Saturday, December 22, 2012

A False Start?

“If you can’t give anyone pain, then you can’t give them joy either.” Truth.

64. The False Prince
This was a pretty good YA, more for middle school readers but I would hesitate because it is kind of violent – and that feels odd right at the moment.  Why are we so squeamish about showing sex or swearing, but young men being killed…  Meh.  I guess that is a fight for another day.

I had heard really great things about this book and was expecting to be swept away by it and in some ways I was. I loved the character of Sage.  He truly seemed like a boy who had to survive on his wits and he seemed very in control.  Mott reminded me of every really great right hand man and I wish he had been used more in the story.  The female characters were used sparingly but they were also a breath of fresh air, fighting in every way they could the societal demands on who they should be and what they should do.

So the characters were great, but my issue was that the beginning of the book and the flow of the plot are so predictable that it overshadowed the real brilliance of the conclusion. The first half dragged, and the second half flew. There are a ton of reveals that are really well done, and many ends tied up, clearly leaving room for a sequel (just checked – and shock of all shocks – it will be a trilogy!). Half of me is dying to get my hands on it while the other half could care less, because it’s plot is predictable without even being written. 

So here is the rub, these are mostly new and interesting characters set in a plot that is far too familiar to be intriguing.  So what can be done about it?  No idea.

Ok, off to read like a mad woman, I must make it to 65 books for the year!

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