Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen (Vorkosigan Saga) on + 1031 more book reviews
Well, that was a major disappointment. Wish I'd read the reviews first. I probably would have bought it anyway, because some people did like it and I'm a big fan of Bujold - but at least I would have had some warning.
It's not the revelations of the relationships, it's that they're BORING. Nothing happens in this book, not even emotional involvement for the reader. Bujold sets up some threads that look interesting but they go nowhere. She made even Miles seem boring.
This is such a clunker I hate to think it's the last Vorkosigan book. But if so I'll just pretend it doesn't exist when I re-read the others.
ETA: I did re-read this about 2 years after my first review, since I decided to read the entire Vorkosigan series in order. I stand by my original opinion.
It's not the revelations of the relationships, it's that they're BORING. Nothing happens in this book, not even emotional involvement for the reader. Bujold sets up some threads that look interesting but they go nowhere. She made even Miles seem boring.
This is such a clunker I hate to think it's the last Vorkosigan book. But if so I'll just pretend it doesn't exist when I re-read the others.
ETA: I did re-read this about 2 years after my first review, since I decided to read the entire Vorkosigan series in order. I stand by my original opinion.
Jonathan W. (runeweaver) -
I was pretty disappointed with the book. The book is extremely slow-paced and nothing like previous Vokosigan novels. It's a romance, but nothing like A Civil Campaign. The description makes it much more exciting than it really is.
Jole was Count Vorkosigian, Miles' father Aral's lover. So the first part of the book goes into Aral being bisexual, which is something I didn't expect but I think was hinted at in previous novels. This segues into Jole getting the hots for Cordelia and Jole's desire to father a child with Aral's gametes while getting a relationship with Cordelia. I just did not find this terribly exciting.
I got a couple of hundred pages into the book and there was no Miles, no lopping off of heads, and no interstellar intrigue. Jole and Cordelia had finally made it into the canoe, a running storyline in the book, which could have happened a hundred pages earlier for my taste (call me impatient).
At this point, I gave it up and posted the book. Perhaps I missed out on some good parts. The writing is well done, if a bit over-descriptive and there were some good reviews on Amazon, so I figure someone else will really like the book.
Jole was Count Vorkosigian, Miles' father Aral's lover. So the first part of the book goes into Aral being bisexual, which is something I didn't expect but I think was hinted at in previous novels. This segues into Jole getting the hots for Cordelia and Jole's desire to father a child with Aral's gametes while getting a relationship with Cordelia. I just did not find this terribly exciting.
I got a couple of hundred pages into the book and there was no Miles, no lopping off of heads, and no interstellar intrigue. Jole and Cordelia had finally made it into the canoe, a running storyline in the book, which could have happened a hundred pages earlier for my taste (call me impatient).
At this point, I gave it up and posted the book. Perhaps I missed out on some good parts. The writing is well done, if a bit over-descriptive and there were some good reviews on Amazon, so I figure someone else will really like the book.
