Tag: jo walton

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The King’s Name by Jo Walton

A solid successor to the King’s Peace. The book takes place over a much shorter period of time; the core of it is less than a month of action. The struggles are tough– it’s a civil war with families falling on opposite sides, all spurred by Morthu’s plotting and pride.

The overall plot is “inspired by” Arthurian myth, but there are a lot of interesting deviations that keep the book fresh. You can’t be sure how it’s going to turn out, given the number of subtle and obvious changes. She does a good job of setting up the situation and delivering an exciting story.

This is the end of the series: while there are three books in the world, The King’s Peace and The King’s Name are the two Sullien novels. The third novel, The Prize in the Game, is set elsewhere and in the recent past. [It is set in Tir Isarnagiri, in the childhood of Elenn.]

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Half a Crown by Jo Walton

The last book of the trilogy, and a solid conclusion to the series. The focus is tighter, with Elvira as this book’s female lead. Her relationship to Carmichael is much closer; they are intertwined from the start. And she’s not on the other side of Carmichael’s case, the way that the other books aligned things.

Elvira’s a little hard to take seriously. She’s an eighteen year old, written as a convincing eighteen, so she has a number of dangerous assumptions and holes in her knowledge that make her feel realistic.

Carmichael’s changes and experience with power are subtle but present. His good works, and the entire inner watch make sense as a continuation of his character from before. His relation with Normandy remains prickly and fraught, but there’s also a familiarity clear from the last ten years of working together.

All in all, an excellent end to the series. I like it and look forward to rereading the series in a few years.

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Ha’Penny by Jo Walton

The second story in the alternate post World War 2 book. Inspector Carmichael comes back for another turn, while the female lead is new. Our female lead this time is Viola Lark, an actress, formerly of a good family.

This was a good book, and stands alone. Unfortunately, despite standing alone just fine, it still felt somewhat like the middle book of a trilogy. I liked it, but the ending (with the MacBeth quotes) and distress seemed overwrought. Getting there, the book is much more solid; I liked the conspiracy and relations of conspirators, and the investigation arm. Carmichael continues to develop– not nicely, but the effects of the last book linger.

I liked it, and would read it again as part of rereading the trilogy. As a stand alone, I’d rarely pick it up.

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The King’s Peace by Jo Walton

This book is a fascinating twist on an Arthurian retelling, with a lot of adjustment for mixed gender knights. It’s set in the era immediately after Vincia [Rome] leaves the island, much like Hawk of May.

It was hard to evaluate, given that Hawk is so similar in setting and tale. In that way, it works well that crossing gender and mixing in politics changes the pacing and tale quite a bit.

In the end, I liked it. It’s a solid tale, after the tag end of Roman rule, but a different world and setting. The characters are all well drawn; Sulien is a great POV character, interesting and prickly, progressive in ways that appeal to a modern reader. Urdo and his knights are also well drawn; the other cultures are sketched and clearly different, with the differences slanted by Sulien’s POV.

All in all, an excellent retelling, even if it hasn’t toppled Hawk of May on first read. I look forward to reading the sequels.

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Farthing by Jo Walton

This is a great alternate history mystery, with two engaging and well drawn main characters.

Lucy is a great window into the aristocracy, with enough bristling at the system to make her sympathetic, but enough background so she makes sense. Inspector Carmichael, from Scotland Yard, is no fool, but there is quite a tangle to work through on the murder.

Along the way, the variations in belief and sympathy from the different characters keeps the book feeling real– each character comes from its own place and has its own prejudices. The main characters, fortunately, are quite progressive in their mindset, which does ease a modern viewer into their viewpoints.

I liked this one enough that I’m looking going to check out the rest of the trilogy (Ha’penny and Half a Crown). Though I wonder where they’ll launch from– these characters reached a strong break in their story. I wonder if we’ll follow new people in the next books.