O.R.S.
A coming of age space palace drama involving a reluctant princess betrothed to make peace and then ends up wrecking things, very light fantasy elements, and politics by way of Dickens. The story is narrated from multiple third person omniscient perspectives
How much did you like it overall?
This is a very good book, especially after a bit of dross that I’ve been going through, especially cast in relief of the dross I’ve been reading lately. It’s similar to A Memory called Empire in that this is a space opera-ish novel about people’s relationships, deception, internal monologues, and deliberation–centered around political intrigue, albeit on a more narrow stage than Arkady Martine’s book
Would you like most?
It’s unusual to have a book written in this style, at least in the science fiction/fantasy genre. The third person narration goes deep into Rory’s head. There’s a light archness to it, fun wordplay, quite Dickens-y. And full disclosure, I love George Elliot, so the voice just works–the foreshadowing, the doublebacks, the asides. There’s ambivalence, Rory is a delight, and the story flows well. You get a sense of a character that is thinking hard and sometimes not winning, which is great. The fairytale set up with the blessings and one curse, is also a nice framing
What did you not like about it?
While Rory is well fleshed out, some of the other characters, particularly the two bodyguards, who had ethnic last names, seem there to block out the diversity question. They just seem interchangeable, and it’s a wasted opportunity, especially as, when the perspective shifts to them or Jaed, the poor second prince, it seems less exciting. Also the middle section plot is convoluted for no particularly clear purpose. The book seems more interested in Rory‘s internal states than the plot–and when the action does come, it seems to come with no consequence. One also wishes more clarity to the implications of the fairies’ blessings and the spell / hex system
Any favorite moments?
The beginning setting of the scene, as well as some of the interactions between Rory and the main antagonist, like a chess match. It’s not quite Stephenson level barbs, but it’s fun
Where do I put it on The Shelf?
Probably in the middle top. Definitely surprisingly good, I wish it weren’t a part of a series.
Any closing thoughts?
More works like this would be wonderful. There’s a sense of experimentation, of applying slightly worne forms to new things. It’s wonderful to see this diversity in voices. Maybe a little more breathing room to flesh out action, the systems, and the secondary characters would give the book more consequence, a la Susannah Clarke or others. But keep the lightness
416p
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