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juushikaTitle: Kings and Assassins
Author: Lane Robins
Published: New York: Del Ray, 2009
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 353
Total Page Count: 73,067
Text Number: 216
Read For: sequel to Maledicte, purchased from Amazon.com
Short Review: Janus Ixion, once a street rat and now Earl of Last, is determined to revitalize stagnating Anytre by becoming its king. But when his wife is possessed by the god of death and his former tutor challenges him for the throne, Janus must use all his cunning to protect the nation which seeks to destroy him. Skillfully written, full of intrigue and violence, this is a rich, nuanced, and truly enjoyable book. However, it pales in comparison to its predecessor, Maledicte, because Janus is not nearly so fascinating a protagonist as the main character of that book. Nonetheless recommended, but this is not Robins's best.
Kings and Assassins invites comparison to Maledicte because it's that book's sequel—but also because Janus still mourns the loss of Maledicte and mentions him frequently. What made Maledicte a success was a foundation of strong writing, intelligent plot, riveting violence, and a magic-imbued fantasy world (so often missing in the fantasy of manners subgenre) capped by an exceptional protagonist: Maledicte's unique gender and his combination of ready wit and sword made him a fascinating antihero. Kings and Assassins is by the same author, and much of Robins's strong writing is in evidence here. Skillful plotting and visceral violence persist, and the setting and mythos are further developed. It's a rich and decadent and nuanced book, and a pleasure to read. But Kings and Assassins lacks an unforgettable protagonist, and so it pales in comparison to Maledicte. Janus is an interesting character, intelligent and cunning, but he is merely human where Maledicte is god-touched. Both characters are faulted, but Janus's faults are not set against a larger-than-life personality. Indeed, he's almost normal. That's not a bad thing, but within the vivid setting and when compared to the protagonist of the prequel, it's somewhat disappointing.
Taken on its own, Kings and Assassins is a good book. Robins is skilled; she writes a story to keep the reader guessing, action to keep him intrigued, and characters to keep him thinking. The book also stands alone, for the most part—if you don't read Maledicte you'll miss some of Janus's backstory, but this book's plot is self-contained. It's almost a pity that the book is a sequel. On its own, it's an impressive novel; it's only in comparison to its predecessor that it seems pale: not bad, just not quite as unforgettable as Maledicte, which I love so much. I recommend Kings and Assassins, but Maledicte remains Robins's best work so far.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.
Author: Lane Robins
Published: New York: Del Ray, 2009
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 353
Total Page Count: 73,067
Text Number: 216
Read For: sequel to Maledicte, purchased from Amazon.com
Short Review: Janus Ixion, once a street rat and now Earl of Last, is determined to revitalize stagnating Anytre by becoming its king. But when his wife is possessed by the god of death and his former tutor challenges him for the throne, Janus must use all his cunning to protect the nation which seeks to destroy him. Skillfully written, full of intrigue and violence, this is a rich, nuanced, and truly enjoyable book. However, it pales in comparison to its predecessor, Maledicte, because Janus is not nearly so fascinating a protagonist as the main character of that book. Nonetheless recommended, but this is not Robins's best.
Kings and Assassins invites comparison to Maledicte because it's that book's sequel—but also because Janus still mourns the loss of Maledicte and mentions him frequently. What made Maledicte a success was a foundation of strong writing, intelligent plot, riveting violence, and a magic-imbued fantasy world (so often missing in the fantasy of manners subgenre) capped by an exceptional protagonist: Maledicte's unique gender and his combination of ready wit and sword made him a fascinating antihero. Kings and Assassins is by the same author, and much of Robins's strong writing is in evidence here. Skillful plotting and visceral violence persist, and the setting and mythos are further developed. It's a rich and decadent and nuanced book, and a pleasure to read. But Kings and Assassins lacks an unforgettable protagonist, and so it pales in comparison to Maledicte. Janus is an interesting character, intelligent and cunning, but he is merely human where Maledicte is god-touched. Both characters are faulted, but Janus's faults are not set against a larger-than-life personality. Indeed, he's almost normal. That's not a bad thing, but within the vivid setting and when compared to the protagonist of the prequel, it's somewhat disappointing.
Taken on its own, Kings and Assassins is a good book. Robins is skilled; she writes a story to keep the reader guessing, action to keep him intrigued, and characters to keep him thinking. The book also stands alone, for the most part—if you don't read Maledicte you'll miss some of Janus's backstory, but this book's plot is self-contained. It's almost a pity that the book is a sequel. On its own, it's an impressive novel; it's only in comparison to its predecessor that it seems pale: not bad, just not quite as unforgettable as Maledicte, which I love so much. I recommend Kings and Assassins, but Maledicte remains Robins's best work so far.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.
