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A review by maggie_rau
The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm not sure how to rate this book.
On the one hand, worldbuilding is impressive, the (not as fully developed as I wished) intrigues and plots quite compelling, the idea of justice as magic very cool. Also, Vonvalt is the type of character I usually like very much in fantasy stories.
On the other hand, the choice of narrator is atrocious. Helena is so badly written it makes me wonder if the author ever encountered any FMC written by women. She's illogical, whiny, moody. A supposed clever orphan who grew up on the streets, but acts like a spoiled princess. An innocent orphan, beggar and cutpurse, who falls for the first boy who smiles at her but also has these entirely incestuous, unprovoked thoughts about Vonvalt Come on.
So, 5 stars for the story, 1 star for Helena, rounded up to 3 because I feel generous.
On the one hand, worldbuilding is impressive, the (not as fully developed as I wished) intrigues and plots quite compelling, the idea of justice as magic very cool. Also, Vonvalt is the type of character I usually like very much in fantasy stories.
On the other hand, the choice of narrator is atrocious. Helena is so badly written it makes me wonder if the author ever encountered any FMC written by women. She's illogical, whiny, moody. A supposed clever orphan who grew up on the streets, but acts like a spoiled princess. An innocent orphan, beggar and cutpurse, who falls for the first boy who smiles at her but also has these entirely incestuous, unprovoked thoughts about Vonvalt Come on.
So, 5 stars for the story, 1 star for Helena, rounded up to 3 because I feel generous.