extreme “tell not show” approach to storytelling, however, hinders the book more than it helps. It insults the reader’s intelligence by spelling out the obvious and strips the reader of any agency. Furthermore, the book spends no time lingering with the characters or world for the sake of development. I’m not someone who believes that every epic fantasy needs to be a slow burn filled with quiet character moments and lengthy descriptions of the setting, but good gracious! Let us get to know the characters rather than just telling us who they are! You can’t have an emotional payoff without quality buildup!
 
I was willing to accept the story as it was and enjoy the ride, even if the style of narration didn’t fit my tastes. Unfortunately, I found a lot of the dialogue to be cliché and cringeworthy: every time Liu clearly wanted a character to sound witty, flirtatious, profound, or badass, I found myself rolling my eyes. His attempts at championing feminist ideals in the narrative are also a joke, as it’s clear that he doesn’t actually know how to write female characters. Oh, and did I mention that the central conflict of the story is the result of a stupid miscommunication, just like in a bad rom-com movie? At a certain point, it was hard to take The Grace of Kings seriously, I knew that my chances of genuinely enjoying it were slim. 
 
I’m willing to concede that The Grace of Kings has a clever, ambitious plot and some cool worldbuilding elements; it kept me more or less entertained for 600+ pages, so that’s an accomplishment. Nevertheless, it suffers from a writing style that leaves nothing to the imagination. I think in the hands of a more capable writer—someone like Guy Gavriel Kay, for instance—The Grace of Kings could have been a masterpiece.
 
The Run-Down: 
You will probably like The Grace of Kings if . . . 
·      You want to read a fast-paced, exciting epic fantasy of grand scope
·      You are more of a plot-driven reader than a character-driven reader
 
You might not like The Grace of Kings if . . .
·      You want to spend time getting to know a world and its characters
·      You dislike a writing style that leaves nothing to the imagination
·      You dislike poorly written female characters
 
A Similar Book: 
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay (a 4.5-star read for me!)
Similarities Include:
·      Epic fantasy about a people rebelling against a despotic rule
·      Light magic system
·      Multiple main characters from different backgrounds
·      Political maneuvering and a punchy plot
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