The King's Name - Jo Walton Book Review

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Review Summaries

"THE KING'S NAME Tor, Dec 2001, 25.95, 368 pp. ISBN: 031287653X Though a war hero and perhaps the key to King Urdo's victory over the rival kingdoms and the Jarnish invaders, Sulien ap Gwien only wants to leave behind as memories her soldiering days and just peacefully manage her land. However, Urdo's dream of equal justice under the law for all worries some of the leaders of Tir Tanagari that the King is establishing a dictatorship. Sulien learns first hand that the country is split when visiting her sister Aurien who tries to kill her with poison. The quick reaction of two of Sulien's loyal men saves her life. As Sulien recovers at her home, she wonders why her sibling wants her dead. When she learns what is happening in her country, she joins the king's side of the civil war. As the final confrontation begins, Sulien knows the cost of infighting to herself, her family, and her country as brother and sister take arms against one another. The sequel to the fantastic KING'S PEACE is more than just one of the best military science fiction tales of the year. Though sub-genre fans will delight in the taut plot that makes anyone susceptible to doing evil deeds, readers of military fiction will also find THE KING'S NAME a triumph. Jo Walton goes into extreme depth explaining the why and the psychological and economical damage of a civil war so rarely seen in a novel. She deftly interweaves the motives and the effect for killing one's family into the plot. Ms. Walton needs to keep her mantle clear for all the awards this book will garner. Harriet Klausner "
Harriet Klausner, Resident Jo Walton Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Family relations Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - writer
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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The King by David Feintuch
The One True Prince by Thomas Brennan

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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