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wisecraic's review
4.0
Ohhh this book. First, let me say that I absolutely enjoyed reading Irenicon. After saying that, let me begin to unpack this whole situation.
This book was slow to get through for me, but that is because the entire first section of the book is absolutely and beautifully filled with world-building. Harte has a masterful skill with completely filling out this alternative universe fantasy Etruscan setting. Not only is the world building so thorough and believable, but Harte manages to establish a universe and a novel in which every character he introduces is important. Even characters that you think may be filler characters end up having an impact on the plot. Each character feels well thought out and individualized as well, without feeling like a trope.
After Harte takes the time to establish his world, the entire book speeds up. While there is no shortage of action throughout the book, the lack of need to further explain how and why the world works makes a huge difference to the pace of the read.
I did find the density at the beginning to be a little discouraging and overwhelming, but was grateful I stuck with this book and finished it out. Harte does not exactly leave you with a cliffhanger, but he absolutely sets up the next book in the series. Irenicon speaks to Harte's ability as a scholar, researcher, creator, and writer. I am eager to see where and how these characters progress.
This book was slow to get through for me, but that is because the entire first section of the book is absolutely and beautifully filled with world-building. Harte has a masterful skill with completely filling out this alternative universe fantasy Etruscan setting. Not only is the world building so thorough and believable, but Harte manages to establish a universe and a novel in which every character he introduces is important. Even characters that you think may be filler characters end up having an impact on the plot. Each character feels well thought out and individualized as well, without feeling like a trope.
After Harte takes the time to establish his world, the entire book speeds up. While there is no shortage of action throughout the book, the lack of need to further explain how and why the world works makes a huge difference to the pace of the read.
I did find the density at the beginning to be a little discouraging and overwhelming, but was grateful I stuck with this book and finished it out. Harte does not exactly leave you with a cliffhanger, but he absolutely sets up the next book in the series. Irenicon speaks to Harte's ability as a scholar, researcher, creator, and writer. I am eager to see where and how these characters progress.
bookadventurer's review
3.0
Irenicon has so many different elements. Alternate history of the European Renaissance variety, steampunk fantasy, understated romance, superhero battles, magical water creatures. It also has elements of religious allegory.
This book tells the story of Captain Giovanni, architect to the Concordian empire, and Sofia, heir to the city of Rasenna. Their lives intertwine when Giovanni is sent to build a bridge over the wily Irenicon river in Rasenna, a city dominated by two gangs. Decades ago, the Irenicon was flooded by a mechanical device built by Concord, to depress the wealth and power of its rival. Lives, homes, and people were destroyed, and since then, two groups of tower-jumping gangs have ruled the north and south sides of the city. Sofia is approaching her 17th birthday, and the day she officially becomes Countess of Rasenna. Her position and birth make her a powerful pawn in the struggle between the gangs, but she has plans of her own. Giovanni, disgraced architect of Concord, meets her when he arrives to build the bridge over the Irenicon. Though it is a symbol and tool of Concord's dominion over Rasenna, and will be used by an invading army to pass through the city, Giovanni gives it a different significance - one of unity. As the bridge is built, politics in the city shift, power moving swiftly between the north and south sides. Outside Rasenna, Concord makes plans of its own, which are revealed as the plot advances.
The region is based on Renaissance Italy, with culture, language, and people influenced by our own Italian culture. My absolute favorite aspect of this book, it is clear that the author has an intimate knowledge of Italian language and culture. This knowledge permeates the book in minor and major ways, but the minor ways were really the most impressive.
The historical fantasy world was intricately drawn, with international politics, city politics in a gang-ruled city, an Empire not unlike the Roman Empire, steampunk-inspired technology (mostly clockwork and incredible/fantastical architecture), and a religious belief system that claims Jesus died young, perhaps as an infant, and Mary was the real messiah. A tug of war between humans and the buio, or water spirits, erupted centuries ago, and these mysterious creatures influence the conflicts in the events of the book.
Sofia enchanted me from the start: stubborn, proud, clever, and unsure of what she wants, her bravery in battle is offset by her cowardice when it comes to relationships and trust. Yet, she has the opportunity to grow, and does. The secondary characters fit well into the whole, and I really enjoyed reading as a few of the Small People gained confidence in their own power to influence events in Rasenna.
Throughout the novel, snippets of religious history and belief systems popped up, but it wasn't until the end that this plays a large role. As I am personally uninterested in the way the ending hangs off a cliff, I will not be reading the next book. That written, I did enjoy Irenicon, for its characters, its political plotlines, and the worldbuilding. Recommended for readers who love hints of Italian culture, and for fans of historical and/or alternate fantasy.
Find read-alikes at The Book Adventures
This book tells the story of Captain Giovanni, architect to the Concordian empire, and Sofia, heir to the city of Rasenna. Their lives intertwine when Giovanni is sent to build a bridge over the wily Irenicon river in Rasenna, a city dominated by two gangs. Decades ago, the Irenicon was flooded by a mechanical device built by Concord, to depress the wealth and power of its rival. Lives, homes, and people were destroyed, and since then, two groups of tower-jumping gangs have ruled the north and south sides of the city. Sofia is approaching her 17th birthday, and the day she officially becomes Countess of Rasenna. Her position and birth make her a powerful pawn in the struggle between the gangs, but she has plans of her own. Giovanni, disgraced architect of Concord, meets her when he arrives to build the bridge over the Irenicon. Though it is a symbol and tool of Concord's dominion over Rasenna, and will be used by an invading army to pass through the city, Giovanni gives it a different significance - one of unity. As the bridge is built, politics in the city shift, power moving swiftly between the north and south sides. Outside Rasenna, Concord makes plans of its own, which are revealed as the plot advances.
The region is based on Renaissance Italy, with culture, language, and people influenced by our own Italian culture. My absolute favorite aspect of this book, it is clear that the author has an intimate knowledge of Italian language and culture. This knowledge permeates the book in minor and major ways, but the minor ways were really the most impressive.
The historical fantasy world was intricately drawn, with international politics, city politics in a gang-ruled city, an Empire not unlike the Roman Empire, steampunk-inspired technology (mostly clockwork and incredible/fantastical architecture), and a religious belief system that claims Jesus died young, perhaps as an infant, and Mary was the real messiah. A tug of war between humans and the buio, or water spirits, erupted centuries ago, and these mysterious creatures influence the conflicts in the events of the book.
Sofia enchanted me from the start: stubborn, proud, clever, and unsure of what she wants, her bravery in battle is offset by her cowardice when it comes to relationships and trust. Yet, she has the opportunity to grow, and does. The secondary characters fit well into the whole, and I really enjoyed reading as a few of the Small People gained confidence in their own power to influence events in Rasenna.
Throughout the novel, snippets of religious history and belief systems popped up, but it wasn't until the end that this plays a large role. As I am personally uninterested in the way the ending hangs off a cliff, I will not be reading the next book. That written, I did enjoy Irenicon, for its characters, its political plotlines, and the worldbuilding. Recommended for readers who love hints of Italian culture, and for fans of historical and/or alternate fantasy.
Find read-alikes at The Book Adventures
wyvernfriend's review
3.0
More a 3.5 star read, the end was just heartbreakingly perfect, exactly what was to happen, not an easy end but a right end.
journeymouse's review
3.0
An interesting, slightly magical alternative late medieval Italian setting with an interesting take on Christianity - the lore of which is a major part of the story. Particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the banner-based martial art.
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