Review #2 - The Virtu, Sarah Monette

General Comments: This is another solid book, but again lacked something in the outstanding department.  There isn't anything I disliked about it, but it still failed to blow me away.  It's the second book in the tetralogy, but the conflict is completely resolved by the end, which left me wondering where the next two were going to go.  This one picks up exactly where the last one left off.  If you want a synopsis one can be found here.

Characterization: Felix and Mildmay once again take centre stage as the main characters.  There is a significant difference in this book, however, as Felix is sane.  The characterization is still very strong.  While Felix may now be sane and therefore the possibility exists for he and Mildmay to establish a kinship, their relationship is still strained, largely due to the fact that Mildmay saw Felix at his most vulnerable.  The tension between the two is dynamic and frequently frustrating, but never dull.  There is a definite element of realism to their dysfunctional relationship that adds depth to both the story and the characters.

Plot: The plot is again elegant and sophisticated.  There are some surprises that will maintain interest.  Labyrinths feature a lot more centrally in this one, and as the series is called "Doctrine of Labyrinths" that shouldn't really come as a surprise.  However, the labyrinth aspect was almost completely absent from the previous book, so it was good to see where the series got its name.

Writing: The writing is good, actually, the writing is great.  One thing about a book written by a woman with a PhD in English is you know the writing is going to be worthwhile.  Monette maintains the voices of the two protagonists and her narration frequently breaks the fourth wall, but in a way that is natural, conversational even, and therefore not jarring or disillusioning.

Setting: The setting is well executed in this work.  The story revisits a number of locations from the previous book, but manages to make them fresh and new.  Part of this is accomplished through Felix, as his perspective is quite different and his view of the places they encounter adds and element that wasn't there previously.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Review # 1 - Melusine, Sarah Monette

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.

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

Let's Start With Some Reviews

I read. I read a lot. However, the things that I read are not very varied. I mostly stick to speculative fiction, and I have reasons for that. Within the spec fic genre, as a general rule, I read fantasy, with the very occasional foray into sci fi. I also tend to be a little particular about what I read (I like to think I have standards, but really I'm just picky). Up until now, urban fantasy has been out, but, I have in recent times been expanding my reading selection.

I also think about what I read, and that is where this blog comes in. I have a process for determining what makes a book good, bad, or otherwise and if I had to distill it enough to make it explanatory I would say I judge a book on four things: characterization, plot, writing, and setting.

Characterization is by far my most important criteria. Characters are what make books worth reading. A story that is strictly about events is not a story; it's a summary or a report. Good characterization can make or break a story. Characters should be complex and dynamic. They should exhibit growth. They should be at least reasonably realistic, and preferably not insufferable.

Plot is important because if it doesn't make sense it isn't a very good story. In my mind a good plot is elegant and sophisticated. The plot is the framework that supports the story. It needs to be complex enough that it progresses the story and moves the character, but not overly so. Plotting is a subtle art.

Writing is my second most important criteria. A good story poorly written makes for a bad book. Writing is also a subtle art. Overuse of words and phrases is something I find really distracting. I also tend to notice things like sentence length and complexity (I know that's weird). The thing that impresses me most is words used together in a unique or poetic way, but I will settle for something that has varied vocabulary and is relatively free of major flaws.

Setting is barely a criteria. For some people worldbuilding is a really big deal. The only reason I include setting in my evaluation is because sometimes a writer succeeds at making a world that is unique and stunning or presents familiar elements in a brilliant way, and that deserves to be acknowledged.

So, with this in mind, let's start some reviews.

The Nemeton

In celtic mythology a nemeton is a sacred grove. This is going to be my e-grove, my little corner of the internet. My idea for this project is somewhat amorphous. Ostensibly, it's going to be a forum for posting book reviews, but it may not stay that way. Like the real groves for which this blog is named, it may prove to be more organic than I currently anticipate. And so I'm going to do my best to leave room for it to grow and metamorphosize into whatever it ends up being.