2.5 stars

I was so hyped to read The Traitor Baru Cormorant, have heard so many great things about the series but I am so disappointed that I was immensely let down. The first 1/3 of the book was amazing. I was hooked on the political maneuvering and the way Baru wielded her power as an accountant to bring down the empire. Bear in mind that I am not someone who easily understands or enjoys political intrigue. But I was able to follow along and even predict the best move. But then the 2nd third of the book happened and everything came crashing down. The plot moves sluggishly slow and it was infuriating to read long chapters where nothing much happened. or even if it did, I was completely detached from it.

I was looking forward to the sapphic rep, because it's been labeled one of the best books with lesbian rep. While Tain Hu and Baru's interactions held fire and chemistry in the first third of the book, they eventually fizzled out. IDK if it's because I read C. L.Pol's essay on the butch martyr, but it was painfully obvious that Tain Hu was the loyal sacrificial paladin. I could not understand her unwavering loyalty to Baru and her willingness to ride into battle on Baru's word. It didn't seem like infatuation, it felt like blind devotion. Gone were the discussions and arguments on how best to carry out a rebellion. Tain Hu just follows every word and is ready to lay her life down. All this did for me was that Tain Hu was a one-dimensional character, and I stopped shipping her with Baru because she just looked too simple for super smart scheming Baru.

I'm pretty sure everyone saw the main plot twist coming from a mile away, but the very last twist could have caught many unawares as it was a major WTF moment. I had accidentally read spoilers about that scene so I sadly knew what would happen. I still don't know how to feel about it though. (spoilers for Gideon the Ninth)

  It does send me back to Gideon the Ninth but Gideon was not a blind devotee. It was an actually well-written enemies to friends to maybe something more. But just as I was put off Gideon's death, I am put off Tain Hu's death as well. I have zero patience for a bury-your-gays trope, it's fucking 2022 people. While Gideon's death was handled in a satisfying manner in Harrow, which meant I took back my feelings at the end of Gideon, I don't think the same twist can be played with Tain Hu :(

Yes, this book is just pain on top of pain on top of pain.

While I appreciated Traitor for its dialogue on colonialism and empire, and the things it takes from a person looking to bring change, I was let down by the slow pacing of the novel as well as the one dimensional supporting cast. Baru's character development was much better but with such a bland set of characters making up the rest of the story, there wasn't much that could be done.