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A review by esmayrosalyne
The Veiled Throne by Ken Liu
4.0
4.5 stars
Even though I have so, so, so many (positive) things to say about this book, I am going to keep this review as brief and concise as possible. It's nearly impossible to write a spoiler-free review for a third book in a series where so much time has passed and in which the stakes are so high, because even mentioning a character name could be seen as a potential spoiler and I don't want to ruin this incredible story for anyone.
I went into this book with tempered expectations, because I had heard from many people that this was their least favourite book in the series so far. The main reason being that the second half was one of the weakest parts of the series in their opinion.
Well, to probably no one's surprise, I once again have the unpopular opinion and found the second half of this book to be the most enjoyable segment of the entire series so far. Now, I'm not saying that it's the best part of the series, but I just can't deny that I loved what Ken Liu decided to focus on and ate those chapters up (yes, pun intended, iykyk).
I have always been more of a character-driven reader and don't tend to prefer stories that focus heavily on military/political aspects, so it is already a huge surprise for me that I am adoring this series as much as I have been. I think that is why I loved the second half of this book so much, we get to spend more down-time with characters, we get to learn a lot about Dara culture, the stakes are a bit lower and we get to see some wonderful interpersonal relationships develop.
Ken Liu continues to amaze me with his storytelling abilities, this story is just so unique. The world building continues to expand and deepen, there are more cool innovations, the battles keep getting more intense, the incredible women continue to carry the story, the gods keep on meddling, the characters and their relationships only get more complex and the stakes are constantly getting higher. Also, this series places a huge focus on history, the clashing of cultures and on how the stories we tell ourselves might not be as accurate as we want them to be. Our realities are shaped by the narratives that we construct for ourselves, it's human nature. It was honestly a highlight of the book to see some characters' beliefs and worldviews be challenged, because that made this story and these characters feel even more realistic.
So, if you enjoyed book 1 and 2, then I really can't see how you wouldn't end up at least liking this book. No, it's not perfect, but I had a blast. This is essentially part one of the finale though, so I am eager to find out how everything will wrap up!
Liu makes some unexpected and unconventional storytelling decisions, but I can only admire him for it. It honestly feels like I am reading his passion project, exactly as he intended it to be, and I love that.
It pains my heart to see how incredibly underrated this series is. Wake up people, get started on this series!!
Even though I have so, so, so many (positive) things to say about this book, I am going to keep this review as brief and concise as possible. It's nearly impossible to write a spoiler-free review for a third book in a series where so much time has passed and in which the stakes are so high, because even mentioning a character name could be seen as a potential spoiler and I don't want to ruin this incredible story for anyone.
I went into this book with tempered expectations, because I had heard from many people that this was their least favourite book in the series so far. The main reason being that the second half was one of the weakest parts of the series in their opinion.
Well, to probably no one's surprise, I once again have the unpopular opinion and found the second half of this book to be the most enjoyable segment of the entire series so far. Now, I'm not saying that it's the best part of the series, but I just can't deny that I loved what Ken Liu decided to focus on and ate those chapters up (yes, pun intended, iykyk).
I have always been more of a character-driven reader and don't tend to prefer stories that focus heavily on military/political aspects, so it is already a huge surprise for me that I am adoring this series as much as I have been. I think that is why I loved the second half of this book so much, we get to spend more down-time with characters, we get to learn a lot about Dara culture, the stakes are a bit lower and we get to see some wonderful interpersonal relationships develop.
Ken Liu continues to amaze me with his storytelling abilities, this story is just so unique. The world building continues to expand and deepen, there are more cool innovations, the battles keep getting more intense, the incredible women continue to carry the story, the gods keep on meddling, the characters and their relationships only get more complex and the stakes are constantly getting higher. Also, this series places a huge focus on history, the clashing of cultures and on how the stories we tell ourselves might not be as accurate as we want them to be. Our realities are shaped by the narratives that we construct for ourselves, it's human nature. It was honestly a highlight of the book to see some characters' beliefs and worldviews be challenged, because that made this story and these characters feel even more realistic.
So, if you enjoyed book 1 and 2, then I really can't see how you wouldn't end up at least liking this book. No, it's not perfect, but I had a blast. This is essentially part one of the finale though, so I am eager to find out how everything will wrap up!
Liu makes some unexpected and unconventional storytelling decisions, but I can only admire him for it. It honestly feels like I am reading his passion project, exactly as he intended it to be, and I love that.
It pains my heart to see how incredibly underrated this series is. Wake up people, get started on this series!!