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A review by oliviak07
Armistice by Lara Elena Donnelly
4.0
Much like the alluring visuals and narrative in Donnnelly's first book of "The Amberlough Dossier" series, "Armistice" is a week-long holiday brimming with the elements of espionage and show business that readers of the saga have come to know and love.
The narration of Mary Robinette Kowal is wholly sublime, it would even make Ari tip his hat in approval. Whether she is speaking as a third party narrator, conversing as Ari and Mab from the north, chatty as Cordelia and Stephen from the urban areas of Amberlough, or voicing the intense exchanges between Lilian and Flagg: she does so with the distinction of a veteran voice actor. No two characters are exactly the same, even if they are from the same region. There are little to no instances where the chaotic collage of voices in the same scene overwhelm the listener. Overall her casting was a genius choice.
We also see a great deal of character development in this third of the "Dossier". Initial goals, dreams, and ideals are exposed, (finally) acted upon, and even fully dismissed. We witness just how deep the true colors run in our scheming cast of players, and how much they will risk for the ones they love. My genuine hope is to see this delightful depth continue in "Amnesty", even as the story of Ospie ruled Gedda comes to a close.
I am doing my best to treasure the final book in the trilogy, given how I started it so soon after completing "Armistice". But given what remains at stake in the final chapters of second third of the trilogy, the temptation to devote my entire day to the audiobook is too great. Nevertheless, if Donnelly's characters have taught me anything it is that patience is well rewarded....even if it is an utter pain in the ass.
The narration of Mary Robinette Kowal is wholly sublime, it would even make Ari tip his hat in approval. Whether she is speaking as a third party narrator, conversing as Ari and Mab from the north, chatty as Cordelia and Stephen from the urban areas of Amberlough, or voicing the intense exchanges between Lilian and Flagg: she does so with the distinction of a veteran voice actor. No two characters are exactly the same, even if they are from the same region. There are little to no instances where the chaotic collage of voices in the same scene overwhelm the listener. Overall her casting was a genius choice.
We also see a great deal of character development in this third of the "Dossier". Initial goals, dreams, and ideals are exposed, (finally) acted upon, and even fully dismissed. We witness just how deep the true colors run in our scheming cast of players, and how much they will risk for the ones they love. My genuine hope is to see this delightful depth continue in "Amnesty", even as the story of Ospie ruled Gedda comes to a close.
I am doing my best to treasure the final book in the trilogy, given how I started it so soon after completing "Armistice". But given what remains at stake in the final chapters of second third of the trilogy, the temptation to devote my entire day to the audiobook is too great. Nevertheless, if Donnelly's characters have taught me anything it is that patience is well rewarded....even if it is an utter pain in the ass.