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Title: Ink and Steel
Author: Elizabeth Bear
Genre: Historical fantasy (Elizabethan) - first in duology, prequels to another duology
Thingummies: 4.5
Synopsis: Kit Marlowe's troubles only start with his murder.
Thoughts: Many of the biggest problems from the first two Promethean Age books are absent here--while the politics are appropriately twisty and the plot similarly twisted, the writing is a bit more direct. Still subtle, but a little easier to follow. At the end, I felt like I actually understood most characters' motivations and I actually knew exactly what had happened.
The first two Promethean Age novels were set in modern times. This pair go back to the early split between groups of Prometheans during Queen Elizabeth's reign. There are a handful of characters in common--most importantly Kit, but Lucifer, Murchaud, and Morgan are also major players, and we get cameos from a lot of the Mebd's court. It's actually not particularly necessary to have read the first two books. While there's a poignancy to knowing the fates of many of the characters, it's not required for the reader to follow the plot. I'd actually possibly recommend that readers start with this and its sequel rather than Blood and Iron because it's a bit more accessible.
The plot interweaves with much of the politics of the Elizabethan court, and features quite a lot of Will Shakespeare as well as Kit. It's certainly been done before, but it's done cleverly here.
As is usual for Bear, the characters are complex and for the most part, shaded with gray. The style is impeccable. A good entry to her works.
Author: Elizabeth Bear
Genre: Historical fantasy (Elizabethan) - first in duology, prequels to another duology
Thingummies: 4.5
Synopsis: Kit Marlowe's troubles only start with his murder.
Thoughts: Many of the biggest problems from the first two Promethean Age books are absent here--while the politics are appropriately twisty and the plot similarly twisted, the writing is a bit more direct. Still subtle, but a little easier to follow. At the end, I felt like I actually understood most characters' motivations and I actually knew exactly what had happened.
The first two Promethean Age novels were set in modern times. This pair go back to the early split between groups of Prometheans during Queen Elizabeth's reign. There are a handful of characters in common--most importantly Kit, but Lucifer, Murchaud, and Morgan are also major players, and we get cameos from a lot of the Mebd's court. It's actually not particularly necessary to have read the first two books. While there's a poignancy to knowing the fates of many of the characters, it's not required for the reader to follow the plot. I'd actually possibly recommend that readers start with this and its sequel rather than Blood and Iron because it's a bit more accessible.
The plot interweaves with much of the politics of the Elizabethan court, and features quite a lot of Will Shakespeare as well as Kit. It's certainly been done before, but it's done cleverly here.
As is usual for Bear, the characters are complex and for the most part, shaded with gray. The style is impeccable. A good entry to her works.
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Date: 2013-03-07 05:15 am (UTC)From:...you know, it's been a while since I read these, I should pick them back up again.
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Date: 2013-03-07 05:55 pm (UTC)From:I feel like there's a certain influence on your and possibly Mith's writing style here--the elusiveness and stylish hinting at what remains unsaid.