Elisa and Gen (and Sage!)
Jul. 16th, 2012 09:13 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefWhen I first started here, I found a list deep in the archives of book recommendations for Thief lovers. Someone, I forget who, suggested The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.
To whoever you are, THANK YOU!! What a great book! (I mean, c'mon, MWT blurbed it!)
Since the point of this forum is strictly Gen-based, I won't waste time waxing poetic on this great book, but I DID want to mention how I kept distracting myself while reading. I kept comparing the heroine Elisa to Gen.
She's no Gen, that's for sure, but I think Gen would've liked her. She wants to do what's right, and because of her studies her mind is a bit Machiavellian. Though the politics of court aren't her things, the politics of war certainly are. Actually, if anything, she reminded me of Sophos - not comfortable with power, not the smoothest, but a good heart and able to grow into the position of authority.
Have any of you read Fire and Thorns? Did you think of Gen at all while reading? Are there other books you've read recently (or not so recently) where you found yourself comparing the protagonist to our Gen?
(Oh yeah, and if you haven't read Fire and Thorns and are interested, here's my review.)
UPDATE: Oh my gosh, you guys. The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen - if you haven't read it, go now. Seriously, go. The main character is like a teeny Gen (though less cool, because who can be as cool as Gen?) There's also a Pol-type character, and THREE Useless characters (two of the three have vaguely Ambiades-like leanings).
To whoever you are, THANK YOU!! What a great book! (I mean, c'mon, MWT blurbed it!)
Since the point of this forum is strictly Gen-based, I won't waste time waxing poetic on this great book, but I DID want to mention how I kept distracting myself while reading. I kept comparing the heroine Elisa to Gen.
She's no Gen, that's for sure, but I think Gen would've liked her. She wants to do what's right, and because of her studies her mind is a bit Machiavellian. Though the politics of court aren't her things, the politics of war certainly are. Actually, if anything, she reminded me of Sophos - not comfortable with power, not the smoothest, but a good heart and able to grow into the position of authority.
Have any of you read Fire and Thorns? Did you think of Gen at all while reading? Are there other books you've read recently (or not so recently) where you found yourself comparing the protagonist to our Gen?
(Oh yeah, and if you haven't read Fire and Thorns and are interested, here's my review.)
UPDATE: Oh my gosh, you guys. The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen - if you haven't read it, go now. Seriously, go. The main character is like a teeny Gen (though less cool, because who can be as cool as Gen?) There's also a Pol-type character, and THREE Useless characters (two of the three have vaguely Ambiades-like leanings).
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Date: 7/17/12 05:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/17/12 12:59 pm (UTC)If you're looking for other Gen-type characters, try the Legend of Eli Monpress series by Rachel Aaron. Eli is a flashy thief, always getting into bigger and bigger capers, which always turn into saving the world. You can see the book trailers I made for the first three books here (http://1221bookworm.livejournal.com/1974.html). Gen could mop the floor with Eli in terms of skill, but there is also a great supporting cast, and Eli could probably hold his own in a "who's the bigger whiner" contest!! :)
For a more Sophos-y character, always debating the difficult decisions, along with plenty of action, try the Healing Wars by Janice Hardy. They're aimed at a slightly younger audience (following the book cover) but I think that older audiences would enjoy it too. The main character is trying to protect her family, but in the process, saves the whole world. But she always wonders if she is on the right track. Lovable characters abound, and while difficult decisions are debated, there is plenty of action to keep it moving. Here's (http://1221bookworm.livejournal.com/3146.html) a link to the trailer of the first book.
And, if you're not tired of me yet, you could try the Farsala Trilogy by Hilari Bell. While there is no one Gen/Sophos-y character, the whole series is about learning to use the strengths you never knew you had. There are no completely good guys or completely bad guys. Everyone has made their mistakes, and everyone has had their moment of shining glory. Also, this book is intertwined with the true Persian myth of Sorahb, (along with some creative license - you'll know where one stops and the other starts) and offers a peek into how legends are created. My only warning would be - the first book is a teensy bit draggy with all the set-up. PLEASE do not give up on it. Even if you have to drag yourself to read the second book. It gets better, I promise!! :) Here (http://farsala.livejournal.com/1451.html) are some trailers to wet your appetite.
Sorry if this was more than you were looking for! Can't wait to see what other books have Gen like characters!! :)
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Date: 7/17/12 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/17/12 08:05 pm (UTC)Same here!! :) I managed to mention 4 out of my 6 favorite series in one comment. Where else can we compare so many books at once.
And don't worry, I always want to hear your fangirling!! :)
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Date: 7/17/12 10:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/18/12 03:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/17/12 05:39 pm (UTC)The only character that has reminded me of Gen lately was Sage in The False Prince. But it should be very clear that he is NOT Gen and you know, is therefore not nearly as awesome. Don't expect him to be. I responded to Sage in a completely different way as a reader.
The political intrigue in Rachel Hartman's Seraphina reminded me of QT quite a bit. It is also a story with complicated characters and relationships. The story takes place in a fully realized world that the reader is only given enough information on for the purposes of the story. It is definitely a book I think MWT fans would enjoy.
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Date: 7/17/12 10:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/18/12 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 7/20/12 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 7/18/12 10:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/20/12 01:43 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 7/17/12 06:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/17/12 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/17/12 08:07 pm (UTC)And don't worry, the more you hang around with them, the cleverer you will get!! :)
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Date: 7/18/12 03:28 am (UTC)Or maybe its the book recommendations. I hope you all appreciate how long my TBR list is and that it is ALL YOUR GUYSES FAULT.
What is the plural of 'guys'? Do clever people even use the word 'guys'?
Maybe the cleverness/osmosis thing doesn't work.
Anyway... I shall work on making that list shorter right now.
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Date: 7/18/12 01:19 pm (UTC)Except for the osmosis. 'Cuz I'm not even smart enough to know what that is. =P
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Date: 7/18/12 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/18/12 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/20/12 01:51 pm (UTC)On a semi-related note, why is everything happening in September? Everybody and their brother's book is being released that month, both Mumford & Sons and Lucy Rose are releasing albums on the same day, I'm seeing Ben Howard in Chicago with my sister, but I found out that Micheal Kiwanuka is having a gig near my hometown the day before. Of all the times to be saddled with a car payment and on a tight budget . . .
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Date: 7/18/12 10:19 pm (UTC)And now it's time for me to give the requisite "don't judge a book by it's cover" speech I always give whenever recc'ing this series....The were recently re-released with the most misleading, horrible, Alissa-looks-like-Barbie-Doll-with-Marie-Antionette-Hairdo covers....Please, ignore them!!! The old covers were so pretty....See my icon!!!
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Date: 7/19/12 01:18 pm (UTC)If anyone needs convincing, and doesn't want to check out the awful covers, Here (http://esenawoer.livejournal.com/1211.html) is a link to some trailers that will tell you what the books are all about.
P.S. My icon is part of one of the old (And much prettier covers, too!! :)
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Date: 7/18/12 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/19/12 06:24 am (UTC)That is all.
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Date: 7/19/12 01:57 pm (UTC)Although I think I love Perilous Gard more, actually.
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Date: 7/19/12 02:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/19/12 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/21/12 07:43 pm (UTC)http://www.speakeasy.org/~mamandel/filks/PerilousGard.html
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Date: 7/22/12 02:09 pm (UTC)