Filip picked up his first fantasy novel when he was seven and hasn’t stopped reading since. A critical reader who judges novels on their technical use of language and plot alike, he has a soft spot for literary fiction and tragic, heroic tales.
In his free time, Filip writes fiction, makes gaming reviews on YouTube, and maintains a personal blog. All that when he’s not too busy going through piles of books in as short a time as possible.
What if Romeo was a bit of a prick?
It’s been months since I read Traitor’s Blade, and after deep consideration, I am ready to set out judgement from on high! Heed my words, all ye who have not read this one:
It’s quite good.
If Blade’s Edge began a third of the way in, I would’ve loved it. So much of the latter 70% speak to Virginia McClain’s strengths and skills as a writer: she constructs an intricate world, inspired by Japanese culture and society with samurai who wield elemental magic; the conflict that dominates this novel has bearing on the real world; the action scenes McClain writes are excellent, and her characters are likable…after a fashion. Let’s expand on all these.