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alba89's review
3.0
I keep reading these books because of the world building, which is amazing. The superficial characterization is disappointing though. In 4 books, you barely learn anything about the 2 main characters or their relationship. It would be more satisfying if there were an emotional arc. As it is, it’s almost all plot. Nonetheless, I plan to eventually read the next book. Not going to rush though.
baranchi's review against another edition
5.0
If you liked the previous books, you will like this one. Astreiant is unique and wholly realized, if somewhat opaque at times. Rathe and Eslington are earnest, diligent characters that are instantly likable. The mystery is engaging.
My only complaint would be the editing. I don't think Melissa Scott's new publisher is doing her any favors because there are a dozen very obvious typos that an editor should have caught: missing or misplace quotation makes, repeated words, "it" instead of "is." These were disappointing as they pulled me out of the flow of the story. Despite these bobbles, Scott still has the same strong writing style from the previous books.
My only complaint would be the editing. I don't think Melissa Scott's new publisher is doing her any favors because there are a dozen very obvious typos that an editor should have caught: missing or misplace quotation makes, repeated words, "it" instead of "is." These were disappointing as they pulled me out of the flow of the story. Despite these bobbles, Scott still has the same strong writing style from the previous books.
krilves's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is the most enjoyable of the books so far - if only because the editing improved! It read smooth the whole way through.
I continue to admire the worldbuilding and the crime plots. They're so imaginative and fascinating - in the real world it's easy enough to come up with a crime: break into a bank, steal from the rich, idk, using conventional methods. But when you have a fantasy setting with laws of physics (or magic) completely different from our own, with a societal structure that's to the left and up (or something), you will have motivations and methods that aren't obvious, and it takes a tremendous imagination to work that out. In a world that looks like this, what would one steal? why? how? is there a cool method they can use that isn't at odds with the existing worldbuilding and laws, that would make this plot intriguing and fun not just for the characters solving it, but the reader? the answer is yes, and Melissa Scott has done it. (Again.)
My other favourite thing about this series is that it's about the regular people. It's not about The Chosen One who has to save the world and the few Plot Relevant People they come across in their Quest. This is about a regular city full of regular people with regular jobs and regular relationships. They have normal people problems, like what to have for dinner. They have normal people relationship problems as well - so far Philip's and Nico's relationship problems can be characterised by 'my career is at odds with your career, how do we make it work without having to give up our careers, or each other?' and I found that so very refreshing? Especially as they become more and more secure in their romantic relationship (and deal with it like mature adults!) and do away with their jealousy, because they know the jealousy isn't rational, etc. I love it.
I continue to admire the worldbuilding and the crime plots. They're so imaginative and fascinating - in the real world it's easy enough to come up with a crime: break into a bank, steal from the rich, idk, using conventional methods. But when you have a fantasy setting with laws of physics (or magic) completely different from our own, with a societal structure that's to the left and up (or something), you will have motivations and methods that aren't obvious, and it takes a tremendous imagination to work that out. In a world that looks like this, what would one steal? why? how? is there a cool method they can use that isn't at odds with the existing worldbuilding and laws, that would make this plot intriguing and fun not just for the characters solving it, but the reader? the answer is yes, and Melissa Scott has done it. (Again.)
My other favourite thing about this series is that it's about the regular people. It's not about The Chosen One who has to save the world and the few Plot Relevant People they come across in their Quest. This is about a regular city full of regular people with regular jobs and regular relationships. They have normal people problems, like what to have for dinner. They have normal people relationship problems as well - so far Philip's and Nico's relationship problems can be characterised by 'my career is at odds with your career, how do we make it work without having to give up our careers, or each other?' and I found that so very refreshing? Especially as they become more and more secure in their romantic relationship (and deal with it like mature adults!) and do away with their jealousy, because they know the jealousy isn't rational, etc. I love it.
hyacinths's review against another edition
4.0
i love these books!!!!! this one was so much FUN, they get a racing puppy and have to work through relationship tensions when eslingen gets offered a promotion to the new city guard (and it's handled so well and maturely and i love them), and there's a crazy mystery going on, and please let there be one million books in this series because i swear i'll read ALL OF THEM. i just want to live in astreiant forever, okay!!!
dee2799d's review against another edition
4.0
The Astreiant books were on sale at Smashwords so I finally bought this one (I wanted a physical copy to match the rest but such is life) and reread the whole series (so far) in order to remember who these people are and what Astreiant is about.
Fairs' Point gets more action as the dog races start, people start vanishing, the city is in chaos in the aftermath of a long and expensive feud between families over an heirless property, Eslingen gets a dog in payment for debts, and walls start bleeding silver coins. Life is as mysterious as usual.
After reading four books from this series along with the Lynes and Mathey ones, I think I've gotten used to Melissa Scott's modus operandi when it comes to mysteries: there's a lot going on and very seldom do we get red herrings. All of those things are connected somehow and the plot unfolds at a very good pace. Also being a pointsman is a hard and sometimes thankless job.
I do prefer this series over the Lynes and Mathey one, if only because it's such a treat to be in Astreiant with its lemanry and horoscopes. Everyone knows Eslingen and Rathe are together, hell that's even the reason why Coindarel wants Eslingen to become Captain in the newly made City Guard--it would be easier for the Guard to get accepted by the points and not seen as a rival corps when Rathe's famous black dog is part of it.
While Rathe and Eslingen are also dealing with the complications in their relationship, a lot of it has to do with personal matters (adjusting to living with another person, keeping secrets from and for each other etc) and nothing to do with 'But having a same gender partner is illegal'. A breath of fresh air when it comes to worldbuilding, tbh.
Fairs' Point gets more action as the dog races start, people start vanishing, the city is in chaos in the aftermath of a long and expensive feud between families over an heirless property, Eslingen gets a dog in payment for debts, and walls start bleeding silver coins. Life is as mysterious as usual.
After reading four books from this series along with the Lynes and Mathey ones, I think I've gotten used to Melissa Scott's modus operandi when it comes to mysteries: there's a lot going on and very seldom do we get red herrings. All of those things are connected somehow and the plot unfolds at a very good pace. Also being a pointsman is a hard and sometimes thankless job.
I do prefer this series over the Lynes and Mathey one, if only because it's such a treat to be in Astreiant with its lemanry and horoscopes. Everyone knows Eslingen and Rathe are together, hell that's even the reason why Coindarel wants Eslingen to become Captain in the newly made City Guard--it would be easier for the Guard to get accepted by the points and not seen as a rival corps when Rathe's famous black dog is part of it.
While Rathe and Eslingen are also dealing with the complications in their relationship, a lot of it has to do with personal matters (adjusting to living with another person, keeping secrets from and for each other etc) and nothing to do with 'But having a same gender partner is illegal'. A breath of fresh air when it comes to worldbuilding, tbh.
alarra's review against another edition
3.0
This was a return to form - interesting mystery where the bad guy is obvious but it's more the challenge of HOW and WHY rather than WHO; the romance is there and there's a bit of relationship progression without being the main dramatic push.
klreeher's review against another edition
5.0
PHILIP GETS A DOG.
THIS WAS EXCELLENT, and even if I wanted to shake Nico and Philip sometimes, it was minimal and very IC.
THIS WAS EXCELLENT, and even if I wanted to shake Nico and Philip sometimes, it was minimal and very IC.
kjcharles's review against another edition
And that's my complete glom reread of the Astreiant books finished in what, three days, because I have no self control. Cannot *wait* for the next book. These are intriguing fantasies, well crafted mysteries, a lightly drawn but lovely romance, well written, feminist and queer in the most casually uncompromising way, and just the epitome of what I want to read. Ngh. /clockwatches for Point of Sighs/
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