Ellen Kushner

At the end of the previous book, the Mad Duke had what seems like a happy ending – after he killed Lord Ferris he went off with Richard, who has lost much of his vision. I’m going to have to look at the short stories in my edition of Swordspoint to see if they cover this period, otherwise I’m curious how that worked out.
This book is very different in tone from the previous ones: less fun and mannered, more serious. Katherine is running the Tremontaine estates with Marcus. Despite her sexual awakening with both Marcus and the Black Rose, she’s a spinster. I would have liked her to be more of a character in this book, and not just the aunt / cousin of Theron.
I was confused by relationships. Sophia and Theron came from nowhere and it wasn’t clear to me that David the Mad Duke was his father. At least we knew about Jessica from the previous book but the way she showed up to resolve things felt wrong.
I liked learning the history of the two kingdoms. The conflict between the nobles and the status quo with Basil St Cloud and his students' research was interesting. The gradual reveal that Theron is the king to be (though he must go through the trial) and St Cloud is his wizard went on too long. Is that how kingship works? There are Companions but they aren’t Theron’s Companions. They respect how he ran in the hunt, but that seems to be all. Truth be told, I didn't care for Theron. He seemed like kind of a drip. We read that Basil loves that he's interested in history, but we don't actually see it. He's mostly swooning after one person or another, whoever life throws in his way.
I wanted to like this more than I did.
Not only did the ending fail to give us the payoff we were waiting for – Basil and Theron come together, the monarchy and wizardry are restored, and magic is shown to be real – but Theron is taken to the island of his birth, despite his need for his land. Will any land do, or does it have to be his adopted country? Will he ever be at peace?… (more)

non è un fantasy
potrebbe essere un Harmony cappa e spada (se gli Harmony avessero personaggi sociopatici)

TRAMA E SPOILER
in una società dove i nobili si sfidano per procura tramite spadaccini su commissione il giovane St. Vier, il miglior maestro di spada della città, verrà invischiato in un intrigo politico (e passionale), tradito, processato e infine salvato dal suo altrettanto giovane (e tormentato) amante

questa è la trama ed è il più possibile fedele ma... il romanzo non parla di questo :)

l'ambientazione è orrida, i personaggi sono tutti odiosi, le loro relazioni sono aberranti, non c'è un solo raggio di luce in questa storia
e l'ho adorato!!… (more)

si fa leggere ma.. è tutto una forzatura e quello che non lo è.. è annacquatura
in soldoni: la trama è una serie ininterrotta di cazzate e il libro in generale è una serie ininterrotta di ripetizioni

TRAMA E SPOILER:
la nipotina del Duca è ora una duchessa 60enne contrariata dal nuovo rampollo di famiglia che invece di andare alle feste, frequentare balli e partite a carte della buona società come dovrebbe, ha il cattivo gusto di frequentare l'università; a peggiorare queste sue pessime maniere si aggiunge il fatto che dopo più di 200 anni di assenza ingiustificata la magia si ripresenta e lo sceglie come suo rappresentante… (more)