I've been reading this tetralogy over the last couple months. I am currently on the last one, but I thought I should start the reviews at the beginning.
General Comments: I very much enjoyed this book. While there wasn't anything that especially wowed me, I felt it was a very solid read. I'm not going to give a synopsis, there are several available (such as this one on goodreads) and I don't feel I have anything to add to those. I will say this book was well worth the read and is generally enjoyable even if not outstanding.
Characterization: The characterization is very strong. One of the main characters, Felix, suffers bouts of madness throughout the middle section of the book. Even insane, he remains consistent with his core character. Felix is exceptionally complex and extremely flawed. Despite his abrasive qualities Monette manages to find a way to connect him to the reader. Much of this is due to his underlying fear of being socially rejected, something that is almost universally experienced and seems to be the root cause of Felix's acerbic personality.
At it's heart, the elements of a character like Felix that alienate the reader stem from the very thing that also makes him a sympathetic character and gives him something to which the reader can connect. Mildmay, the other main character, is fairly typical. He is a thief and assassin with a heart of gold. As much as this character type is a common trope, in this case Monette provides enough depth to the character to make it work.
At it's heart, the elements of a character like Felix that alienate the reader stem from the very thing that also makes him a sympathetic character and gives him something to which the reader can connect. Mildmay, the other main character, is fairly typical. He is a thief and assassin with a heart of gold. As much as this character type is a common trope, in this case Monette provides enough depth to the character to make it work.
Plot: The plot definitely fulfills my criteria of being elegant and sophisticated. There is enough plot to drive the action and it has a certain complexity but not so much so that the story gets overwhelmed with it. What becomes the primary conflict is resolved by the end, but there is still plenty of material from which the rest of the series can build.
Writing: The writing was fairly impressive. The perspective switches back and forth between two main characters: Mildmay and Felix, and changes in perspective are conveniently labelled with the character's name. The entire book is told from the first person. Both characters have unique voices and Felix's narration style changes with his state of mind, which impressed me greatly. One of the particular strengths of this book is the perfect pacing, the action moves quickly, but is never rushed.
Setting: The setting is good. The different schools of magic make it a little more dynamic. The political tension is present, but not emphasized, since the book is about two brothers and not the world. As a side note I appreciate the close perspective. Seeing the global problems and setting from the perspective of the characters makes everything feel a little closer.
Overall Rating: 4/5
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