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Doctrine of Labyrinths #3
The Mirador
Within the confines of Mélusine lies the Mirador, the city’s citadel of power and magic. A stronghold where Felix Harrowgate has found his place once more, his sorcery and his sanity restored. But even a wizard at the height of his powers knows well to watch his back.
Which is why Mildmay Foxe won’t let Felix out of his sight. The ex-assassin and former cat burglar is Felix’s half-brother, a man deeply tied to him by blood and magic. But Mildmay gets caught up in a dangerous attraction to Mehitabel Parr, professional actress and unwilling spy for the Bastion. A rival stronghold of wizards, the Bastion knows Felix is the key to destroying the Mirador. But if the Bastion dares to take on Felix, they will need to take on Mildmay, too—the brother willing to fight to the death to keep Felix—and Mélusine —safe.
Which is why Mildmay Foxe won’t let Felix out of his sight. The ex-assassin and former cat burglar is Felix’s half-brother, a man deeply tied to him by blood and magic. But Mildmay gets caught up in a dangerous attraction to Mehitabel Parr, professional actress and unwilling spy for the Bastion. A rival stronghold of wizards, the Bastion knows Felix is the key to destroying the Mirador. But if the Bastion dares to take on Felix, they will need to take on Mildmay, too—the brother willing to fight to the death to keep Felix—and Mélusine —safe.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
44 people are currently reading
945 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Addison
18 books3,674 followersA pseudonym of Sarah Monette. Both Sarah and Katherine are on Twitter as @pennyvixen. Katherine reviews nonfiction. Sarah reviews fiction. Fair warning: I read very little fiction these days.
Sarah/Katherine was born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, one of the three secret cities of the Manhattan Project.
She got her B.A. from Case Western Reserve University, her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Despite being summa cum laude, none of her degrees is of the slightest use to her in either her day job or her writing, which she feels is an object lesson for us all.
She currently lives near Madison, Wisconsin.
Sarah/Katherine was born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, one of the three secret cities of the Manhattan Project.
She got her B.A. from Case Western Reserve University, her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Despite being summa cum laude, none of her degrees is of the slightest use to her in either her day job or her writing, which she feels is an object lesson for us all.
She currently lives near Madison, Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
March 19, 2017
4 stars--I really liked it.
It's the characters and the writing that keep me interested in these books, not the plot. Like with the last book, the pacing is strange, and Mildmay and Felix seem trapped in loops of self deprecation and anger that are repeated over and over. The plot is a slow burn, with some meandering mysteries that connect/get intense in the last 10% of the book.
What bumped this from 3 to 4 stars was the introduction of Mehitabel's chapters. Even though I have a hard time reconciling this Mehitabel to the one we met in the last book, her voice was so refreshing in this male-angst world.
Really sad about something that happened at the end of this book. (Trying to be spoiler free, but if you've read it, you know what I'm talking about.)
It's the characters and the writing that keep me interested in these books, not the plot. Like with the last book, the pacing is strange, and Mildmay and Felix seem trapped in loops of self deprecation and anger that are repeated over and over. The plot is a slow burn, with some meandering mysteries that connect/get intense in the last 10% of the book.
What bumped this from 3 to 4 stars was the introduction of Mehitabel's chapters. Even though I have a hard time reconciling this Mehitabel to the one we met in the last book, her voice was so refreshing in this male-angst world.
Really sad about something that happened at the end of this book. (Trying to be spoiler free, but if you've read it, you know what I'm talking about.)
August 24, 2025
Content warnings: Sexual domination with power imbalance (one brief scene), confinement, physical torture, murder (off page)
There's a particular salty phrase that one of the brothers in this series likes to say upon being presented with new information (if you've read it, you know what I mean).
It went through my mind no less than three times when I finally hit the plot climax of The Mirador, the third book in Sarah Monette's Doctrine of Labyrinths.
I spent most of this book waiting for the plot to hit, which doesn't happen until the ninety percent mark. But when it does, it comes together like a thunderclap, and the resolution is like cleaning up after a hurricane has run through the place.
Mehitabel Parr, or Tabby as we learn to call her in this book, continues to be a great addition to the cast and there's much of her love of theatre that echoes in Iäna Pel-Thenhior's love of opera in The Witness for the Dead. I also enjoyed her various entanglements in this book and how she thinks about the lovers in her life.
Being back in his old circumstances means Felix regresses the most in this book. As one might expect, Mildmay makes the most progress in looking himself in the eye.
I'm curious to see if the pattern of improvement and backsliding continues, or if there's a true structural break coming for them and their individual stories.
I like Monette/Addison's meandering, people-focused style, and there are so many 'blink and you miss it' details about this series that payoff here in a big way.
The Mirador itself feels real because of the layers and layers of history, context, and happenstance woven through this book, right down to the graffiti. It's also the first book in the series where the cover art actually makes sense.
I plant to continue and finish the series while my memory of all the ins and outs remains fresh.
Series ranking:
#3 -- The Mirador
#2 -- The Virtu
#1 -- Mélusine
There's a particular salty phrase that one of the brothers in this series likes to say upon being presented with new information (if you've read it, you know what I mean).
It went through my mind no less than three times when I finally hit the plot climax of The Mirador, the third book in Sarah Monette's Doctrine of Labyrinths.
I spent most of this book waiting for the plot to hit, which doesn't happen until the ninety percent mark. But when it does, it comes together like a thunderclap, and the resolution is like cleaning up after a hurricane has run through the place.
Mehitabel Parr, or Tabby as we learn to call her in this book, continues to be a great addition to the cast and there's much of her love of theatre that echoes in Iäna Pel-Thenhior's love of opera in The Witness for the Dead. I also enjoyed her various entanglements in this book and how she thinks about the lovers in her life.
Being back in his old circumstances means Felix regresses the most in this book. As one might expect, Mildmay makes the most progress in looking himself in the eye.
I'm curious to see if the pattern of improvement and backsliding continues, or if there's a true structural break coming for them and their individual stories.
I like Monette/Addison's meandering, people-focused style, and there are so many 'blink and you miss it' details about this series that payoff here in a big way.
The Mirador itself feels real because of the layers and layers of history, context, and happenstance woven through this book, right down to the graffiti. It's also the first book in the series where the cover art actually makes sense.
I plant to continue and finish the series while my memory of all the ins and outs remains fresh.
Series ranking:
#3 -- The Mirador
#2 -- The Virtu
#1 -- Mélusine
September 27, 2007
Felix annoyed me even more than usual in this book (seriously, does he have any redeeming qualities left?) but I loved Mehitabel's narration and Mildmay is still the hottest ex-assassin ever, and I think I'm glad the author didn't go the expected places with their romance. I sort of wished there had been more plot, but on the whole I was too entertained to care. Sarah Monette rocks my world, also her meta on Due South is love. Everyone who hasn't read already read Melusine (the first book in the series) needs to go do that now.
February 6, 2017
I disliked this book while reading it but the ending kinda made up for it. So, okay. It's not the series where you can skip anything, and I hope the last book will be better.
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April 14, 2025Glas je ovde drugačiji i ton i teme i ide se mravljim koracima po trnovitom putu isceljenja. Sačuvaj bože i dalje da neko razgovara ili prizna sebi, to se teško dešava.
February 10, 2024
i'm reporting sarah monette to the authorities for building the angst machine. oh what's that? she has already been put on the wanted list and had to assume an alias? well...
January 7, 2010
The blurb sounded interesting, but I just couldn't get into this book. For starters, it was very difficult to keep track of the characters and their various political alignments; at about thirty pages in, I realized that all the fingers of my left hand were marking places so I could flip back for reference to check what character was affiliated with which group and sleeping with which person... Part of this confusion may have been due to the fact that this book is apparently part of a series, so readers are expected to be familiar with the characters and situations already. (Upon learning this, I looked all over my copy and could not find *anything* that indicated it was book 3 of a series -- bad marketing!).
Also, I felt that the excessive quantity of profanity and sexual content detracted from the story. If a person swears once or twice, we can infer that he's a rougher or more earthy character; by the eighth or ninth time he's used f--- or its derivatives on the same page, it's overkill.
I didn't finish this book, and with this one as a sample I'm not likely to pick up either of its predecessors. It's disappointing, as the premise sounded interesting... but there are too many really good novels out there to waste time on one I'm not enjoying.
Also, I felt that the excessive quantity of profanity and sexual content detracted from the story. If a person swears once or twice, we can infer that he's a rougher or more earthy character; by the eighth or ninth time he's used f--- or its derivatives on the same page, it's overkill.
I didn't finish this book, and with this one as a sample I'm not likely to pick up either of its predecessors. It's disappointing, as the premise sounded interesting... but there are too many really good novels out there to waste time on one I'm not enjoying.
August 23, 2023
Sorcerer Felix and cat burglar Mildmay are still two of the POV characters, and Monette has added a third, actress Mehitabel Parr, whose sections I enjoyed very much, particularly as she brings to bear an outside view of Felix and Mildmay's complex, troubled relationship; as always, Monette handles the three different voices beautifully, always making it clear who is speaking. I don't want to go into plot details for fear of spoilers, but I will say that this book has a little less action and far more court intrigue than the previous two, and it works just as well.
December 22, 2008
Some notes on Melusine and The Virtu: I love these books. The narration takes turns going between first person PoVs of Felix and Mildmay. I should also point out that Sarah Monette is one of the best authors I've seen when it comes to putting colloquial, 'incorrect' english/grammar down on paper and not making it grate on my nerves. I recently picked up a book.. boy, what was it... ok, I don't remember, but oh boy... I put it down after I read the first page, it was absolutely grating. Sarah Monette makes it look easy. Mildmay's slang is fantastic, and his curse phrases are becoming some of my favourites. Anyway... the point is that Felix goes insane. This is no big secret; I'm not spoiling anything. But yeah, Felix goes insane, and the point is that this series is not to be taken lightly. It has a lot of heavy and distrubing imagery, but oh boy is it amazing. I honestly think everyone should at least try it. Psychosis can get ugly but Sarah Monette writes it so well it gives me the creeps.
So that was my little plug for Melusine and The Virtu. Now moving on to The Mirador.
My opinion of The Mirador by Sarah Monette: Quite honestly, I think Ms Monette dropped the stick on this one. Possibly I think this was because of how much I loved the first two books and how much I therefore expected of the third, but I don't think so. Compared to the fast-paced action of books one and two, three was about nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing happens, and the only way I can justify this is that there will be a fourth. So I'm guessing The Mirador only served as a transition, and I can sort of see how that could be. But a big part of me thinks that Ms Monette could have condensed The Mirador into two or three chapters. But oh well, I'm not her, maybe she knows better. All that said though - I still enjoyed the books. And the reason is this: Sarah Monette has a real knack for characters. Her characters are absolutely amazing, especially the ones who narrate. And even though the book is hardly about anything enchanting plot-wise, it is certainly still enchanting when we see the world through the characters' eyes, and that is why I still enjoyed this book. So in conclusion: no, it wasn't nearly as good as the previous two, but it was still enjoyable. I could say more, but only spoilers, So I'll stop here.
So that was my little plug for Melusine and The Virtu. Now moving on to The Mirador.
My opinion of The Mirador by Sarah Monette: Quite honestly, I think Ms Monette dropped the stick on this one. Possibly I think this was because of how much I loved the first two books and how much I therefore expected of the third, but I don't think so. Compared to the fast-paced action of books one and two, three was about nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing happens, and the only way I can justify this is that there will be a fourth. So I'm guessing The Mirador only served as a transition, and I can sort of see how that could be. But a big part of me thinks that Ms Monette could have condensed The Mirador into two or three chapters. But oh well, I'm not her, maybe she knows better. All that said though - I still enjoyed the books. And the reason is this: Sarah Monette has a real knack for characters. Her characters are absolutely amazing, especially the ones who narrate. And even though the book is hardly about anything enchanting plot-wise, it is certainly still enchanting when we see the world through the characters' eyes, and that is why I still enjoyed this book. So in conclusion: no, it wasn't nearly as good as the previous two, but it was still enjoyable. I could say more, but only spoilers, So I'll stop here.
September 4, 2024
Ms. Monette that was criminal
September 13, 2018
this series has been so dynamic and engaging, and the level of emotional catharsis is NEXT LEVEL. started off with a 3 star review for Mélusine, but these books just keep getting better and better. Sad that they're out of print, because I feel like people would really enjoy this series. It feels like i'm reading fanfiction for a fandom I'm not in, and I mean this in a VERY good way. These books are filled with levels of emotion and introspective that you'd see more in fic than in published work, and I am SO!!! HAPPY!!!
March 25, 2014
It's 4.5 stars but I'm rounding up because the second half of the book was pure 5 stars. I couldn't put the book down.
Well done, Madame Monette. A very high paced and convoluted court intrigue yet with enough emotional depth and great relationship development. I can't wait to start Corambis.
Well done, Madame Monette. A very high paced and convoluted court intrigue yet with enough emotional depth and great relationship development. I can't wait to start Corambis.
December 3, 2007
This is the third book in Monette's series. Felix and his younger brother Mildmay have returned to the Mirador, where court politics and dark magic are once again complicating their already complicated lives. All the main characters' love lives are complicated and fucked up, *of course*, and I enjoy it but it does get a bit old. I hope that the next novel has more action and less moping.
September 21, 2010
Sarah Monette, The Mirador (Ace, 2007)
In many series, there comes a tipping point where the ongoing story of the recurring characters becomes more important to the author than the story line contained in each book. Perhaps one can consider the mark of a good series author to be how that tipping point is handled; in the case of, say, Robert Parker (who hit it in Early Autumn, the best Spenser novel that ever was), we may find that the ongoing story is actually more interesting than the book-length story. (And then, on the other side of the coin, there is Terry Goodkind. Yeesh.) The Mirador, the third book in Monette's series The Doctrine of Labyrinths, doesn't so much hip the tipping point as go screeching headlong into a tipping wall; there are plots that are fully contained in this book, yes, but they are trifling matters indeed; what the book is really about is unanswered questions from the first two books (who was it, really, that killed Mildmay's most recent girlfriend?) and sharpening focus on what had previously been vague clouds, at best, of ominousness (what would seem to be a coming war between the Mirador and the Bastion). And how is it handled? Very well indeed.
Things take up not long after the end of The Virtu, the second book in the series. Mildmay and Felix are still at one another's throats, Felix and Gideon are still together, and Mehitabel has found herself a comfortable spot in one of the local theaters. There's some rumbling about the ex-Bastion members who sought refuge with the Mirador being spies (and some of it might actually be true), but things are actually kind of calm for the moment, which leaves Mildmay to ponder the question of who got his last love dead (and whether he's already taken revenge for it), Felix to ponder stuff he learned while overseas and tailor it to Mirador-style magic, Gideon to study ancient texts from the Mirador's voluminous library, and Mehitabel to spy for the Bastion. Oh, yes, as it turns out, there is a Bastion spy in Melusine, it's just not one of the wizards...
The main plot of the book, assuming there actually is one, is the who-killed-Mildmay's-lover line, but this is an ensemble plot more than anything, and all the more so because most of the subplots never tie together the way they do in neater (and less realistic) books. Yes, I did use the term “realistic”; given the world in which the book is set, there is magic, of course, but less here than in Monette's previous volumes. This is about spy work and mysteries and domestic strife rather than wizards battling one another, and that brings a sort of homey intimacy to it. Assuming your home was anything like, say, the Borgias.
Where series novels, no matter the genre, are usually plot-based affairs, books like this tend to be where a writer focuses much more on characterization than in earlier books in a given series, which is why I think the tipping-point book is the mark of a good writer. (Granted, some series don't have them. What to do in those cases? Don't ask me.) The writing must sparkle in order to make such character-based books work well, and The Mirador, lovely thing that it is, does sparkle. Even if you want to kill Sarah Monette after you've read the final chapter of this book. Some questions were never meant to be answered. ****
In many series, there comes a tipping point where the ongoing story of the recurring characters becomes more important to the author than the story line contained in each book. Perhaps one can consider the mark of a good series author to be how that tipping point is handled; in the case of, say, Robert Parker (who hit it in Early Autumn, the best Spenser novel that ever was), we may find that the ongoing story is actually more interesting than the book-length story. (And then, on the other side of the coin, there is Terry Goodkind. Yeesh.) The Mirador, the third book in Monette's series The Doctrine of Labyrinths, doesn't so much hip the tipping point as go screeching headlong into a tipping wall; there are plots that are fully contained in this book, yes, but they are trifling matters indeed; what the book is really about is unanswered questions from the first two books (who was it, really, that killed Mildmay's most recent girlfriend?) and sharpening focus on what had previously been vague clouds, at best, of ominousness (what would seem to be a coming war between the Mirador and the Bastion). And how is it handled? Very well indeed.
Things take up not long after the end of The Virtu, the second book in the series. Mildmay and Felix are still at one another's throats, Felix and Gideon are still together, and Mehitabel has found herself a comfortable spot in one of the local theaters. There's some rumbling about the ex-Bastion members who sought refuge with the Mirador being spies (and some of it might actually be true), but things are actually kind of calm for the moment, which leaves Mildmay to ponder the question of who got his last love dead (and whether he's already taken revenge for it), Felix to ponder stuff he learned while overseas and tailor it to Mirador-style magic, Gideon to study ancient texts from the Mirador's voluminous library, and Mehitabel to spy for the Bastion. Oh, yes, as it turns out, there is a Bastion spy in Melusine, it's just not one of the wizards...
The main plot of the book, assuming there actually is one, is the who-killed-Mildmay's-lover line, but this is an ensemble plot more than anything, and all the more so because most of the subplots never tie together the way they do in neater (and less realistic) books. Yes, I did use the term “realistic”; given the world in which the book is set, there is magic, of course, but less here than in Monette's previous volumes. This is about spy work and mysteries and domestic strife rather than wizards battling one another, and that brings a sort of homey intimacy to it. Assuming your home was anything like, say, the Borgias.
Where series novels, no matter the genre, are usually plot-based affairs, books like this tend to be where a writer focuses much more on characterization than in earlier books in a given series, which is why I think the tipping-point book is the mark of a good writer. (Granted, some series don't have them. What to do in those cases? Don't ask me.) The writing must sparkle in order to make such character-based books work well, and The Mirador, lovely thing that it is, does sparkle. Even if you want to kill Sarah Monette after you've read the final chapter of this book. Some questions were never meant to be answered. ****
February 7, 2021
It has been two years since the events of The Virtu, Felix, Mildmay and their assorted lovers and friends have reached a boiling point in the pressure cooker that is the labyrinthian halls of the Mirador. Festering grudges, poor decision making and lingering, unacknowledged trauma lead to fights and misery. Long buried secrets are slowly brought to light over the course of this book and culminate into a fast-paced climax at the very end of the story.
Let us talk briefly about out POV characters, because they are the highlights of this book, not the plot.
Mildmay, the ex-assassin and kept thief has plenty of time to ruminate over the past as he cools his heels at Felix's leisure. Besides investigating the overarching mystery of The Mirador he confronts his past and, by-the-by, comes to some self realizations that hopefully will help his overall mental health. I love how his narration is written, he has such a distinctive voice and I quite enjoy his character.
Felix, who is still an asshat (no surprise to anyone), spends his days picking fights, ruminating over thaumatology among other esoteric concepts, seducing, and perfecting his self-sabotage abilities. Of the three POVs, his was the one that interested me the least. All the same, I acknowledge how messed up he is by all the traumatic events he's been through and at the end of the story he let down his walls momentarily which gives me hope that he will reach relative stability by the end of the last book in this series.
Mehitabel is an actress, and she is amazing. The most well-adjusted of the three, she is quickly forced into spying for the Bastion and spends her time acting, gleaning information from her lovers and generally being a strong and independent woman. More power to her. Her POV gave a breath of fresh air in the gloomy, staid atmosphere generated by Felix and Mildmay.
I enjoyed the side characters too! Lord Stephen grew on me with his blunt approach to, well, everything. I really felt for Gideon, this man truly gets the short end of the stick. Simon was a great friend. While I am fascinated by the expansion of Melusine as a setting thanks to Mildmay's forays into the Lower City, I think it's good that we are moving away from this setting for the next book-- more room for growth.
At the heart of things, this series seems to be a long, slowburn journey of healing for Mildmay and Felix, these co-dependent brothers with little in common other than love they are mostly successful at not acknowledging. While The Mirador felt like the middle book it was, I had a great time reading it. Sarah Monette has this way with words that grips you and not let you go till you realize you've spent hours making your way through this story.
I leave you all with one of the thoughts bouncing around in my head whilst reading: The protagonist halo of protection is truly at work! How else do they not get STDs??
Let us talk briefly about out POV characters, because they are the highlights of this book, not the plot.
Mildmay, the ex-assassin and kept thief has plenty of time to ruminate over the past as he cools his heels at Felix's leisure. Besides investigating the overarching mystery of The Mirador he confronts his past and, by-the-by, comes to some self realizations that hopefully will help his overall mental health. I love how his narration is written, he has such a distinctive voice and I quite enjoy his character.
Felix, who is still an asshat (no surprise to anyone), spends his days picking fights, ruminating over thaumatology among other esoteric concepts, seducing, and perfecting his self-sabotage abilities. Of the three POVs, his was the one that interested me the least. All the same, I acknowledge how messed up he is by all the traumatic events he's been through and at the end of the story he let down his walls momentarily which gives me hope that he will reach relative stability by the end of the last book in this series.
Mehitabel is an actress, and she is amazing. The most well-adjusted of the three, she is quickly forced into spying for the Bastion and spends her time acting, gleaning information from her lovers and generally being a strong and independent woman. More power to her. Her POV gave a breath of fresh air in the gloomy, staid atmosphere generated by Felix and Mildmay.
I enjoyed the side characters too! Lord Stephen grew on me with his blunt approach to, well, everything. I really felt for Gideon, this man truly gets the short end of the stick. Simon was a great friend. While I am fascinated by the expansion of Melusine as a setting thanks to Mildmay's forays into the Lower City, I think it's good that we are moving away from this setting for the next book-- more room for growth.
At the heart of things, this series seems to be a long, slowburn journey of healing for Mildmay and Felix, these co-dependent brothers with little in common other than love they are mostly successful at not acknowledging. While The Mirador felt like the middle book it was, I had a great time reading it. Sarah Monette has this way with words that grips you and not let you go till you realize you've spent hours making your way through this story.
I leave you all with one of the thoughts bouncing around in my head whilst reading: The protagonist halo of protection is truly at work! How else do they not get STDs??
March 10, 2013
SlashReaders: Okay just a note if you plan on reading this you might not want to read all of this. I will however leave that for the end. So if you wish to read the first part without reading the spoilers you can.
I guess I should start off by saying, I enjoyed this book as I did the other two. However I felt that this volume was lacking somewhat. I also found that the back of the book was misleading to me. That aside, I enjoyed reading it but I was also annoyed with it all at the same time. This volume raises more questions that it answers which is highly annoying when the next one isn't out.
The point of this book isn't about saving the city, it becomes more of an insight into Mehitable Parr then anything else. We get glimpses of Mildmay and Felix but nothing is resolved between them. I think we get advances in both Mehitable and Mildmay's characters however Felix still seems to be stuck in the mire that is himself despite the glimpses of possibility that he shows. Though I think perhaps the events at the end of the book shove him back towards madness and may give him a chance to make progress away from the ass that he most typically is.
Like the underlying back stories that we have been going through here. Of the past kings and queens and such, it adds a nice backdrop. I think that it also gives things an air of reality that we might not otherwise have. However, again this raises more questions. I really want to know how the laying of Magnus at the end of this book really plays into things because it seems out of place and slightly superfluous right now.
Okay SPOILER, Rant down here.
I guess I should start off by saying, I enjoyed this book as I did the other two. However I felt that this volume was lacking somewhat. I also found that the back of the book was misleading to me. That aside, I enjoyed reading it but I was also annoyed with it all at the same time. This volume raises more questions that it answers which is highly annoying when the next one isn't out.
The point of this book isn't about saving the city, it becomes more of an insight into Mehitable Parr then anything else. We get glimpses of Mildmay and Felix but nothing is resolved between them. I think we get advances in both Mehitable and Mildmay's characters however Felix still seems to be stuck in the mire that is himself despite the glimpses of possibility that he shows. Though I think perhaps the events at the end of the book shove him back towards madness and may give him a chance to make progress away from the ass that he most typically is.
Like the underlying back stories that we have been going through here. Of the past kings and queens and such, it adds a nice backdrop. I think that it also gives things an air of reality that we might not otherwise have. However, again this raises more questions. I really want to know how the laying of Magnus at the end of this book really plays into things because it seems out of place and slightly superfluous right now.
Okay SPOILER, Rant down here.
December 10, 2015
Oh dear this book
Was that it? seriously. So little happened. the three plotlines happened at such a ridiculously slow pace I forgot they were happening.
But I read it during a weekend at home, and oh man. Even if there wasn't plot, there was character development. honestly, Monette makes it so easy to read about her characters doing nothing but think and reflect. I am deeply jealous of her.
Mildmay and Felix were great as always. Mildmay is my Precious Son but Felix is a wonderful hot mess and I'm glad they're slowly working through their problems, in, um, a good-for-the-character-development sense. ONE ISSUE THO why did Felix turn into Literal Christian Grey. It was only a month gap between finishing The Virtu and picking this up but I honestly don't remember Felix having this uncontrollable compulsion to like, hurt people during sex whenever he fucks up. But I WAS honestly waiting for him to hover over Gideon's bed going 'MY MOTHER WAS A CRACKWHORE' (btw where did the incest go? I feel like it wasn't actually resolved before but ok I guess it is)
Also, Mehitabel. I was so indifferent to her in The Virtu but now? Now she is my love. She is so wonderful in this. I'm glad she got to shine on her own, and wasn't Mildmay's random love interest. I hope the next book does continue her and the Mirador's storyline, or just mentions it.
Speaking of. I am so happy that this book finally gave me what I wanted from 'Melusine' - proper worldbuilding for the Mirador's society!!!! Supporting characters have been fleshed out!! If this was all in 'Melusine', that book would have been five stars. I love Tabby and Stephen - I knew I would like him if we had more on him, and the little group of Simon, Rinaldo and Gideon. I love the space that Felix occupies in this society. I love the Mirador's history. ahhhhhh. I loved the supporting cast of the Lower City so much before so it's good to have Felix's side developed a bit (omg Cardenio being promoted :'))
btw This book wasn't Suffering for so long but that is absolutely Complete Suffering.
also, to finish up - I honestly have to laugh that the terminology in this book is at the same level of my intermediate French skills. Like I read sentences like “I’ll come back on Huitième and ask.” as "I'll come back on Eighteenth...' and it just isn't as ~cool lol. also, 'Obligation of Soul' lol
Was that it? seriously. So little happened. the three plotlines happened at such a ridiculously slow pace I forgot they were happening.
But I read it during a weekend at home, and oh man. Even if there wasn't plot, there was character development. honestly, Monette makes it so easy to read about her characters doing nothing but think and reflect. I am deeply jealous of her.
Mildmay and Felix were great as always. Mildmay is my Precious Son but Felix is a wonderful hot mess and I'm glad they're slowly working through their problems, in, um, a good-for-the-character-development sense. ONE ISSUE THO why did Felix turn into Literal Christian Grey. It was only a month gap between finishing The Virtu and picking this up but I honestly don't remember Felix having this uncontrollable compulsion to like, hurt people during sex whenever he fucks up. But I WAS honestly waiting for him to hover over Gideon's bed going 'MY MOTHER WAS A CRACKWHORE' (btw where did the incest go? I feel like it wasn't actually resolved before but ok I guess it is)
Also, Mehitabel. I was so indifferent to her in The Virtu but now? Now she is my love. She is so wonderful in this. I'm glad she got to shine on her own, and wasn't Mildmay's random love interest. I hope the next book does continue her and the Mirador's storyline, or just mentions it.
Speaking of. I am so happy that this book finally gave me what I wanted from 'Melusine' - proper worldbuilding for the Mirador's society!!!! Supporting characters have been fleshed out!! If this was all in 'Melusine', that book would have been five stars. I love Tabby and Stephen - I knew I would like him if we had more on him, and the little group of Simon, Rinaldo and Gideon. I love the space that Felix occupies in this society. I love the Mirador's history. ahhhhhh. I loved the supporting cast of the Lower City so much before so it's good to have Felix's side developed a bit (omg Cardenio being promoted :'))
btw This book wasn't Suffering for so long but that is absolutely Complete Suffering.
also, to finish up - I honestly have to laugh that the terminology in this book is at the same level of my intermediate French skills. Like I read sentences like “I’ll come back on Huitième and ask.” as "I'll come back on Eighteenth...' and it just isn't as ~cool lol. also, 'Obligation of Soul' lol
September 23, 2020
Reread, 2020: I think I liked Mehitabel's PoV better the first time around; now I find her less convincing than other narrators, and the theatre metaphors are particularly one-note. But I appreciate what she brings to the narrative. The Mirador becomes a fully realized place with class, culture, a complicated social tableau, and each narrator offers a different view of that whole; each is constrained to their space, class, culture, society, but those constraints are permeable constructs. The plot is similarity isolated/interconnected, a contained murder mystery in which our protagonists are tools rather than actors and denouement is frankly too expansive ... but, again, characters mostly/only inhabit their part of the whole--but the reader sees cameos and overlaps. I don't know that I love that as a reading experience, and this is my least favorite of the series after Mélusine. But I appreciate it as a larger part of the whole. A loosely-constructed series allows for experimentation, and here the experiments with constrained plot/setting inform the narrative in interesting ways.
Original review, 2013: With its magical focus restored, security returns to the Mirador and Felix can resume his position as one of its most powerful wizards. But the Bastion, a faction of dangerous rival wizards, sends spies and start plans which threaten this tenuous peace. The Mirador adds an unexpected but rewarding new protagonist, Mehitabel; vibrant characters and narratives have been the highlight in this series, and Mehitabel, too, shines from the page, bringing welcome diversity to the cast. But the plot--well, it doesn't flounder, but it's highly political and reactive: our protagonists don't affect it so much as they discover it. It's a functional vehicle for consistently fascinating, changable, and complex character interaction, but makes for a somewhat immemorable book. Nonetheless, The Mirador is a sequel in line with its predecessors, strongly peopled, voiced, and set; if you read the others, which you should, you'd do well to continue with on with this one, and I will complete the series--but I hope for a little more from the final book.
Original review, 2013: With its magical focus restored, security returns to the Mirador and Felix can resume his position as one of its most powerful wizards. But the Bastion, a faction of dangerous rival wizards, sends spies and start plans which threaten this tenuous peace. The Mirador adds an unexpected but rewarding new protagonist, Mehitabel; vibrant characters and narratives have been the highlight in this series, and Mehitabel, too, shines from the page, bringing welcome diversity to the cast. But the plot--well, it doesn't flounder, but it's highly political and reactive: our protagonists don't affect it so much as they discover it. It's a functional vehicle for consistently fascinating, changable, and complex character interaction, but makes for a somewhat immemorable book. Nonetheless, The Mirador is a sequel in line with its predecessors, strongly peopled, voiced, and set; if you read the others, which you should, you'd do well to continue with on with this one, and I will complete the series--but I hope for a little more from the final book.
April 20, 2023
(4.something)
I would absolutely read the adventures of Mildmay the Sleuth, solving crimes and busting heads in the quest for truth! Honestly Mildmay makes this series; he is a precious diamond, and it was extremely gratifying when he pulled himself together and saved the day at the end. (In a low key, "I have all the information finally" kind of way, not in a busting heads kind of way.) Felix, on the other hand, is a hot mess and needs so much therapy. Just. So much, you guys. The crazy Felix of the first novel was much easier to get along with; it's a testament to the patience of the other characters that no one has chucked him out a window.
Anyway! The pleasure and delight of this series is primarily its characters and its worldbuilding. I would absolutely not want to live in the world of Melusine, although maybe in the countryside away from all the politics and crime it would be okay. But it's such a strange and complicated and interesting world, I definitely enjoy my visits. None of the characters are nice or even particularly good, but they are very human, and many of them admirable in their way.
This entry in the series is not especially action-packed, but watching all the pieces of the puzzle slot into place was a treat (I'm also super proud of myself that I guessed Who Dunnit, which almost never happens for me when there's a mystery afoot). The next book promises to be almost entirely different, but I can't wait to see where Monette takes her characters and her readers next. Hopefully it'll involve our beautiful brothers getting some much-needed therapy.
I would absolutely read the adventures of Mildmay the Sleuth, solving crimes and busting heads in the quest for truth! Honestly Mildmay makes this series; he is a precious diamond, and it was extremely gratifying when he pulled himself together and saved the day at the end. (In a low key, "I have all the information finally" kind of way, not in a busting heads kind of way.) Felix, on the other hand, is a hot mess and needs so much therapy. Just. So much, you guys. The crazy Felix of the first novel was much easier to get along with; it's a testament to the patience of the other characters that no one has chucked him out a window.
Anyway! The pleasure and delight of this series is primarily its characters and its worldbuilding. I would absolutely not want to live in the world of Melusine, although maybe in the countryside away from all the politics and crime it would be okay. But it's such a strange and complicated and interesting world, I definitely enjoy my visits. None of the characters are nice or even particularly good, but they are very human, and many of them admirable in their way.
This entry in the series is not especially action-packed, but watching all the pieces of the puzzle slot into place was a treat (I'm also super proud of myself that I guessed Who Dunnit, which almost never happens for me when there's a mystery afoot). The next book promises to be almost entirely different, but I can't wait to see where Monette takes her characters and her readers next. Hopefully it'll involve our beautiful brothers getting some much-needed therapy.
September 10, 2007
I was apparently a bit too enthusiastic in my review of the first book of this series. It was a kinda "can't see the forest for the trees" moment. I absolutely adore Mildmay. That really helps since I can't stand Felix more often than not. The only time I *can* stand Felix? Is when he's tortured and gone bugfuck. He's not a likable character, but I don't think he's meant to be. Or he is meant to be, but only after he's been tempered by the extreme heat of how he keeps fucking up his life. And Mildmay's by proxy.
I liked the new pov in this one, as Mehitabel is pretty snazzy. I will admit that now that I've a chance to go back and read all three books in one go, the swapping perspectives every few pages can get old. I have no problem with each chapter having a different narrator, but new narrators every few pages? Can be excessive. I still read it, though, and will pick up the final book in the Quad when it drops next summer, because whether I like the characters or not. Whether they started out having their motivations or their world well-explained or not, I'm still intrigued by what they do and what's going to happen to them. It's just unfortunate that the first book wasn't really marked as the first in a series, because jumping in en media res without any obvious payoff at the end of the first book threw off quite a few folks I recommened these books to. Ah, well. Such is life. Such are books.
I liked the new pov in this one, as Mehitabel is pretty snazzy. I will admit that now that I've a chance to go back and read all three books in one go, the swapping perspectives every few pages can get old. I have no problem with each chapter having a different narrator, but new narrators every few pages? Can be excessive. I still read it, though, and will pick up the final book in the Quad when it drops next summer, because whether I like the characters or not. Whether they started out having their motivations or their world well-explained or not, I'm still intrigued by what they do and what's going to happen to them. It's just unfortunate that the first book wasn't really marked as the first in a series, because jumping in en media res without any obvious payoff at the end of the first book threw off quite a few folks I recommened these books to. Ah, well. Such is life. Such are books.
September 5, 2023
Sarah Monette's The Mirador was enjoyable enough that I read it in one sitting, but some of the characters really frustrated me. This time they tend to be selfish, stupid, self-involved, and self-destructive in ways that manage to hurt the people around them as badly or worse than they hurt themselves. I wanted to shake them, especially since for the longest time it didn't look like they'd change. At least near the end some of them start to pull their heads out of their asses.
There's a plot thread that I felt was clumsily introduced, to the point where as it was going on I wondered if it would mean something later or if Monette was boring me for nothing. It doesn't help that the introduction makes one of the characters kind of look more like a bitch for what she's doing.
I ended up skimming some of the Mehitabel sections. The ending resolves little and obviously sets up a sequel.
The series seems to have diminishing returns for me. I didn't enjoy The Virtu as much as I had Mélusine, and I like The Mirador less than I did The Virtu. But I'll still check out the inevitable sequel to The Mirador. The magic is still interesting, and I continue to hope that Mildmay will pick up more of a spine and Felix will eventually stop making me want to smack him so much. I'm glad that Mildmay does some self-discovery here and that Monette broke her previous chain of evil gay characters.
There's a plot thread that I felt was clumsily introduced, to the point where as it was going on I wondered if it would mean something later or if Monette was boring me for nothing. It doesn't help that the introduction makes one of the characters kind of look more like a bitch for what she's doing.
I ended up skimming some of the Mehitabel sections. The ending resolves little and obviously sets up a sequel.
The series seems to have diminishing returns for me. I didn't enjoy The Virtu as much as I had Mélusine, and I like The Mirador less than I did The Virtu. But I'll still check out the inevitable sequel to The Mirador. The magic is still interesting, and I continue to hope that Mildmay will pick up more of a spine and Felix will eventually stop making me want to smack him so much. I'm glad that Mildmay does some self-discovery here and that Monette broke her previous chain of evil gay characters.
December 11, 2016
Less grindingly unpleasant than the previous two but I'm not totally sure why I keep reading this series. Mehitabel is a fun narrator at least.
March 13, 2020
Originally gave this 3 stars and I'm upping it to 4. I can sort of see why I rated it lower, but also I was wrong and didn't know any better lmaoo.
So the thing with the third book is, it sets up a few things--we have Malkar's rubies from book 2, and Felix spent most of the novel thinking of ways to lay the dead, dreading the return of Malkar and his ghost. After all, it's not the first time Malkar died. So we have Dark Items and and the thought of evil rising again, and I wouldn't have blamed Sarah Monette if we went there, but what she was doing is making you look that way while she did things on the other side.
Instead we have a plot to assassinate the Lord Protector, and the ghost we met in book 1, and there was no Malkar after all except that doesn't mean all sorts of shit don't happen.
It's kind of a mystery and also kind of a magic trick, and it was great fun to see it unfold.
So the thing with the third book is, it sets up a few things--we have Malkar's rubies from book 2, and Felix spent most of the novel thinking of ways to lay the dead, dreading the return of Malkar and his ghost. After all, it's not the first time Malkar died. So we have Dark Items and and the thought of evil rising again, and I wouldn't have blamed Sarah Monette if we went there, but what she was doing is making you look that way while she did things on the other side.
Instead we have a plot to assassinate the Lord Protector, and the ghost we met in book 1, and there was no Malkar after all except that doesn't mean all sorts of shit don't happen.
It's kind of a mystery and also kind of a magic trick, and it was great fun to see it unfold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2017
This series just about blew me away. Most of the fantasy series I've found in the last couple years fall under the "Grimdark" genre, and it was enlightening to find this. (There is commentary from the author that claims these books are as dark and grim as they come, but there is entirely too little bloodshed, the characters are too sympathetic and relatable, and the overall world is too vivid and realistic with the possibility of being nice, for me to consider this grimdark.)
The books are written from a shifting first person perspective, and Monette gives excellent voicing to her characters. The writing itself is intentional and engaging; I found all of the books hard to put down. The story is deep and compelling, and while I found a lack of character growth in the first three books, the fourth book finally brought about some of the resolutions I thought were coming earlier in the stories.
The books are written from a shifting first person perspective, and Monette gives excellent voicing to her characters. The writing itself is intentional and engaging; I found all of the books hard to put down. The story is deep and compelling, and while I found a lack of character growth in the first three books, the fourth book finally brought about some of the resolutions I thought were coming earlier in the stories.
July 1, 2011
This book in the series feels like an intermission. We're just hanging around in the Mirador and there are a bunch of little, non-urgent mysteries being pursued by way of plot. You kind of figure that, seemingly unrelated, they'll all come together somehow, and they do, but not until the very end, when crash-bang-boom everything blows up in Felix's face without much build up. The plot under the plot is about how Mildmay and Felix, the Master Non-Communicators, gain a bit more insight into themselves and their brotherly relationship, but advancement in that one is doled out so sparingly, it sometimes seems barely there. So, I for one am happy we are about to leave Melusine behind in the next installment.
August 24, 2015
The only book of the series with a first-person point of view that is female, Mehitabel Parr.
The main attraction of the book for me, and the aspect that sets it apart for me from the rest of the series, is that it gives for the first time a relatively humanizing look at the ruler of the city of Melusine, Stephen Teverius. Not as bad a guy as Felix Harrowgate's perspective depict him.
The main attraction of the book for me, and the aspect that sets it apart for me from the rest of the series, is that it gives for the first time a relatively humanizing look at the ruler of the city of Melusine, Stephen Teverius. Not as bad a guy as Felix Harrowgate's perspective depict him.
August 24, 2025
An ending like a thunderclap.
Read
April 6, 2025It's been interesting to read these earlier books of Katherine Addison/Sarah Monette and spot things that crop up in her later books (here I'm thinking specifically of the theater as a place of community and a narrative setting/device, which is used to good effect in this book as well as in the Cemeteries of Amalo series, which has an opera).
In a lot of ways, by book three of this series, she's hit her stride with juggling multiple perspective chapters (this book includes Mehitabel Parr who is a welcome addition to the Felix/Mildmay mix, and who provides the entrée into theater). I loved Mehitabel being brought into the forefront because she is not as irritating and dysfunctional as the other two, and she also brings the story into quarters of Mélusine and the Mirador that Felix and Mildmay don't frequent.
There's just something a bit off with the pacing and structure of the books in this series that I don't feel when reading her later work; I really think she's matured a lot as a writer since this series. While there are things I find to be picky about, I have binged all three books as soon as they've become available from my library so I can't complain too much. I appreciate how much more she's leaned into writing nicer characters in her later works though; I don't think I could take another Felix no matter how well it's understood that his behavior is a result of trauma. It will be interesting to read the fourth book and see what kind of self-awareness/absolution he might achieve by the end of the series.
I love that these have been released as audiobooks, and the narrator does a really good job of bringing the characters to life but DEAR LORD someone needs to give them a lesson in pronouncing French words (and to a lesser extent Greek-derived ones as well). Mélusine's language is, as far as I can tell, just French, and hearing the narrator completely butcher normal French words like the ones for the days of the week is pretty difficult to bear. It would be one thing if they were made up fantasy language words. But no. It is just French.
In a lot of ways, by book three of this series, she's hit her stride with juggling multiple perspective chapters (this book includes Mehitabel Parr who is a welcome addition to the Felix/Mildmay mix, and who provides the entrée into theater). I loved Mehitabel being brought into the forefront because she is not as irritating and dysfunctional as the other two, and she also brings the story into quarters of Mélusine and the Mirador that Felix and Mildmay don't frequent.
There's just something a bit off with the pacing and structure of the books in this series that I don't feel when reading her later work; I really think she's matured a lot as a writer since this series. While there are things I find to be picky about, I have binged all three books as soon as they've become available from my library so I can't complain too much. I appreciate how much more she's leaned into writing nicer characters in her later works though; I don't think I could take another Felix no matter how well it's understood that his behavior is a result of trauma. It will be interesting to read the fourth book and see what kind of self-awareness/absolution he might achieve by the end of the series.
I love that these have been released as audiobooks, and the narrator does a really good job of bringing the characters to life but DEAR LORD someone needs to give them a lesson in pronouncing French words (and to a lesser extent Greek-derived ones as well). Mélusine's language is, as far as I can tell, just French, and hearing the narrator completely butcher normal French words like the ones for the days of the week is pretty difficult to bear. It would be one thing if they were made up fantasy language words. But no. It is just French.
February 11, 2018
This entry in the series appears to be a jumbled mess for the first 90% of the book, with subplots springing out of every hinge and joint and dovetail, but then, at the end, everything comes together in one fantastic crash that resolves the vast bulk of the previously unrelated story threads.
I can admire the masterful plotting as a writer, juggling so many things at once, but as a reader, I was more often frustrated than not. I honestly couldn't see much in the way of foreshadowing that would let me put together some of the clues myself, and the slow-as-molasses pacing coupled with story threads being dropped and picked up again a hundred or more pages later made this a more challenging read to follow than either of its predecessors.
One thing I'm pleased that was dropped, though, was the will-they-won't-they incest angle between Mildmay and Felix. Rumors of that twist to their relationship are mentioned in passing by other characters, mostly as part of the complex court intrigue that carries most of the plot--but as far as Mildmay and Felix themselves are concerned, it seems to be entirely in the past for them. Felix's tumultuous relationship with Gideon was something I was glad to see carried over from the end of the previous book--given Felix's nature, I had no idea if that was going to last, especially when it became clear how much time had passed since.
And I did like how Mildmay's relationship with Mehitabel, in some key ways, mirrored Felix and Gideon. Mehitabel herself was a fine addition as a POV character, leading to some of my favorite bits of dialogue and twists of intrigue, and her absolute inability to take shit from people was a nice contrast to Mildmay, who basically does nothing but.
The end really does make the book, and I'm glad I stuck with it, though I would have preferred if the insane complexity of the plot that led me there had been toned down some.
I can admire the masterful plotting as a writer, juggling so many things at once, but as a reader, I was more often frustrated than not. I honestly couldn't see much in the way of foreshadowing that would let me put together some of the clues myself, and the slow-as-molasses pacing coupled with story threads being dropped and picked up again a hundred or more pages later made this a more challenging read to follow than either of its predecessors.
One thing I'm pleased that was dropped, though, was the will-they-won't-they incest angle between Mildmay and Felix. Rumors of that twist to their relationship are mentioned in passing by other characters, mostly as part of the complex court intrigue that carries most of the plot--but as far as Mildmay and Felix themselves are concerned, it seems to be entirely in the past for them. Felix's tumultuous relationship with Gideon was something I was glad to see carried over from the end of the previous book--given Felix's nature, I had no idea if that was going to last, especially when it became clear how much time had passed since.
And I did like how Mildmay's relationship with Mehitabel, in some key ways, mirrored Felix and Gideon. Mehitabel herself was a fine addition as a POV character, leading to some of my favorite bits of dialogue and twists of intrigue, and her absolute inability to take shit from people was a nice contrast to Mildmay, who basically does nothing but.
The end really does make the book, and I'm glad I stuck with it, though I would have preferred if the insane complexity of the plot that led me there had been toned down some.
April 15, 2023
I loved the first one, liked to second one... but didn't care as much for this one. So it is really a comparative rating, I guess. 2.5 stars would be good.
I loved mad Felix's voice, I loved badass Mildmay, but they both have evolved in such a sad direction.
I understand perfectly the decision to have an obnoxious character that remains like that, but I really find Felix insufferable. I don't understand why people put up with him, especially Mehitabel or Simon, who have no vested interest in him, and should be able to treat him with a bit more severity. Yes, past trauma can explain his behavior but never excuse it.
The fact that all the "good" characters seem to be drawn to him (because there is also Fleur, Shanonn, Isaac, Vincent... and don't let me start on Gideon and Mildmay themselves) despite his attitude appears far-fetched and I've come to regard him as old-school "Gary Sue" : beautiful, incredibly gifted, traumatic past, orphan, weird eyes but still handsome, arrogant but gets away with it... He ticks so many boxes ! I definitely liked him better when he was mad.
Mehitabel's voice is interesting, I liked meeting Stephen, but I found strange that this relationship, while blatant, is never addressed in Mildmay's POV. He made me sad, as did Gideon, whom I really felt for, and won't even be in the next one...
As for the plot, well... It did not always made sense to me (maybe my lack of English skills) but I read those books mainly for the characters and the world-building, so, I did not really care. The last part was heart-wrenching.
All in all, I was disappointed, maybe because I had great expectations, and felt let down. I hope Mildmay will find his voice again in the last book, and Felix will atone, somehow, and evolve and change (who keeps on repeating that no-one can change ?! It is such a bleak vision... and so useful to shirk from one's responsibility...)
I loved mad Felix's voice, I loved badass Mildmay, but they both have evolved in such a sad direction.
I understand perfectly the decision to have an obnoxious character that remains like that, but I really find Felix insufferable. I don't understand why people put up with him, especially Mehitabel or Simon, who have no vested interest in him, and should be able to treat him with a bit more severity. Yes, past trauma can explain his behavior but never excuse it.
The fact that all the "good" characters seem to be drawn to him (because there is also Fleur, Shanonn, Isaac, Vincent... and don't let me start on Gideon and Mildmay themselves) despite his attitude appears far-fetched and I've come to regard him as old-school "Gary Sue" : beautiful, incredibly gifted, traumatic past, orphan, weird eyes but still handsome, arrogant but gets away with it... He ticks so many boxes ! I definitely liked him better when he was mad.
Mehitabel's voice is interesting, I liked meeting Stephen, but I found strange that this relationship, while blatant, is never addressed in Mildmay's POV. He made me sad, as did Gideon, whom I really felt for, and won't even be in the next one...
As for the plot, well... It did not always made sense to me (maybe my lack of English skills) but I read those books mainly for the characters and the world-building, so, I did not really care. The last part was heart-wrenching.
All in all, I was disappointed, maybe because I had great expectations, and felt let down. I hope Mildmay will find his voice again in the last book, and Felix will atone, somehow, and evolve and change (who keeps on repeating that no-one can change ?! It is such a bleak vision... and so useful to shirk from one's responsibility...)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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