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A review by margotfoster
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
4.0
I really enjoyed this book.
This book was different from a lot of the other books in the series, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone that hasn't read at least most of the series. Because this book supposes that we *know * these characters.
GJ&RQ doesn't have a lot of the action that we might be used to in the Vorkosigan saga, no one is killed, kidnapped, plotting against, seeking revenge, or even trying to get a vote through the council of counts. But as I reflect back to what I've always told others about the Vorkosigan books, it's character driven.
This isn't really a Cordelia book, because while she is a POV character she isn't really at the center of the main conflict. Oliver Jole is a character we've met only in passing before back when Miles found Gregor in the Hegen Hub and again a few times at Vorkosigan House. But here is a man that contrasts with Miles whom we know best. Miles always driven by duty and his need to succeed. We have another who has achieved many of the things that Miles always wanted, but his motivations are entirely different.
Overall this was a really great read and at times I had trouble putting it down, but it was still different that the rest of the Vorkosigan saga. I occasionally found myself waiting for the action to start and it never really did, yet we still enjoy a great story with deep and compelling characters.
This book was different from a lot of the other books in the series, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone that hasn't read at least most of the series. Because this book supposes that we *know * these characters.
GJ&RQ doesn't have a lot of the action that we might be used to in the Vorkosigan saga, no one is killed, kidnapped, plotting against, seeking revenge, or even trying to get a vote through the council of counts. But as I reflect back to what I've always told others about the Vorkosigan books, it's character driven.
This isn't really a Cordelia book, because while she is a POV character she isn't really at the center of the main conflict. Oliver Jole is a character we've met only in passing before back when Miles found Gregor in the Hegen Hub and again a few times at Vorkosigan House. But here is a man that contrasts with Miles whom we know best. Miles always driven by duty and his need to succeed. We have another who has achieved many of the things that Miles always wanted, but his motivations are entirely different.
Overall this was a really great read and at times I had trouble putting it down, but it was still different that the rest of the Vorkosigan saga. I occasionally found myself waiting for the action to start and it never really did, yet we still enjoy a great story with deep and compelling characters.