It was terribly dull writing, riddled with cliche and heavily peppered with five-dollar words. The story read like a pretty boy at a dive bar, never really smooth and not quite the right words to pull you in. Perhaps it would have been better as a tragedy. Afterall, it would do better to give such death-driven characters something to do aside from idle prattle about the end. The romance was about as endearing as a brothel, and everyone was more or less bored as opposed to having any real individual goals.

To think I finished the damn thing. I am now stuck here, completely unsatisfied despite knowing this would be the outcome. You can usually tell within the first few pages how a book will be, but I persisted even though I knew what was in store for myself.  

Now I suppose I must clarify, it was, in truth, not a bad story by any means. No, no, it was simply dull. I hold no claim to be a better writer myself, nor do I claim to be of especially refined literary taste. I just…I didn’t like it. It served the purpose of passing time, and for that I can say it served well, but there was no enrichment, or even real pleasure, to be garnered by such a book. Perhaps to a specific demographic it could be considered compelling and it has the elements of at least pretend intrigue. 

Admittedly, it is a difficult endeavor to make politics a work of entertainment, even in fanciful settings with trussed up nobles who speak with layers and double-edged words. It’s equally dull when all of the best action sequences are glossed over with broad metaphors to avoid details the author was too uninterested (or too intimidated) to look up. 

Now I could respect less than cinematic action if it was balanced with character development and an engaging plot, but none of that was to be found here. Each and every fictional person involved, save one petty side character, remained completely self absorbed and held neatly within the confines of their descriptions. No new leaves were turned over, not struggles overcome. Our heroes are left in the same square they began in, no worse for wear nor sporting revelations about themselves, others, or their world. What an absolute disappointment. 

Still, at the end of the day I do congratulate the author on all of their hard work. Though my critique is harsh, I recognize the efforts given and the imagination required to build such a world, and such a world it had the potential to be. In fact I believe I really would have enjoyed seeing more about the setting and structure of the world rather than a dozen renditions of how tall, pretty, or self-absorbed each character was every single time they had to speak to one another. 

I can’t change a completed story. Instead, it’s simply time to move onto the next book. A new beginning and new characters are waiting. And I hope they are more compelling this time around.