This book started out pretty slow, mainly because all of the many points of views were at such disparate points geographically and plot-wise. There is also more than a bit of what I would call a general 'Dragonlance' influence, by which I mean, there is the whiff of teenage dungeons and dragons to some of the scenes. At first that turned me off, being more a fan of the classic fantasy of Tolkien, et al, but gradually, as the story and characters acquired depth I began to look at it rather as the work of a new generation of fantasy writer...and I accepted it. And by the time it ended , I was REALLY enjoying it.
This is a darker fantasy but it's written with a good amount of (very English) humor...though humor is not the point, it's as entertwined in the story as the characters and the plot itself...actually, I haven't quite figured out where the plot is going--it's clear that he's slowly revealing the actual story.
There is a number of elements to this story that I find pretty original: the late Renaissance/Englightenment attitudes, dress and fighting style(as opposed to the vague general medieval or high middle ages setting of most fantasies), the multi-ethnic make up of the characters, the annoying class system(think UK circa the Great WAr in 1914). There is not a lot of magic in this fantasy, though there definitely is some.
And while the world-building in this book is pretty good, it's not really the focus--the focus is definitely character. And the characterization is great.. I mean that. They are definitely complex, much more so than most fantasies I've read, and that's what makes this book really interesting to me. It's all written in a smattering of colloquial styes which shifts subtly depending on whose point of view you're reading.
I am definitely very eager indeed to find out how this story finishes. I usually read a standalone novel in between books in a series but not this time...I'm plowing straight on into the next one. (
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