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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Unfortunately, I don't remember much about this one other than I liked it at the time -- I remember reading it super fast. We're now going to read the prequel in bookclub (3.5 years later). Maybe one day I'll re-read.
!! so important. Kushner does the best witty dialogue, the most tear-inducing, fist-clenching callbacks. This is also very possibly my favorite opening paragraph-- UGH. UGH there are so many quotable sections, and the return of Richard and Alec and their beautifully painful saga is wonderful.
the thing is, this is definitely better than some of the books i’ve rated five stars, but i can’t bring myself to rate it five stars, because it took a bit of getting into and the ending was a little bit disappointing. it’s well written, swashbuckling entertainment with more serious tones about the dark side of marriage and societal expectations for women. however it’s all wrapped up in the last few chapters with little fanfare. as an ending to such a suspenseful and enjoyable book it was a little bit rushed or lacklustre. and although i’ve been told that the reason one of the characters plot lines was abandoned was to set up for the next book, it still gives this novel a slightly unrefined quality. a revelation about a character, then immediately ditching their storyline and not mentioning them for the rest of the book comes across as a bit messy and i do believe that in a series you should still be able to read each book separately and enjoy them as separate stories, which this book does mostly quite impressively but not in this instance.
I found THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD while researching feminist fantasy, an ill-defined sub-genre often confused with "a female main character". Ellen Kushner received the Japanese Sense of Gender award for SWORDPOINT, a recognition given every year to a sci-fi or fantasy novel that explores gender. This novel picks up 15 years after SWORDPOINT and although it is the second in a trilogy, Wikipedia promised me it worked as a stand-alone, and Wikipedia was right. It mostly focuses on Katherine, a noble teenager from a down-on-their-luck family called to the capital Riverside by her uncle Alec, the Mad Duke Tremontaine. I am not sure how her story qualifies as fantasy -- it felt more like a slightly alternative 18th century, aside from a couple of references to fallen kings who took magic with them. The gender exploration though is obvious from the moment Alec decides to dress Katherine in boy's clothes as she trains to becomes his sword - out of corsets and dresses, she doesn't have to perform feminity anymore. Multiple characters are bisexual - there is a direct link between Alec being nicknamed "Mad" and his queerness, never more obvious than in a quiet discussion he has with a man he loves but seemingly can't live with. Katherine also explores the spectrum of her sexuality via two secondary characters, a famous actress who acts in her favourite story and one of her uncle's staff members. Even without having read the two prequels, PRIVILEGE doesn't need the kind of exposition many fantasy plots do because it relies on the reader's understanding of class and women's subjugation. I really enjoyed it once I stopped expecting it to match what I usually find in fantasy novels.
Very nearly five stars. I may have liked it even better than [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)|Ellen Kushner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388903158s/68485.jpg|1453593]. Excellent protagonist, lovely narration, and a wonderful story line. As in its predecessor, the plotting, pacing, and writing were very well done. Also as in its predecessor, it's only technically fantasy in that it takes place in a history that never happened. Otherwise, it's straight adventure and historical fiction.
A highly enjoyable book, and one I recommend enthusiastically.
A highly enjoyable book, and one I recommend enthusiastically.
I'm torn on this one. I do appreciate reading a world where a girl who acts like a man throughout most of the book doesn't just lay down and be traditional when it comes to sex (12th Night), but I also feel like it somehow made the plot a bit hackneyed. Or brought out that the ordinary plot of such books is hackneyed? The same kind of play on a hackneyed plot that makes the Parasol Protectorate books so fun doesn't hold up here: Privilege of the Sword lacks a wink or seemingly any attitude that the hackneyed plot is hackneyed. Fun read, couldn't put it down...but I can't commit to saying it was outstanding.
The first novel I ever read by Ellen Kushner was [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170692599s/68485.jpg|1453593]. It is one of the those magical books that draws the reader in from the first line. Sadly, The Privilege of the Sword is not a good sequel.
There are several problems with this book. The first is that two of the main characters Katherine and Artemisia are very annoying. Katherine gets better towards the end, but for much of the book I wanted to smack them. Despite the fact that I know they are both very young (Katherine is 15) and despite Artemisia's rape, I wanted to smack them.
A second problem is I do not buy Katherine's desire to help Artemisia. Katherine discovers that Artmemisia has been raped by Lord Ferris and wants to challenge Ferris. Sounds good, right? The problem is that the two characters have barely said ten sentences to each other at this point, and in fact, the last time they met Artemisia laughed at Katherine. Now, I am supposed to believe Katherine see their friendship as something that deep? I might have brought the idea of a instant sisterhood of "let's go get that B*s***d" but that is not how it is played. Kushner tries to play as two girls living at a novel they both find romantic, but it doesn't quite work. Despite her age, Katherine seems more practical than that. It just doesn't work though Kushner tries very hard to make it work. For a better example of such a theme read [b:Anecdotes of Destiny|1090439|Anecdotes of Destiny|Isak Dinesen|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|611507]
A third problem is the fact that Katherine is supposedly a swordswomen, but she only fights two duels. This ties in with the feeling for large sections of the novel that nothing is happening (this feeling is also due to flat minor characters).
Two things that save the book from a one star rating. The first is Kushner's wonderful touches of humor. Katherine's discovery of sexuality is funny. The second is Kushner's ability to use words in an Austen like manner. Sadly, the rest of the book just doesn't live up to the hype
There are several problems with this book. The first is that two of the main characters Katherine and Artemisia are very annoying. Katherine gets better towards the end, but for much of the book I wanted to smack them. Despite the fact that I know they are both very young (Katherine is 15) and despite Artemisia's rape, I wanted to smack them.
A second problem is I do not buy Katherine's desire to help Artemisia. Katherine discovers that Artmemisia has been raped by Lord Ferris and wants to challenge Ferris. Sounds good, right? The problem is that the two characters have barely said ten sentences to each other at this point, and in fact, the last time they met Artemisia laughed at Katherine. Now, I am supposed to believe Katherine see their friendship as something that deep? I might have brought the idea of a instant sisterhood of "let's go get that B*s***d" but that is not how it is played. Kushner tries to play as two girls living at a novel they both find romantic, but it doesn't quite work. Despite her age, Katherine seems more practical than that. It just doesn't work though Kushner tries very hard to make it work. For a better example of such a theme read [b:Anecdotes of Destiny|1090439|Anecdotes of Destiny|Isak Dinesen|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|611507]
A third problem is the fact that Katherine is supposedly a swordswomen, but she only fights two duels. This ties in with the feeling for large sections of the novel that nothing is happening (this feeling is also due to flat minor characters).
Two things that save the book from a one star rating. The first is Kushner's wonderful touches of humor. Katherine's discovery of sexuality is funny. The second is Kushner's ability to use words in an Austen like manner. Sadly, the rest of the book just doesn't live up to the hype
3.5 stars.
This book had a lot of things I loved about it. Everyone of significance was bisexual, it had some great conflicts, and the f/f romance was the best I've ever read, even if the 2 don't actually hook up during the story.
However, I felt a complete lack of world building, and the plot didn't really start until halfway through. The ending was also very abrupt.
This book had a lot of things I loved about it. Everyone of significance was bisexual, it had some great conflicts, and the f/f romance was the best I've ever read, even if the 2 don't actually hook up during the story.
However, I felt a complete lack of world building, and the plot didn't really start until halfway through. The ending was also very abrupt.
I really liked Ellen Kushner's other novels in this world, but this one was very hum-drum. Of course, I previously read the other novels about 10+ years ago, and I have changed a lot since then.
Essentially this novel is about a crazy rich man who buys his niece from his sister in order to train her as a swordsman to protect him.
The girl, Katherine, only fights in two duels in the entire novel. The last part of the book she is just a horny teenager who is attracted to her uncle's valet.
I was an athletic fencer for 4 years and I was not impressed with the descriptions of the practice, the blades and the bouts. Yawn.
I did enjoy the return of a character previously introduced in an earlier novel, but that part was too brief.
If you've read the other two novels, you may as well read this one. But don't hold your breath.
Essentially this novel is about a crazy rich man who buys his niece from his sister in order to train her as a swordsman to protect him.
The girl, Katherine, only fights in two duels in the entire novel. The last part of the book she is just a horny teenager who is attracted to her uncle's valet.
I was an athletic fencer for 4 years and I was not impressed with the descriptions of the practice, the blades and the bouts. Yawn.
I did enjoy the return of a character previously introduced in an earlier novel, but that part was too brief.
If you've read the other two novels, you may as well read this one. But don't hold your breath.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated