A Conspiracy of Kings: SPOILERY VERSION

[elvenjaneite]

BEWARE! If you have not yet read A Conspiracy of Kings, this is not the post you are looking for. That one is the previous post, which contains no spoilers (except that Sophos is awesome, which we knew). From here on out, consider yourself warned.


Okay, is Sophos not made of awesome? Knocking down Gen? Sneaking up on Gen? Shooting the Mede ambassador? Telling Eddis he knows how much of an ass he was? Being nice to the Ions? AWESOME SAUCE.

More coherently, I love Sophos and Helen. I love that they don't need to be Gen and Irene. No inkpots or temper tantrums. Okay, there might be a Dramatic Confrontation, but they're so...steady. Much as I adore Gen and Irene, it's Sophos and Helen I would want to have dinner with on a regular basis.

Speak of which, I melted when Gen told Sophos the exact moment he fell in love with Irene. Awwwww..... *gushy pile*

And further speaking of which, Irene is now Irene to me, thanks to the scene where she takes Eddis's hand. How sweet of her!

I was expecting to hate Sophos's father, given what we already knew of him and his early depiction. But sneaky MWT pulled a fast one on me.

Also awesome: Sophos's sisters! And his mother! Go sneaky peoples!

Awesomely awful: The Mede Ambassadors. Where do they recruit these people? Are they specially picked for cultural insensitivity and general annoyingness?

I'm sure I will have more thoughts, most likely in the middle of the night. I do now really want to know several things: Heir? Gen really needs one now. IS COSTIS THE ATTOLIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE MEDES? How on earth is Eddis going to adapt to being Queen of Sounis? And how is Gen going to handle being at least technically King of three countries? Obviously this will be dealt with over the next two books, but the mind boggles.

Comments

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

I know!! I can't wait for the next to books -- but I will, very patiently, because I want them to be as awesome as the last 4....

Thanks for the wonderful reviews :-D

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

but I will, very patiently, because I want them to be as awesome as the last 4

Oh yes! Please, MWT, take 6 years if you need to. Take 8! Just... make them good.

[singersdd.livejournal.com]

For a spoilery review, this wasn't very spoilery at all... and I plan to hunt for this book tomorrow. Even if I have to go to the expensive B & N or Borders to get it.

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

Yes, not terribly spoilery, but I know some people are avoiding ALL spoilers.

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

OMG I know, the Mede Ambassadors are all the same! All annoying and short-sighted. But you know, it does make sense --it's not just a personality type. Colonizers usually justify what they're doing by thinking their culture is far *superior* to that of the people they're colonizing, so they're doing the poor locals a favour by offering them enlightened civilization... I think that's the attitude that blinds the Medes all the time. Surely eventually they're going to start recognizing what they're up against --if they do, they'll have a way easier time of it!
*shudder*
As long as Gen's trixy enough to get the better of them ANYWAY. :p

ALSO: good review! :)

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

Yes, it does make a lot of sense. I just particularly noticed that they all seem to have the same sort of, as you pointed out, colonialist mentality. Thanks! :)