Robins, Madeleine E. - Petty Treason
Fri, Mar. 2nd, 2007 06:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oyceterEr, I may spam LJ in the vain attempt to relax after about six straight hours of doing Problem Set of DOOM.
I liked this, but not as much as the first book, Point of Honour, but that's because the twists near the end weren't as shocking or as personal for Sarah as they were in the first. Thankfully, Robins doesn't lose sight of the impact the events of the first book have on Sarah, and the new recurring character is quite fun and noble and upright in a good sort of way.
On the other hand, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the ending.
Spoilers for this book and Point of Honour
I couldn't quite keep track of who was spying for whom by the very end, and I was a little frustrated by Sarah's obvious sympathy and believe for Anne. It's not because Anne wasn't sympathetic, but because the 100% dedication to her client being innocent was a pretty good flag that Anne was going to be not innocent and disappoint Sarah in some way, and I wasn't particularly looking forward to that. And while I mostly am glad that Anne got out alive and without charges being pressed against her, Sarah's decision to let her go was a very interesting contrast to her decision to turn in a man that she obviously liked and respected.
Also, I'm still trying to figure out if I agree with it or not, which sounds a little awful, but... one of Sarah's whole points in Point of Honour was that no matter how justified a murder is or how much benefit there is to the killer getting away, murder is still murder. And it feels a little odd to have her be the judge of the matter for Anne. I'm also not sure how much the reader is supposed to agree with Sarah's choice in the end; I can see Robins using the next book (if there is going to be one) to reexamine this choice and to throw in even more complications, just as how this book is concerned with Sarah's reaction to the events of the first book.
Anyhow, despite my qualms, I like that Robins is writing intelligently, looking at consequences, and not forgetting the events of the first book.
I liked this, but not as much as the first book, Point of Honour, but that's because the twists near the end weren't as shocking or as personal for Sarah as they were in the first. Thankfully, Robins doesn't lose sight of the impact the events of the first book have on Sarah, and the new recurring character is quite fun and noble and upright in a good sort of way.
On the other hand, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the ending.
Spoilers for this book and Point of Honour
I couldn't quite keep track of who was spying for whom by the very end, and I was a little frustrated by Sarah's obvious sympathy and believe for Anne. It's not because Anne wasn't sympathetic, but because the 100% dedication to her client being innocent was a pretty good flag that Anne was going to be not innocent and disappoint Sarah in some way, and I wasn't particularly looking forward to that. And while I mostly am glad that Anne got out alive and without charges being pressed against her, Sarah's decision to let her go was a very interesting contrast to her decision to turn in a man that she obviously liked and respected.
Also, I'm still trying to figure out if I agree with it or not, which sounds a little awful, but... one of Sarah's whole points in Point of Honour was that no matter how justified a murder is or how much benefit there is to the killer getting away, murder is still murder. And it feels a little odd to have her be the judge of the matter for Anne. I'm also not sure how much the reader is supposed to agree with Sarah's choice in the end; I can see Robins using the next book (if there is going to be one) to reexamine this choice and to throw in even more complications, just as how this book is concerned with Sarah's reaction to the events of the first book.
Anyhow, despite my qualms, I like that Robins is writing intelligently, looking at consequences, and not forgetting the events of the first book.
(no subject)
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2007 11:15 pm (UTC)