More Linkage For Your Enjoyment

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

Inspired by the last link post, here's another interesting review of A Conspiracy of Kings, http://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2010/04/conspiracy-of-kings-by-megan-whalen.html, in which Eugenides takes over the world and the fourth book is apparently a giant cliffhanger. I totally missed the cliff during my reading, though. I mean, it felt like an in-between book, but I didn't feel dissatisfied with the ending, unlike the reviewer. While I agreed with the discussion of Sophos's character change, I was a bit confused by that part. What do you guys think, is ACoK incomplete?

(And is Gen taking over the world? *dun dun DUNNN*)

Comments

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree--Sophos & Helen's romance is much more believeable/realistic compared to Gen & Irene's. Maybe it wasn't a shock for that particular reader, but just from people I've suggested these books to I know that for many or most readers, the idea of Gen & Irene is VERY hard to swallow at first. (SHE. CUT. OFF. HIS. HAND!) (And odd/pathetic as it sounds, I really and truly don't remember my original reaction. At all.) Sophos & Helen write letters, they like and respect each other (and he, at least, has a pretty big crush on her), and they know that their union would be for the good of both of their countries. Definitely a healthier relationship.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh, I remember my reaction. It was very hard to buy, at first. At the end of QoA I was very, very worried about poor Gen. I was certain Attolia ( I couldn't think of her as Irene, not yet) would decide this wasn't a good idea, after all.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

TOTALLY OT: how's AGATB treating you?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I LIKE IT! I'm nearly done, and have the other two books sitting here. I've been meaning to read them for ages. It's nothing like I expected--had no idea it was a boarding school setting. Have you read them?

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I can't remember my original reaction either. I think my reaction when I read it the second time around was ohmygosh this is the best romance EVER. I don't think it was ever so hard for me to accept the fact that he loved her despite the whole hand-cutting thing, but then again, I read QoA first, and so I fell in love with both Eugenides and Attolia at the same time (and really, I loved Attolia more).

I think my favorite part of Sophos/Helen is how he's crazy for her, and they go through all these healthy steps, like you say, and Helen is clearly like well, he's nice, I might as well settle for it--and then suddenly bam she realizes she actually loves him; she's not just settling for political gain and personal non-discomfort, she's really invested in the relationship. (And magus and Attolia being all older than Gen and Sophos and knowing what it's like to think you'll never find love and Attolia grabbing her hand and d'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaw.)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

and then suddenly bam she realizes she actually loves him

Yes--and because it was Eddis and Sophos (rather than Gen and Irene) there were no creepy nighttime gifts, amputated body parts, boat poles, juggled knives, smacks to the head, broken crockery, or flying inkpots.

MUCH healthier. But just as romantic, in its own way.

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

I must be strange because I totally bought Gen and Irene from the beginning. But that could be because I loved Irene's character (even with the hand chopping) just as much as Gen. I didn't want to have to choose between them so I was jazzed they were combining their awesomeness.

And I don't think that their relationship is less healthy than the Sophos/Helen relationship. It is definitely more dramatic. But I think that reflects their personalitlies more than anything. Gen would be completely bored with any relationship that wasn't dramatic. And Irene wouldn't have even registered the possibility of love unless someone hit her over the head with it like Gen did (witness Dite).

[timeisinfinite.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought so :) I LOVE Helen and Sophos just as much, although it's like the others mentioned, their romance is quite a bit different than Gen and Irene's.