Scan barcode
A review by shanaqui
High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Received to review via Netgalley
This book didn't work for me because I was not a fan of the main character, so it's worth taking my opinion with a grain of salt, here! It follows the adventures of Lana Baker, a scribe who is usually much more interested in a pretty face than in anything else, and whose sole motivation is to get drunk (or take mushroom scales) and while away the time. Because she spends her time in a haze, there's not that much urgency -- even though the characters are in peril -- and it's also a difficult position to paint a good picture of the world from.
The world itself is pretty interesting: fairies find humans terrifying because of their wars and physical aggressiveness, and have forced them to hold parliaments to talk things out at, essentially, gunpoint. If they can't find a consensus, the fairies will drown them to teach them a lesson and then start over. Lana is tricked into going there to take their notes, meaning she will die as well if the politicians can't be forced to agree. Slowly, due to her interest in one of the delegates, she does become drawn into the politics and into caring what's going on... but most of the time she's much more interested in her next high.
Like I said, I don't really sympathise with the character, and I found her interest in sex and inebriation completely off-putting. As a result, the book dragged for me, and I was mostly glad to be done.
This book didn't work for me because I was not a fan of the main character, so it's worth taking my opinion with a grain of salt, here! It follows the adventures of Lana Baker, a scribe who is usually much more interested in a pretty face than in anything else, and whose sole motivation is to get drunk (or take mushroom scales) and while away the time. Because she spends her time in a haze, there's not that much urgency -- even though the characters are in peril -- and it's also a difficult position to paint a good picture of the world from.
The world itself is pretty interesting: fairies find humans terrifying because of their wars and physical aggressiveness, and have forced them to hold parliaments to talk things out at, essentially, gunpoint. If they can't find a consensus, the fairies will drown them to teach them a lesson and then start over. Lana is tricked into going there to take their notes, meaning she will die as well if the politicians can't be forced to agree. Slowly, due to her interest in one of the delegates, she does become drawn into the politics and into caring what's going on... but most of the time she's much more interested in her next high.
Like I said, I don't really sympathise with the character, and I found her interest in sex and inebriation completely off-putting. As a result, the book dragged for me, and I was mostly glad to be done.