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ken_bookhermit's reviews
1289 reviews
Treason Keep by Jennifer Fallon
5.0
The second book in the Demon Child series, Treason Keep didn't have the sequel slack that I find in most second books. The pacing was just as brutal, nerve-wracking, and amazing as Medalon. There were hardly any slow parts, and the introduction of the Karien and Hythrun side of the world is welcome for the further detail of world-building they contributed to the entire universe.
The ending was a bit expected though. Fallon seems to be fond of but I have no complaints regarding that, because there has to be tension, and it is effective in making me want to read the next book so soon. Which was why I borrowed both Treason Keep and Harshini from the library simultaneously.
I read one review in passing about Treason Keep having one of the greatest love-hate relationship of all time, and I assume they meant. But it may just be me finding straight people tiresome, but they hardly inspired romantic feelings in me. And maybe I'm not supposed to, which is understandable, since the author doesn't seem to want to romanticize their political/sexual relationship because it's not. (But what makes one think that romance and politics are mutually-exclusive?)
In any case, I can't wait to see the trilogy be tied up together, hopefully neatly, so I don't have to be rushed into reading the next series soon after. Mostly, I want to know when Loclon would die. Hopefully by R'shiel's hand.
The ending was a bit expected though. Fallon seems to be fond of
Spoiler
having a character at the brink of death at the very endI read one review in passing about Treason Keep having one of the greatest love-hate relationship of all time, and I assume they meant
Spoiler
Damin and AdrinaIn any case, I can't wait to see the trilogy be tied up together, hopefully neatly, so I don't have to be rushed into reading the next series soon after. Mostly, I want to know when Loclon would die. Hopefully by R'shiel's hand.
Harshini by Jennifer Fallon
5.0
The Kariens' god is dead and R'shiel has killed him.
That's not a spoiler, since that's what R'shiel's destiny is, and she has fulfilled it. This was yet another riveting read and I could hardly bear to part with it. I read two hundred pages in a day! Which isn't that much of a feat, but I also found myself beginning to skim because I was too impatient and needed to know what was happening next.
The Hythrun Chronicles is not a game changer. It relied heavily upon preexisting fantasy tropes. It did nothing special to break away from the common ideas that make up fantasy, and it did a good job sticking to the rules. The magic, the interference of deities, and even the existence of the Harshini (who are vaguely elvish in how they are presented) aren't new to the genre, but it wasn't a problem because the execution was still beautiful, and it fit like a perfect piece in the story as a whole. I am infinitely glad that I stumbled upon this series.
Although, I'm curious as to why the cover for Harshini is the one with Dranymire and R'shiel when it wasn't a particularly important scene. Maybe they just wanted to have dragons on the cover? Who knows.
That's not a spoiler, since that's what R'shiel's destiny is, and she has fulfilled it. This was yet another riveting read and I could hardly bear to part with it. I read two hundred pages in a day! Which isn't that much of a feat, but I also found myself beginning to skim because I was too impatient and needed to know what was happening next.
The Hythrun Chronicles is not a game changer. It relied heavily upon preexisting fantasy tropes. It did nothing special to break away from the common ideas that make up fantasy, and it did a good job sticking to the rules. The magic, the interference of deities, and even the existence of the Harshini (who are vaguely elvish in how they are presented) aren't new to the genre, but it wasn't a problem because the execution was still beautiful, and it fit like a perfect piece in the story as a whole. I am infinitely glad that I stumbled upon this series.
Although, I'm curious as to why the cover for Harshini is the one with Dranymire and R'shiel
Spoiler
flying into Dregian Castle
The Woman Priest: A Translation of Sylvain Maréchal's Novella, La Femme Abbé by Sylvain Maréchal
4.0
La femme abbé by Pierre Sylvain Maréchal
3.0
I only gave it three stars because the epistolary format threw me off and moderately diminished my enjoyment of it.
Some messy thoughts:
The decisive passion of Agatha for Saint-Almont. Religion and gender play, my two favourite topics. Interesting to see how Agatha exists as a product of her times, both religious and into the crossdressing “deviancy” popular in France during the 18th century. The historical background of the Introduction attests to that.
I am basically Sylvain Maréchal. A classics-loving atheist. It is perhaps to discredit him by saying, “he wrote such a pious character!” Agatha’s complex character and conditions for love breaks the boundaries of patriarchy by situating herself within it, and that’s what I liked the most. Maybe it’s some way of breaking it down, in a minute way?
The terms with which she fell for Saint-Almont more so. Pity, a small step, and then love. I wonder if this is true? Or if so, how true is it?
The descension of Agatha’s moral character reflected a form of toxicity in unrequited love. The fervour of her affection seemed to mutate into something unholy despite her near-constant reassurances to Zoé that no, this is the purest, most edifying love! But near the end, it showed far from it. Maybe it was the constancy of her nearness to him that made her greedy. But how pure can it be? This is not equating romantic notions with carnality, but the lack of boundary Agatha possesses, her sado-masochistic ways of dealing with her feelings, perhaps is what propelled her to the end of the novella.
Some messy thoughts:
The decisive passion of Agatha for Saint-Almont. Religion and gender play, my two favourite topics. Interesting to see how Agatha exists as a product of her times, both religious and into the crossdressing “deviancy” popular in France during the 18th century. The historical background of the Introduction attests to that.
I am basically Sylvain Maréchal. A classics-loving atheist. It is perhaps to discredit him by saying, “he wrote such a pious character!” Agatha’s complex character and conditions for love breaks the boundaries of patriarchy by situating herself within it, and that’s what I liked the most. Maybe it’s some way of breaking it down, in a minute way?
The terms with which she fell for Saint-Almont more so. Pity, a small step, and then love. I wonder if this is true? Or if so, how true is it?
The descension of Agatha’s moral character reflected a form of toxicity in unrequited love. The fervour of her affection seemed to mutate into something unholy despite her near-constant reassurances to Zoé that no, this is the purest, most edifying love! But near the end, it showed far from it. Maybe it was the constancy of her nearness to him that made her greedy. But how pure can it be? This is not equating romantic notions with carnality, but the lack of boundary Agatha possesses, her sado-masochistic ways of dealing with her feelings, perhaps is what propelled her to the end of the novella.