Review #3 - The Mirador, Sarah Monette

General Comments:  I don't really have any specific criticisms of this book.  Once again it's a solid read, but still missing that 'wow' factor.  At the end of The Virtu everything had been resolved, so I was very interested to see where The Mirador would take the story.  If you're looking for a synopsis one can be found here.

Characterization: One of the first things to note is the introduction of a new voice.  Felix and Mildmay are still there, but in addition to them we have the perspective of Mehitabel, a character introduced in The Virtu.  At first I was not taken with the introduction of a new character, but she grew on me.

I would also like to make a note about Felix.  I've read some other reviews and they all seem particularly harsh regarding him.  Granted, Felix is not an especially likeable character.  He has many, many flaws, but I think that's what I appreciate the most.  Felix is a broken character who shows substantial realistic growth over the course of the books, his growth includes some backslides into his more negative aspects.  I respect a writer who can give such an abrasive character so much depth.  It's difficult not to appreciate him, even if I don't really like him.

Plot:  The plot is decent, if a bit predictable.  The thing I like the most about the plot was that the events were predictable, but the characters weren't.  Not everything works out perfectly and this is often due to one or another of the characters missing something or just behaving badly.  I really like that there was an element of human error to the story, as all too often everyone involved is just a little too good at what they do.

Writing:  The writing is good, but that is to be expected.  I'm still impressed that with the addition of yet another character each of the voices still retain their own unique style.

Setting:  This one is set almost exclusively in the Mirador (not surprising considering the title).  The setting is interesting and adequately serves the purposes of the story.

Overall Rating: 4/5

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