Adding onto this, because I was totally waiting for Rebecca to do all the heavy lifting, some general notes:
• If the idea of picking up a book with a graphic rape scene 50 pages in turns you off, this is not the series for you. Scenes of both Felix and Mildmay being raped occur within the books, while other major characters (Gideon among them) are heavily implied to have been raped in the past. This series includes a shit-ton of rape, and I would feel guilty if you went in unaware of that fact.
• The secondary characters in the series tend to be really great! Obviously, I have a great fondness for Gideon Thraxios, Felix's erstwhile lover and Kekropian runaway. And you've also met poor, sickly Thamuris. But there's also Mehitabel, stage actress thrown into a bunch of political shit she did not ask for, sunshine! And Kay, that...guy from Corambis! Other people like him, idgi! More importantly, Corbie, a smart-talking street girl who's Felix's eventual protege! Ginevra, Mildmay's erstwhile lover whose headstrong naivete becomes her downfall! And other people, too, but a lot of them are characters I don't really give a damn about, like Stephen and Shannon Teverius (Teveriae? lol).
• When Monette touches on religion within the books, it tends to be pretty interesting--at least to me, idk. Both Mildmay and Gideon are religious, albeit in vastly different ways, and the belief systems in the various cultures are pretty neat.
• Expect the books to be rather leisurely in places. They're a fun ride, and the stuff she focuses on can be really interesting, but I can't pretend that Monette's a good plotter.
• Monette loves old-fashioned creepy shit--her other most famous works are Lovecraftian horror. (And you should read those, too, go out and pick up The Bone Key.) So if you like ghost stories and creepy old structures and mysteries that might not end up explained the whole way? You're going to find a lot to love here.
• Keep in mind while reading that Word of God states Felix is bipolar in a world that doesn't have any idea what that means! I think it really informs one's reading of him (and in a sad way, poor Felix). D: Another Word of God thing to know is that the vast majority of Mélusinians are dark-skinned, making fishbelly-white Felix and Mildmay stick way the hell out, but it doesn't necessarily come across clearly within the text itself.
• I don't want to varnish the books into high-falutin' capital-L Literature, but they are fun reads with good ideas to offer. If you have spare time and especially if you have an interest in fantasy in general. If you like foul-mouthed ex-assassins and sassy peacock wizards, you will also probably like this book.
I have basically every scene with Gideon c/p-ed into his journal in case I ever have to reference one, because fuck you, I do what I want. XD And if you'd like ebook copies of any of the books...well, I'm not saying I have them (/whistles), but you should probably contact me.
no subject
• If the idea of picking up a book with a graphic rape scene 50 pages in turns you off, this is not the series for you. Scenes of both Felix and Mildmay being raped occur within the books, while other major characters (Gideon among them) are heavily implied to have been raped in the past. This series includes a shit-ton of rape, and I would feel guilty if you went in unaware of that fact.
• The secondary characters in the series tend to be really great! Obviously, I have a great fondness for Gideon Thraxios, Felix's erstwhile lover and Kekropian runaway. And you've also met poor, sickly Thamuris. But there's also Mehitabel, stage actress thrown into a bunch of political shit she did not ask for, sunshine! And Kay, that...guy from Corambis! Other people like him, idgi! More importantly, Corbie, a smart-talking street girl who's Felix's eventual protege! Ginevra, Mildmay's erstwhile lover whose headstrong naivete becomes her downfall! And other people, too, but a lot of them are characters I don't really give a damn about, like Stephen and Shannon Teverius (Teveriae? lol).
• When Monette touches on religion within the books, it tends to be pretty interesting--at least to me, idk. Both Mildmay and Gideon are religious, albeit in vastly different ways, and the belief systems in the various cultures are pretty neat.
• Expect the books to be rather leisurely in places. They're a fun ride, and the stuff she focuses on can be really interesting, but I can't pretend that Monette's a good plotter.
• Monette loves old-fashioned creepy shit--her other most famous works are Lovecraftian horror. (And you should read those, too, go out and pick up The Bone Key.) So if you like ghost stories and creepy old structures and mysteries that might not end up explained the whole way? You're going to find a lot to love here.
• Keep in mind while reading that Word of God states Felix is bipolar in a world that doesn't have any idea what that means! I think it really informs one's reading of him (and in a sad way, poor Felix). D: Another Word of God thing to know is that the vast majority of Mélusinians are dark-skinned, making fishbelly-white Felix and Mildmay stick way the hell out, but it doesn't necessarily come across clearly within the text itself.
• I don't want to varnish the books into high-falutin' capital-L Literature, but they are fun reads with good ideas to offer. If you have spare time and especially if you have an interest in fantasy in general. If you like foul-mouthed ex-assassins and sassy peacock wizards, you will also probably like this book.
I have basically every scene with Gideon c/p-ed into his journal in case I ever have to reference one, because fuck you, I do what I want. XD And if you'd like ebook copies of any of the books...well, I'm not saying I have them (/whistles), but you should probably contact me.