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The Amberlough Dossier #2
Armistice: Schweigen der Waffen
"Armistice" ist die Rückkehr in Donnellys hinreißende Fantasy-Welt mit Anklängen an das Art déco der 1930er Jahre, die bereits aus dem ersten Band der Reihe – "Amberlough" – bekannt ist. Eine explosive Mischung aus Sex, Politik und Spionen!
In einem tropischen Land, in dem hinter den Kulissen der glamourösen Filmindustrie dunkle politische Machenschaften lauern, manövrieren drei Menschen durch das gefährliche Spiel der Lillian, eine widerwillige Diplomatin im Dienste einer faschistischen Nation, Aristide, ein ausländischer Filmregisseur, der vor einer verlorenen Liebe und einer kriminellen Vergangenheit davonläuft – und Cordelia, eine einstige Kabarett-Stripperin, die sich in eine legendäre Revolutionärin verwandelt hat. Alle drei verfügen über gefährliches Wissen, das ganze Nationen auf den Kopf stellen könnte. Alles scheint auf eine internationale Revolte zuzurasen – und nur die wahrhaft Gerissenen werden gerüstet sein für das, was als Nächstes auf sie zukommt!
"Ein starker Roman voller faszinierender Figuren, der sich mit überdimensionalen Themen wie Sexualität, Musik, Kultur, Faschismus, Nationalismus, Klassenkampf, Revolution und Liebe befasst." (Shelf Awareness)
In einem tropischen Land, in dem hinter den Kulissen der glamourösen Filmindustrie dunkle politische Machenschaften lauern, manövrieren drei Menschen durch das gefährliche Spiel der Lillian, eine widerwillige Diplomatin im Dienste einer faschistischen Nation, Aristide, ein ausländischer Filmregisseur, der vor einer verlorenen Liebe und einer kriminellen Vergangenheit davonläuft – und Cordelia, eine einstige Kabarett-Stripperin, die sich in eine legendäre Revolutionärin verwandelt hat. Alle drei verfügen über gefährliches Wissen, das ganze Nationen auf den Kopf stellen könnte. Alles scheint auf eine internationale Revolte zuzurasen – und nur die wahrhaft Gerissenen werden gerüstet sein für das, was als Nächstes auf sie zukommt!
"Ein starker Roman voller faszinierender Figuren, der sich mit überdimensionalen Themen wie Sexualität, Musik, Kultur, Faschismus, Nationalismus, Klassenkampf, Revolution und Liebe befasst." (Shelf Awareness)
475 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2018
66 people are currently reading
2079 people want to read
About the author
Lara Elena Donnelly
12 books409 followersLara Elena Donnelly is the author of the Nebula, Lambda, and Locus-nominated trilogy The Amberlough Dossier, as well as short fiction and poetry appearing in venues including Strange Horizons, Escape Pod, Nightmare, and Uncanny.
Lara has taught in the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College, as well as the Catapult Workshop in New York. She is a graduate of the Clarion and Alpha writers’ workshops, and has served as on-site staff at the latter, mentoring amazing teens who will someday take over the world of SFF.
Lara has taught in the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College, as well as the Catapult Workshop in New York. She is a graduate of the Clarion and Alpha writers’ workshops, and has served as on-site staff at the latter, mentoring amazing teens who will someday take over the world of SFF.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
July 31, 2020
“You've no idea what you've cost me. Not the faintest trace of an understanding.”
In the aftermath of the fabulous Amberlough, I was worried I would be let down by this book. I was. But thankfully, not completely.
This one follows Cordelia and Aristide, two of the three leads of book one, and Lillian, an ambassador for Gedda… and Cyril’s sister. Ari is a traumatized refugee. Cordelia is in hiding after a resistance bombing campaign. Lillian is being blackmailed. But as things get more complicated, Lillian will have to risk it all to save her son.
It took me a while to really get used to the worldbuilding of this; while book one was set almost exclusively in Amberlough, one of the provinces of Gedda, Armistice is set in Porachis, a nearby country, which conveniently is not depicted on the map. We also get little snippets of information about nations like Liso that I found hard to keep up with and sometimes convoluted. And I still could not fucking tell you where Liso is.
And added on to that, the character cast is huge. There’s Daoud, Ari’s new lover, Jinadh, Lillian’s ex-lover and a prince of Porachis, Memmediv, Lillian’s maybe-current lover and a possible traitor for the Tatie province, Pulan, the head of Ari’s movie-making company, Sofie & Mab, two wives and undercover operatives, and a few more.
As a result of these two aspects, I found the plot overall somewhat hard to track, and found it hard to be invested in action I didn’t always understand.
I will say I really liked Lillian’s character direction; since the other two characters are old, I didn't feel they progressed as much. But she grows from a fairly dislikable - though sympathetic - character to one of my favorites. She's almost a subversion of the Ice Cold Blonde villain trope, at first coming off as closed-off and emotionless but eventually showing a far softer side.
I don’t think I have much more to say than that on the quality of this as a sequel. It was good enough and the ending was nice - I liked seeing all the threads come together. But I’m hoping book three goes back to being more character-drivne.
✨Arc received from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
released: 7 May 2018.
series reviews: Amberlough | Armistice | Amnesty
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December 31, 2019
While the audiobook production was still just as good as book 1, I felt like this was more of a filler book. I missed one character that was central to book 1, and cared less about the political machinations in this installment. I’m still invested enough in the characters to finish the series and I hope the last book wrapped up what Amberlough started.
February 3, 2021
Review after rereading in February 2021:
The truth is out: I WOULD die for Cordelia Lehane, Lillian DePaul, and Aristide Makricosta.
Review after reading in April 2019:
Having now read the book I can confirm that I was, in fact, right to be concerned about Cyril DePaul.
Review before reading:
Me: *reads blurb*
Me: nice
Me: *notices Cyril is not mentioned*
Me: *is worried*
The truth is out: I WOULD die for Cordelia Lehane, Lillian DePaul, and Aristide Makricosta.
Review after reading in April 2019:
Having now read the book I can confirm that I was, in fact, right to be concerned about Cyril DePaul.
Review before reading:
Me: *reads blurb*
Me: nice
Me: *notices Cyril is not mentioned*
Me: *is worried*
Read
August 19, 2019DNF
I've been trying for over 3 months to get into this narrative.
Countless times have I picked it up to put it back down again.
I think it's time to just call it.
My apologies to the author, the publisher and NetGalley. Perhaps one day I will pick this up again and want to center punch this version of myself but today is not that day.
A copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've been trying for over 3 months to get into this narrative.
Countless times have I picked it up to put it back down again.
I think it's time to just call it.
My apologies to the author, the publisher and NetGalley. Perhaps one day I will pick this up again and want to center punch this version of myself but today is not that day.
A copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2018
4.5 stars.
Lara Elena Donnelly excels at endings.
Endings are rarely my favorite part of the story, but the first thing Amberlough and its very different sequel Armistice have in common is that I always ended up emotionally compromised.
I wasn't even loving this book until the last 20%. I really liked it, I love all the characters, but I have to say that the pacing around the middle of the book wasn't the best, it almost dragged. And then the ending happened, and here I am. It didn't even need to be as cruel as Amberlough, it was intense anyway.
Armistice is mostly set in Porachis, the tropical country in which Lilian works as a diplomat for the now-fascist Gedda and Aristide is now a film director, and where Cordelia is trying to find allies. As a setting, it was never as developed as the city of Amberlough, but I can say that I loved its atmosphere. Its climate meant that everyone was scheming against fascists in pretty clothes and great weather, and considering that the aesthetic is half the reason I'm reading this series, I really appreciated it.
The other main reason are the characters. I love all of the main ones, even the ones who are terrible. Many of them went through a lot during the first book, and in the second book they have to recover. Their development was really interesting, especially considering what they learned: things usually work better when people don't hide everything from each other. People solving things with communication! And there's still scheming! It's great and I love them all. Especially Cordelia (she changed so much and she's amazing), but all of them, the new ones as well. It took me a while to get attached to Lillian, but once I did I cared a lot, and I also loved Daoud and Pulan, two characters whose main purpose is, basically, to annoy Aristide (Aristide is petty. Not recommended, but some of those scenes in the second half were hilarious.)
And one last thing I love about all of this - it has many sad moments, many heavy moments, but it never feels like a tragedy. It's always so alive, and also funny at times.
Now everything seems headed towards a war and I have to wait at least a year for the sequel. At least this ending wasn't as evil as the first.
Lara Elena Donnelly excels at endings.
Endings are rarely my favorite part of the story, but the first thing Amberlough and its very different sequel Armistice have in common is that I always ended up emotionally compromised.
I wasn't even loving this book until the last 20%. I really liked it, I love all the characters, but I have to say that the pacing around the middle of the book wasn't the best, it almost dragged. And then the ending happened, and here I am. It didn't even need to be as cruel as Amberlough, it was intense anyway.
Armistice is mostly set in Porachis, the tropical country in which Lilian works as a diplomat for the now-fascist Gedda and Aristide is now a film director, and where Cordelia is trying to find allies. As a setting, it was never as developed as the city of Amberlough, but I can say that I loved its atmosphere. Its climate meant that everyone was scheming against fascists in pretty clothes and great weather, and considering that the aesthetic is half the reason I'm reading this series, I really appreciated it.
The other main reason are the characters. I love all of the main ones, even the ones who are terrible. Many of them went through a lot during the first book, and in the second book they have to recover. Their development was really interesting, especially considering what they learned: things usually work better when people don't hide everything from each other. People solving things with communication! And there's still scheming! It's great and I love them all. Especially Cordelia (she changed so much and she's amazing), but all of them, the new ones as well. It took me a while to get attached to Lillian, but once I did I cared a lot, and I also loved Daoud and Pulan, two characters whose main purpose is, basically, to annoy Aristide (Aristide is petty. Not recommended, but some of those scenes in the second half were hilarious.)
And one last thing I love about all of this - it has many sad moments, many heavy moments, but it never feels like a tragedy. It's always so alive, and also funny at times.
Now everything seems headed towards a war and I have to wait at least a year for the sequel. At least this ending wasn't as evil as the first.
February 9, 2019
I wanted my high expectations to pan out for this one, but I was a little disappointed.
It's not a bad book by any definition, but it kinda picks up with the same characters under wildly different circumstances. From stage performance and spywork and blowing up the art district to becoming a revolutionary grunt or rubbing nobs with diplomats years down the line.
It might have been rather cool. In concept, it might even work. But in this particular instance, the enjoyment I had with the previous novel went down the drain for a pretty long stretch until the new/old characters came back to life... figuratively and literally.
Spies, bombers, and angling for a full civil war did manage to keep this from being unentertaining. The writing has a lot of quite cool moments and the end makes up for much of the meh. It's occupation Europe in a lite-fantasy setting, after all. We've all seen a lot of this in literature and movies, and this one doesn't even have any fantastical elements. Just the names have changed.
I can't say it's at all bad, but it isn't wonderful. The one thing it has going for it is the LGBT elements.
It's not a bad book by any definition, but it kinda picks up with the same characters under wildly different circumstances. From stage performance and spywork and blowing up the art district to becoming a revolutionary grunt or rubbing nobs with diplomats years down the line.
It might have been rather cool. In concept, it might even work. But in this particular instance, the enjoyment I had with the previous novel went down the drain for a pretty long stretch until the new/old characters came back to life... figuratively and literally.
Spies, bombers, and angling for a full civil war did manage to keep this from being unentertaining. The writing has a lot of quite cool moments and the end makes up for much of the meh. It's occupation Europe in a lite-fantasy setting, after all. We've all seen a lot of this in literature and movies, and this one doesn't even have any fantastical elements. Just the names have changed.
I can't say it's at all bad, but it isn't wonderful. The one thing it has going for it is the LGBT elements.
July 17, 2018
I love this series!
Book two succeeds and fails in ways unique from book one. First of all, I missed . And second of all, this was a much more plot-driven book.
In this book we venture out from Amberlough City (in fact, the book is set entirely outside of the series' eponymous city) and spend most of our time in Porachis, a tropical country with a less than stellar relationship with Gedda that draws seems at least slightly analogous to India.
Donnelly has certainly put her main characters through the ringer, and she deals with the emotional and mental implications of that in this book. Both Cordelia and Aristides have wonderful, complex, not always flattering character arcs, and the book is stronger for it.
While the plot of the first book was centered around preventing a fascist power from rising, the characters are now forced to deal with an established regime. The plot of book two feels reminiscent of a heist book, and while that's certainly fun, it lacked the complexity of the first book. The pacing felt, to me, quite a bit more brisk than book one, but at the expense of some nuance.
I liked that this book dealt a bit more with the ways in which fascism and racism interact, but again I was left a little disappointed in how colonialism was not touched upon.
Book two succeeds and fails in ways unique from book one. First of all, I missed . And second of all, this was a much more plot-driven book.
In this book we venture out from Amberlough City (in fact, the book is set entirely outside of the series' eponymous city) and spend most of our time in Porachis, a tropical country with a less than stellar relationship with Gedda that draws seems at least slightly analogous to India.
Donnelly has certainly put her main characters through the ringer, and she deals with the emotional and mental implications of that in this book. Both Cordelia and Aristides have wonderful, complex, not always flattering character arcs, and the book is stronger for it.
While the plot of the first book was centered around preventing a fascist power from rising, the characters are now forced to deal with an established regime. The plot of book two feels reminiscent of a heist book, and while that's certainly fun, it lacked the complexity of the first book. The pacing felt, to me, quite a bit more brisk than book one, but at the expense of some nuance.
I liked that this book dealt a bit more with the ways in which fascism and racism interact, but again I was left a little disappointed in how colonialism was not touched upon.
Want to read
September 29, 2017Cordelia is now a legendary revolutionary?
Shhhhh. Say no more. Give. Pls. I need more Cordelia LeHane ready to wreck shit up.
Shhhhh. Say no more. Give. Pls. I need more Cordelia LeHane ready to wreck shit up.
March 23, 2019
Christ that was delicious.
I'm not going to lie. I had my doubts at the beginning. This book is set 3 years after the end of Amberlough. So much has changed and yet certain things remain the same. I was worried about the dreaded second book syndrome that plagues trilogies.
But by the time I got half way I couldn't put it down. It had it tendrils in me. It faired very well considering it was missing most of what I loved from the first book. Cyril is not a POV character in this book. We still get Aristide and Cordelia but no Cyril. It was also missing the show and performance setting that made the first book so inviting. It was missing the hot sex and sizzling chemistry. Hell, I even missed Aristide's fake stutter.
And yet. All things considered. I did end up really liking it. It's still very political, very secretive and full of espionage and double plays. But do not expect this to be like the first book.
I'm desperate to find out how this will end. My heart needs for there to be a happy ending. I think the characters grew so much in this book. Aristide let his emotions show and even his darker, brutally vengeful side became apparent.
Cordelia has got to be one of my favourite female characters I've ever read. She breaks my heart and I love her. Someone needs to marry this woman or I will.
I'm so glad I only have to wait a couple of weeks for the last book. For those of you who have waited since this book came out... I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you.
I'm not going to lie. I had my doubts at the beginning. This book is set 3 years after the end of Amberlough. So much has changed and yet certain things remain the same. I was worried about the dreaded second book syndrome that plagues trilogies.
But by the time I got half way I couldn't put it down. It had it tendrils in me. It faired very well considering it was missing most of what I loved from the first book. Cyril is not a POV character in this book. We still get Aristide and Cordelia but no Cyril. It was also missing the show and performance setting that made the first book so inviting. It was missing the hot sex and sizzling chemistry. Hell, I even missed Aristide's fake stutter.
And yet. All things considered. I did end up really liking it. It's still very political, very secretive and full of espionage and double plays. But do not expect this to be like the first book.
I'm desperate to find out how this will end. My heart needs for there to be a happy ending. I think the characters grew so much in this book. Aristide let his emotions show and even his darker, brutally vengeful side became apparent.
Cordelia has got to be one of my favourite female characters I've ever read. She breaks my heart and I love her. Someone needs to marry this woman or I will.
I'm so glad I only have to wait a couple of weeks for the last book. For those of you who have waited since this book came out... I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you.
February 7, 2024
Armistice follows on three years after the end of Amberlough and is set in the neighbouring country Porachis, which to me read like a mixture between 1930's Hollywood and India and it was beautiful. I am so glad that our protagonists from Amberlough returned, with Cordelia and Aristide, although very much changed in the years of oppression. Cordelia is now a revolutionary leader for a group called Catwalk and Aristide, who is very much still in the throngs of grief almost bubble like in the way he wont let emotions touch him, is now a film director for Pulan.
We are also introduced to Lillian DePaul, Cyril's older sister and the spitting image of her brother. Our three protagonists find themselves united by one goal as scandals unfurl and secrets are unleashed, all in the way of undermining the Ospies.
What I loved most about Armistice was seeing Cyril and Aristide through Cordelia and Lilian's eyes. Lillian, Cordelia and Aristide's grief over Cyril killed me and it was done so well. Never have I known a dinner party to be one of the tensest scenes in the whole book and I loved it!
Donnelly doesn't hold back anywhere on drawing out the most painful conflicts and moments, which is exactly what I love in fiction. And with this novels focus very much on grief and love, anger and injustice and how this drives our characters, there was so much material for Donnelly to play with our heartstrings.
I loved all of this book and can't believe I read it in a day. I kept wanting the book to magically grow more pages. Armistice was definitely worth the wait, and I cannot wait to see where Amnesty takes us from here. Donnelly is a superb writer who knows exactly how to show her reader the story rather than tell, and I know that I will adore anything she writes. Overall a fantastic second book and one I can't wait to re-read.
We are also introduced to Lillian DePaul, Cyril's older sister and the spitting image of her brother. Our three protagonists find themselves united by one goal as scandals unfurl and secrets are unleashed, all in the way of undermining the Ospies.
What I loved most about Armistice was seeing Cyril and Aristide through Cordelia and Lilian's eyes. Lillian, Cordelia and Aristide's grief over Cyril killed me and it was done so well. Never have I known a dinner party to be one of the tensest scenes in the whole book and I loved it!
Donnelly doesn't hold back anywhere on drawing out the most painful conflicts and moments, which is exactly what I love in fiction. And with this novels focus very much on grief and love, anger and injustice and how this drives our characters, there was so much material for Donnelly to play with our heartstrings.
I loved all of this book and can't believe I read it in a day. I kept wanting the book to magically grow more pages. Armistice was definitely worth the wait, and I cannot wait to see where Amnesty takes us from here. Donnelly is a superb writer who knows exactly how to show her reader the story rather than tell, and I know that I will adore anything she writes. Overall a fantastic second book and one I can't wait to re-read.
June 4, 2021
A solid continuation. This series is so wonderfully character-driven and it makes me nervous. Nervous to see where my beloved Cordelia and Aristede end up in the finale. I want them to make it all the way to the end, but knowing this gritty world, I'm worried.
June 3, 2019
4.5 stars
0.5 stars knocked off because i found the first 100 pages or so a little hard to follow otherwise... LOVED this
0.5 stars knocked off because i found the first 100 pages or so a little hard to follow otherwise... LOVED this
May 18, 2018
Lara Elena Donnelly’s debut Amberlough was a dazzling story of decadence, sex, and the embrace of art in the face of authoritarianism. But readers who dive into Armistice expecting more of the same thing–strippers, cabaret dancers, forbidden passions–may end up being a little disappointed. This sequel is wholly focused on characters–some old, some new–as they try to deal with the fallout of the ending of the first book. So we don’t get the “let’s-rip-our-clothes-off” brand of sexiness, but what we do (eventually) get is some open communication between the characters. Which, frankly, is even sexier–both in real-life and in fiction.
In Armistice, the setting has been moved from Gedda to Porachis, a warm tropical country reminiscent of India. Three years have passed since the fascist Ospie Party have taken control of Amberlough and the rest of Gedda. Cordelia, once a performer at the Bumble Bee Cabaret, has now become the leader of the infamous resistance/anarchist group known as the “Catwalk.” Aristide, once an emcee and secret smuggler, has turned refugee and film director at a studio in Porachis. Lillian is the last of our protagonists and unlike the other two, we’ve only known her by name in the first book. She’s the sister of Cyril DePaul (Aristide’s lover) and she’s been taken under the thumb of the Ospies as a diplomat. Circumstances draw these people to one another and their past and present agendas tangle together into an unruly mess.
We’re immediately introduced a slew of new and old characters, and there are many connections (social, political, personal) that you have to keep track of, which can get a little overwhelming. It doesn’t help that it’s been over a year since I’ve read Amberlough; it took me a while to remember who some of the side characters were.
As with the first book, the main characters are fantastically well-written. I came into the story feeling ambivalent about Lillian, but Donnelly has written her with so much care that it’s hard not to be intrigued by her. Yes, she’s working for the enemy. But she’s also a mother whose son has effectively been hostage to elicit good behaviour from her. Like Cyril, her loyalties are being pulled at both ends, and you can’t help but feel for her.
Cordelia and Aristide are not the same people that they were three years ago. With Aristide, it felt like I was getting to know him for the first time. He’s shed his stage persona and has become more serious and gruff. And we see depths to him–grief, anger, love–that we never really got a chance to see in Amberlough, and I loved every bit of it. I did, however, find myself missing the Cordelia and Aristide of the old. And this isn’t a criticism of the book, but a praise, because we’re meant to miss them. Lament the fact that a fascist government has smothered so much of their vitality.
I did feel that the first half of the story was a little slow–much of it is spent getting all the characters together in the same place. And we also never really get a good sense of what Porachis as a country looks like. As with the characters, I found myself pining for the vibrant atmosphere of the Bumble Bee (really, fascists ruin everything).
All in all, this is a different but great sequel to one of last year’s best debuts. Whereas in Amberlough things spiraled down to ruin and disaster, in Armistice, things steadily climb towards hope. It sets up the necessary groundworks for a potentially pulse-pounding, ulcer-inducing third book, and I can’t wait.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for providing a review copy.
In Armistice, the setting has been moved from Gedda to Porachis, a warm tropical country reminiscent of India. Three years have passed since the fascist Ospie Party have taken control of Amberlough and the rest of Gedda. Cordelia, once a performer at the Bumble Bee Cabaret, has now become the leader of the infamous resistance/anarchist group known as the “Catwalk.” Aristide, once an emcee and secret smuggler, has turned refugee and film director at a studio in Porachis. Lillian is the last of our protagonists and unlike the other two, we’ve only known her by name in the first book. She’s the sister of Cyril DePaul (Aristide’s lover) and she’s been taken under the thumb of the Ospies as a diplomat. Circumstances draw these people to one another and their past and present agendas tangle together into an unruly mess.
We’re immediately introduced a slew of new and old characters, and there are many connections (social, political, personal) that you have to keep track of, which can get a little overwhelming. It doesn’t help that it’s been over a year since I’ve read Amberlough; it took me a while to remember who some of the side characters were.
As with the first book, the main characters are fantastically well-written. I came into the story feeling ambivalent about Lillian, but Donnelly has written her with so much care that it’s hard not to be intrigued by her. Yes, she’s working for the enemy. But she’s also a mother whose son has effectively been hostage to elicit good behaviour from her. Like Cyril, her loyalties are being pulled at both ends, and you can’t help but feel for her.
Cordelia and Aristide are not the same people that they were three years ago. With Aristide, it felt like I was getting to know him for the first time. He’s shed his stage persona and has become more serious and gruff. And we see depths to him–grief, anger, love–that we never really got a chance to see in Amberlough, and I loved every bit of it. I did, however, find myself missing the Cordelia and Aristide of the old. And this isn’t a criticism of the book, but a praise, because we’re meant to miss them. Lament the fact that a fascist government has smothered so much of their vitality.
I did feel that the first half of the story was a little slow–much of it is spent getting all the characters together in the same place. And we also never really get a good sense of what Porachis as a country looks like. As with the characters, I found myself pining for the vibrant atmosphere of the Bumble Bee (really, fascists ruin everything).
All in all, this is a different but great sequel to one of last year’s best debuts. Whereas in Amberlough things spiraled down to ruin and disaster, in Armistice, things steadily climb towards hope. It sets up the necessary groundworks for a potentially pulse-pounding, ulcer-inducing third book, and I can’t wait.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for providing a review copy.
March 3, 2020
This book suffers so much of the "middle-book syndrome" it hurts.
Couldn't care less about the new character.
Now, please, give me Cyril. Thanks
Couldn't care less about the new character.
Now, please, give me Cyril. Thanks
May 13, 2018
I received the e-ARC of this novel courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.
My full review here.
In short: great characters, very good style, plot that takes a while to get going but then becomes really breathtaking, worldbuilding that doesn't quite do for this new city what Amberlough did for, well, Amberlough, and a good setup for a potentially explosive conclusion. Still, I wish a spy novel had more spying and more exciting plot twists, and more competent players (particularly early on).
I really liked Lillian (a lot more than Cyril). And Cordelia is great.
My full review here.
In short: great characters, very good style, plot that takes a while to get going but then becomes really breathtaking, worldbuilding that doesn't quite do for this new city what Amberlough did for, well, Amberlough, and a good setup for a potentially explosive conclusion. Still, I wish a spy novel had more spying and more exciting plot twists, and more competent players (particularly early on).
I really liked Lillian (a lot more than Cyril). And Cordelia is great.
July 17, 2018
this is some high-end, top-shelf, luxury-branded SHADY BUSINESS and i'm truly living!! i'm not even gonna get mad that the book ended like THAT because it just had me pumped up for book 3 and finally witness the conclusion of this carefully constructed plot and, of course, the fate of these vibrant characters.
i truly can't tell how this series is gonna end and I LOVE THAT ABOUT IT.
(also, i do so wish one of those giant streaming services pour money into a miniseries because i'm dying to see this in all of its high definition glory, it's what Aristide would want!)
i truly can't tell how this series is gonna end and I LOVE THAT ABOUT IT.
(also, i do so wish one of those giant streaming services pour money into a miniseries because i'm dying to see this in all of its high definition glory, it's what Aristide would want!)
June 27, 2020
I love the author's style and this series is so lush, and this sequel Armistice is no exception. Lara's characters and the world they inhabit are incredibly well developed. If you like the sound of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy meets Cabaret or James Bond meets Oscar Wilde, I have a feeling that you may want to give this a try. You may also want to try this series if you love Robert Jackson Bennett's writing style. I can't wait to read the finale, Amnesty, and whatever else the author cares to write in the future.
August 6, 2018
Armistice destroyed my soul and I loved every minute of it. I am tempted to leave my review at that because in the 6 odd days since I've finished Armistice I am still not sure I can do this book and my feelings on it justice.
Three years after the explosive finale of Amberlough, Aristide Makricosta has set himself up as a film director under the arm of Pulan. Cordelia Lehane has been smuggled out of Amberlough after certain activities were bringing her a little too close to the inside of a cell. And Lillian DePaul, is doing what is necessary to keep the son she barely sees safe.
Cordelia and Aristide are some of the only characters we are truly familiar with. Introduced are characters previously only mentioned in passing and some wholly new ones. Armistice shows us different faces of old characters, with hidden sides and secret loyalties. We are no longer in Amberlough City but plunged into Porachis, a country so very unlike Amberlough.
Just as it was with Amberlough, it is the characters that truly bring this book to life. Donnelly writes them so well you can't help but grieve with them, laugh with them and feel their joy. For a character who is not physically present Cyril is, in some ways, the beating heart of Armistice. He is the thread linking Aristide, Cordelia and Lillian together and the element that sets plans in motion.
But it is not just the characters that Donnelly brings to life, Porachis is vivid and startlingly clear as though it's been conjured from the book. All of the locations in Armistice feel like places you could go and visit and it's somewhat sad to finish the book and realise you can't. The aesthetics of this book are just magnificent, it is ripe for cosplays and bookish candles and all sorts.
Armistice is the lead up to what I imagine will be an explosive finale. It tests the strength of our protagonists, their morals and pits them against old and new evils. Donnelly will weaves a tale so extraordinary it will keep you spellbound even after you've finished the story.
Again, I am not truly sure how to properly write this review in a way that does it justice. I will say this though, Amberlough and Armistice are masterpieces of fiction. If I was only allowed to read one series for the rest of my life it would be the Amberlough Dossier. This isn't always an easy read, after all it concerns a fascist regime and those who are running from it, those who are firmly under its boot and those who are waging rebellion against it, but my god is it good.
This review and more can be found at https://wildheartreads.wordpress.com/
"You've no idea what you've cost me. Not the faintest trace of an understanding."
Three years after the explosive finale of Amberlough, Aristide Makricosta has set himself up as a film director under the arm of Pulan. Cordelia Lehane has been smuggled out of Amberlough after certain activities were bringing her a little too close to the inside of a cell. And Lillian DePaul, is doing what is necessary to keep the son she barely sees safe.
Cordelia and Aristide are some of the only characters we are truly familiar with. Introduced are characters previously only mentioned in passing and some wholly new ones. Armistice shows us different faces of old characters, with hidden sides and secret loyalties. We are no longer in Amberlough City but plunged into Porachis, a country so very unlike Amberlough.
Just as it was with Amberlough, it is the characters that truly bring this book to life. Donnelly writes them so well you can't help but grieve with them, laugh with them and feel their joy. For a character who is not physically present Cyril is, in some ways, the beating heart of Armistice. He is the thread linking Aristide, Cordelia and Lillian together and the element that sets plans in motion.
But it is not just the characters that Donnelly brings to life, Porachis is vivid and startlingly clear as though it's been conjured from the book. All of the locations in Armistice feel like places you could go and visit and it's somewhat sad to finish the book and realise you can't. The aesthetics of this book are just magnificent, it is ripe for cosplays and bookish candles and all sorts.
Armistice is the lead up to what I imagine will be an explosive finale. It tests the strength of our protagonists, their morals and pits them against old and new evils. Donnelly will weaves a tale so extraordinary it will keep you spellbound even after you've finished the story.
Daoud sighed. "You really think that he is still alive?"
"I know that I need to see for myself," said Aristide, staring at the white blots of cold cream on the carpet between his shoes. "Or I will live the rest of my life like a man with a toothache he cannot leave alone, and I will poke at it until it grows into an abscess, bursts, and kills me."
Again, I am not truly sure how to properly write this review in a way that does it justice. I will say this though, Amberlough and Armistice are masterpieces of fiction. If I was only allowed to read one series for the rest of my life it would be the Amberlough Dossier. This isn't always an easy read, after all it concerns a fascist regime and those who are running from it, those who are firmly under its boot and those who are waging rebellion against it, but my god is it good.
This review and more can be found at https://wildheartreads.wordpress.com/
May 29, 2021
"She didn't look forward to peeling back her layers of deception for him. It would be rather more like flaying than it would be a burlesque."
This is such an interesting and fun series, and it's kind of inspired some of my own writing, so I have to give credit to that. I definitely enjoyed the first book more, and I think this one dragged a little. Still, it got us where we needed to be, and I can tell the trilogy is going to finish with a bang.
It had been a while since I read Amberlough so it was a little jarring to get back into this book not remembering much. It's a pretty complicated plot, not necessarily in a bad way, but it did make it difficult to follow when I barely remembered the events of book one. I missed some of the action of the first book, but I really did like the slowly accelerating intrigue and tension, and there was a great payoff by the end.
That final sequence was very well done, and I was genuinely so nervous for all these characters because I needed them to all be alright! I've always enjoyed this world's characters, and it was great to catch up with all of them and watch them deal with the effects of the war. I also loved the addition of the new character, Lillian, and she was actually my favorite character to follow in this book.
One of my initial criticisms of Amberlough was that I thought it followed history a little too closely for a world that's trying to be fantasy, but I think one thing this sequel did well was to flesh out the world dynamics a little more and develop the more unique cultures of neighboring countries. Unfortunately, the map seems to have been carried over from book one and is not at all helpful, but oh well.
I also loved the way foreign languages are discussed in this book, and the realistic linguistic differences and language barriers helped to fill in this world a lot more. This is just a really unusual series that I'd definitely recommend, and I'm now dying to get my hands on Amnesty.
September 17, 2019
A little weaker than Amberlough, mainly due to the fact that I found myself caring little for Lillian's storyline, but still a superb book, with compelling intrigue and masterful writing. Also, Aristide Makricosta is confirmed as one my favorite characters in fiction, ever. Please just read it.
[I've go to say this, though: what's up with all these held breaths? Give these people an inhaler, for the love of God].
[I've go to say this, though: what's up with all these held breaths? Give these people an inhaler, for the love of God].
June 14, 2018
Compared to the first book this was like watching paint dry. I won’t be back, though I do hope there’s good news about Cyril someday...
April 20, 2018
NOTE: Received a copy of this book from NetGalley
I actually finished this almost a month ago but I've been waiting to publish my review as per the publisher's preferences on NetGalley. I wanted to scream at anyone who would listen immediately, though, so I'm quite proud of my restraint.
When I read 'Amberlough' it was one of those reading experiences that I think everybody hopes for when they pick up a new book. I was immediately captivated, I fell in love with every single character, the writing was sublime... and when I finished it I only wanted more. 'Armistice' absolutely delivered as a sequel and made me even more invested in this wonderful universe.
(I'm not sure what technically counts as a spoiler? But I'll be discussing some vague plot events below, so just be cautious if you want to go in completely blind.)
First of all, Cordelia was already an incredible character but she really comes into her own in this book. Now on the run/in hiding after her role in the revolution back in Amberlough, she always seems to be on the verge of just cutting her losses and taking off to save her own skin. But she goes through a number of situations where, in the end, helping other people or "doing the right thing" pulls her back in.
Then there's Aristide... my darling! My favourite character from the first book and still my fave after this one. He's taken refuge in Porachis (which oh my GOD sounds so lush and beautiful and so completely different from Amberlough but also you can see them existing in the same world and it's brilliant) working with a film director, Pulan, and attempting (in vain) to leave his old life behind. He's taken up with Daoud, a new character, and I hesitate to call it a true relationship because Aristide is still very obviously hung up on Cyril, who may or may not be alive.
'Daoud sighed. "You really think that he is still alive?"
"I know that I need to see for myself," said Aristide, staring at the white blots of cold cream on the carpet between his shoes. "Or I will live the rest of my life like a man with a toothache he cannot leave alone, and I will poke at it until it grows into an abscess, bursts, and kills me."'
/SOBS. I had to stop to literally clutch my chest when I read that. Oof.
And then speaking of Cyril, we get introduced to his sister, Lillian, who I immediately pictured as Rosamund Pike. She has this icy beauty about her, although she isn't completely cold and one-dimensional. Her son, Stephen, has been placed at a prestigious boarding school out of her reach until she can trade information for his release.
The story flips between Cordelia, Aristide, and Lillian and how they're all struggling to survive in this world that has been turned upside down by the Ospies. As with the first book it's chock full of intrigue and spying and double-crossing, and it's all set against this luscious backdrop of a world that feels so authentic and real. I really can't say enough good things about this book and this series as a whole. Without spoiling anything, the story sets up PERFECTLY for the next book and I'll just be here... waiting... impatiently... for that to arrive.
I actually finished this almost a month ago but I've been waiting to publish my review as per the publisher's preferences on NetGalley. I wanted to scream at anyone who would listen immediately, though, so I'm quite proud of my restraint.
When I read 'Amberlough' it was one of those reading experiences that I think everybody hopes for when they pick up a new book. I was immediately captivated, I fell in love with every single character, the writing was sublime... and when I finished it I only wanted more. 'Armistice' absolutely delivered as a sequel and made me even more invested in this wonderful universe.
(I'm not sure what technically counts as a spoiler? But I'll be discussing some vague plot events below, so just be cautious if you want to go in completely blind.)
First of all, Cordelia was already an incredible character but she really comes into her own in this book. Now on the run/in hiding after her role in the revolution back in Amberlough, she always seems to be on the verge of just cutting her losses and taking off to save her own skin. But she goes through a number of situations where, in the end, helping other people or "doing the right thing" pulls her back in.
Then there's Aristide... my darling! My favourite character from the first book and still my fave after this one. He's taken refuge in Porachis (which oh my GOD sounds so lush and beautiful and so completely different from Amberlough but also you can see them existing in the same world and it's brilliant) working with a film director, Pulan, and attempting (in vain) to leave his old life behind. He's taken up with Daoud, a new character, and I hesitate to call it a true relationship because Aristide is still very obviously hung up on Cyril, who may or may not be alive.
'Daoud sighed. "You really think that he is still alive?"
"I know that I need to see for myself," said Aristide, staring at the white blots of cold cream on the carpet between his shoes. "Or I will live the rest of my life like a man with a toothache he cannot leave alone, and I will poke at it until it grows into an abscess, bursts, and kills me."'
/SOBS. I had to stop to literally clutch my chest when I read that. Oof.
And then speaking of Cyril, we get introduced to his sister, Lillian, who I immediately pictured as Rosamund Pike. She has this icy beauty about her, although she isn't completely cold and one-dimensional. Her son, Stephen, has been placed at a prestigious boarding school out of her reach until she can trade information for his release.
The story flips between Cordelia, Aristide, and Lillian and how they're all struggling to survive in this world that has been turned upside down by the Ospies. As with the first book it's chock full of intrigue and spying and double-crossing, and it's all set against this luscious backdrop of a world that feels so authentic and real. I really can't say enough good things about this book and this series as a whole. Without spoiling anything, the story sets up PERFECTLY for the next book and I'll just be here... waiting... impatiently... for that to arrive.
May 2, 2018
Some great character work here, and a really interesting world with lots of delicious intrigue.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
May 6, 2018
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! And trust me, all these words are coming straight from the heart. This is like, some of the best fiction happening in speculative and LGBT+ fiction right now. Amberlough was one of the best reads in fantasy of 2017, and this is just as damn good.
This follows on a few years after Amberlough, but set in a neighbouring country, Porachis. We're reintroduced to Cordelia and Aristide, changed from the years of oppression by the Ospies - Cordelia now a revolutionary leader, Aristide a high-profile refugee/film director. We're also joined by Lillian DePaul, Cyril's sister and press attache for the Geddan embassy in Porachis - very much a part of the OSP regime as she is being crushed by it. The plot that ensues is the three of these players drawn to each other as scandals unfurl and secrets are unearthed, all in the way of undermining the regime
This plot is beyond excellent. Where Amberlough was the excruciating descent into oppression and conflict, this is deep in scheming and subterfuge, our protagonists desperately trying to dig out what has become entrenched, all while constantly wondering who to trust, and how much. The pacing is so tight, the novel is constantly exciting and compelling. It's not as fraught and explosive as Amberlough, it's the second-book-in-a-trilogy in that way, but it's just as tense and achingly emotional - maybe even more so. Much of the emotional crux of the novel still rides on the relationship between Aristide and Cyril, and it was so damn satisfying to see a queer relationship that important to the narrative. Donnelly is able to give just as much time and importance to the world and the characters, who are still so heartbreakingly wonderful.
The worldbuilding is still fantastic - Porachis read to me as an Indo-Arab influenced country, and it absolutely came to life for me. I used to live in an Arab country with a very high South Asian population, so I could vividly recall my own memories just from the descriptions of the streets, the weather, the food and the restaurants. It was such a vibrant, refreshing location for a thriller/spec-fic/historical novel like this one, and I loved it. It had its own distinct societal norms and mores that influenced characters' actions and thoughts, its own political system, its own cultural, including a thriving film industry that was so old Hollywood and Bollywood in one - such a great mirror to hold against the now-changed Gedda of the first book.
And oh, the characters are just still the absolute highlight, which is a pretty amazing thing to say in a book where everything is done so well. I loved the addition of Lillian, another fantastic female protagonist, just as flawed and thorny as the rest but still so complex and sympathetic - because like so many others in the cast, the ferocity in her to protect what she loves just lights her character up like a spotlight (;) hehe). You could see how she and Cyril were raised the same, the similarities between them as siblings, but how their lives took them completely different directions. The new cast in Porachis were great, too - Pulan, Daoud, Prince Asiyah, and oh Jinadh, whom I loved so very very much. You know it's a good book when I find the het relationship sexy as hell, and Lillian and Jinadh's chemistry was amazing.
Memmediv is back, and his character is explored further from the shadowy figure we saw through Cyril's perspective, and Sofie Keeler and her family is back in the mix, too, always great to see. The rest of our returning cast? So, so superb. The way Cordelia and Ari had grown since the last books was so interesting to read - seemingly in entirely opposite directions, with Cordelia becoming key to the Geddan resistance and Ari trying as hard as he can to ignore the situation in Gedda entirely. I still love that these people in particular have been chosen as the series' protagonists, the ones who drive the action - the 'freaks' and misfits of society. They were just as fantastic to read about as in the first book, both so much damn fun but their stories so damn heartaching, I love them so much.
And what I loved most was being able to see what all our protagonists, including Cyril of the last book, look through each others' eyes. Cordelia's descriptions of Ari still kill me, I love their friendship, and the bond between Ari and Lillian from the start of the novel continued to be such a great, raw, aching emotional point, so amazing to read. Donnelly didn't skimp anywhere on drawing out the most painful emotional conflicts and moments, which is exactly what I love to read in my fiction about anything else. This novel very much focused on grief and loss, and anger and injustice, and how this can drive people to act, to just keep going even when you're so tired. It's something that we can really take to heart in this political climate, so canny.
I'm so, so, so damn excited to see how the rest of the series plays out, and what Donnelly will publish in the future, because she is so talented and writes everything I want how I want it, I feel spoiled just by reading one of her books.
This follows on a few years after Amberlough, but set in a neighbouring country, Porachis. We're reintroduced to Cordelia and Aristide, changed from the years of oppression by the Ospies - Cordelia now a revolutionary leader, Aristide a high-profile refugee/film director. We're also joined by Lillian DePaul, Cyril's sister and press attache for the Geddan embassy in Porachis - very much a part of the OSP regime as she is being crushed by it. The plot that ensues is the three of these players drawn to each other as scandals unfurl and secrets are unearthed, all in the way of undermining the regime
This plot is beyond excellent. Where Amberlough was the excruciating descent into oppression and conflict, this is deep in scheming and subterfuge, our protagonists desperately trying to dig out what has become entrenched, all while constantly wondering who to trust, and how much. The pacing is so tight, the novel is constantly exciting and compelling. It's not as fraught and explosive as Amberlough, it's the second-book-in-a-trilogy in that way, but it's just as tense and achingly emotional - maybe even more so. Much of the emotional crux of the novel still rides on the relationship between Aristide and Cyril, and it was so damn satisfying to see a queer relationship that important to the narrative. Donnelly is able to give just as much time and importance to the world and the characters, who are still so heartbreakingly wonderful.
The worldbuilding is still fantastic - Porachis read to me as an Indo-Arab influenced country, and it absolutely came to life for me. I used to live in an Arab country with a very high South Asian population, so I could vividly recall my own memories just from the descriptions of the streets, the weather, the food and the restaurants. It was such a vibrant, refreshing location for a thriller/spec-fic/historical novel like this one, and I loved it. It had its own distinct societal norms and mores that influenced characters' actions and thoughts, its own political system, its own cultural, including a thriving film industry that was so old Hollywood and Bollywood in one - such a great mirror to hold against the now-changed Gedda of the first book.
And oh, the characters are just still the absolute highlight, which is a pretty amazing thing to say in a book where everything is done so well. I loved the addition of Lillian, another fantastic female protagonist, just as flawed and thorny as the rest but still so complex and sympathetic - because like so many others in the cast, the ferocity in her to protect what she loves just lights her character up like a spotlight (;) hehe). You could see how she and Cyril were raised the same, the similarities between them as siblings, but how their lives took them completely different directions. The new cast in Porachis were great, too - Pulan, Daoud, Prince Asiyah, and oh Jinadh, whom I loved so very very much. You know it's a good book when I find the het relationship sexy as hell, and Lillian and Jinadh's chemistry was amazing.
Memmediv is back, and his character is explored further from the shadowy figure we saw through Cyril's perspective, and Sofie Keeler and her family is back in the mix, too, always great to see. The rest of our returning cast? So, so superb. The way Cordelia and Ari had grown since the last books was so interesting to read - seemingly in entirely opposite directions, with Cordelia becoming key to the Geddan resistance and Ari trying as hard as he can to ignore the situation in Gedda entirely. I still love that these people in particular have been chosen as the series' protagonists, the ones who drive the action - the 'freaks' and misfits of society. They were just as fantastic to read about as in the first book, both so much damn fun but their stories so damn heartaching, I love them so much.
And what I loved most was being able to see what all our protagonists, including Cyril of the last book, look through each others' eyes. Cordelia's descriptions of Ari still kill me, I love their friendship, and the bond between Ari and Lillian from the start of the novel continued to be such a great, raw, aching emotional point, so amazing to read. Donnelly didn't skimp anywhere on drawing out the most painful emotional conflicts and moments, which is exactly what I love to read in my fiction about anything else. This novel very much focused on grief and loss, and anger and injustice, and how this can drive people to act, to just keep going even when you're so tired. It's something that we can really take to heart in this political climate, so canny.
I'm so, so, so damn excited to see how the rest of the series plays out, and what Donnelly will publish in the future, because she is so talented and writes everything I want how I want it, I feel spoiled just by reading one of her books.
January 6, 2021
First book read in 2021.
Still, I'm not sure to have understood all the events in this novel. However, I like this one too, more or less for the same reasons I like the first one. In my opinion it is less dynamic and lively than Amberlough, but again, I've enjoyed it. I'm ready for the last one.
Still, I'm not sure to have understood all the events in this novel. However, I like this one too, more or less for the same reasons I like the first one. In my opinion it is less dynamic and lively than Amberlough, but again, I've enjoyed it. I'm ready for the last one.
April 22, 2022
Excellent continuation to Amberlough. I’m still anxious about the fate of one particular character - I can’t believe I didn’t find out in this book - so I hope in the next book we finally find out, UGH.
Enjoyed it lots. I love all the characters (even the shitty people). This one felt less political than Amberlough, possibly because it’s three years later and the perspective has shifted a bit. Political stuff is still happening but differently.
Enjoyed it lots. I love all the characters (even the shitty people). This one felt less political than Amberlough, possibly because it’s three years later and the perspective has shifted a bit. Political stuff is still happening but differently.
January 26, 2019
Oh man I am a SUCKER for angst and pining and boy oh boy did Lara Elena Donnelly deliver. While Amberlough was more plot-oriented with its heavy politics, jumps to different locations and betrayals, Armistice sways further towards the emotional spectrum, which is perfect for me. Technically, this book wasn’t as strong as the first, BUT I enjoyed it more than I did Amberlough because by the end of that book, I was so invested in Aristide, that I was salivating for a chance to really get into his head, which is what a good chunk of Armistice revolves around. I know this is cliche to say, so much so that it’s almost physically painful for me to type it, but I couldn’t put this book down.
Were all the reminders of past events from Amberlough necessary? Not really, but it added to the drama of it all, which again, I had too much fun with.
The atmosphere? Amazing. I could feel the humidity and see the shades of bright, leafy palms darkening the room.
Just get a little taste of Donelly’s rich descriptions:
“...A big gallon of a glass that rested in her palm, fragile as a soap bubble, the bottom holding just a swallow of some golden, syrupy stuff. It gave a whiff of fruit - apricots, maybe - and it was so strong it crisped the inside of her nose when she inhaled.”
“Soft grey crept through the clouds from the eastern sky, over the house and towards the western horizon, striped with tentative fingers of gold and pink. The water lay untouched by light, dark and heavy as wet velvet.”
The characters? Fantastic. Kick-ass women, men with real feelings? LGBTQ+ characters who are more than just a gimmick? I want more. The only thing that felt off, was Cordelia’s emotional ties which were almost shallowly dealt with, especially considering her loss - which is overshadowed by Ari’s as it isn’t given as deep an exploration, yet is very similar...but maybe Amnesty will take the reigns on that.
I’m surprised this series isn’t more popular considering its Fitzgerald meets Wilde meets Bardugo style, but it is very Adult, and the political language can get a little sticky to wade through, so I can see why marketing it could be tricky. If you like classic spy thrillers and the Great Gatsby (but gayer) vibes, then please try out this series!
Lara Elena Donnelly is going to be a force in a few years. As soon as she gets a solid hold on plot vs introspection, she’ll be un-stoppable. This is probably one of the most polished series I’ve ever read written by a new author. Sometimes Donnelly’s prose is a little awkward, but glowing hints of what she’s really capable of underly everything.
Were all the reminders of past events from Amberlough necessary? Not really, but it added to the drama of it all, which again, I had too much fun with.
The atmosphere? Amazing. I could feel the humidity and see the shades of bright, leafy palms darkening the room.
Just get a little taste of Donelly’s rich descriptions:
“...A big gallon of a glass that rested in her palm, fragile as a soap bubble, the bottom holding just a swallow of some golden, syrupy stuff. It gave a whiff of fruit - apricots, maybe - and it was so strong it crisped the inside of her nose when she inhaled.”
“Soft grey crept through the clouds from the eastern sky, over the house and towards the western horizon, striped with tentative fingers of gold and pink. The water lay untouched by light, dark and heavy as wet velvet.”
The characters? Fantastic. Kick-ass women, men with real feelings? LGBTQ+ characters who are more than just a gimmick? I want more. The only thing that felt off, was Cordelia’s emotional ties which were almost shallowly dealt with, especially considering her loss - which is overshadowed by Ari’s as it isn’t given as deep an exploration, yet is very similar...but maybe Amnesty will take the reigns on that.
I’m surprised this series isn’t more popular considering its Fitzgerald meets Wilde meets Bardugo style, but it is very Adult, and the political language can get a little sticky to wade through, so I can see why marketing it could be tricky. If you like classic spy thrillers and the Great Gatsby (but gayer) vibes, then please try out this series!
Lara Elena Donnelly is going to be a force in a few years. As soon as she gets a solid hold on plot vs introspection, she’ll be un-stoppable. This is probably one of the most polished series I’ve ever read written by a new author. Sometimes Donnelly’s prose is a little awkward, but glowing hints of what she’s really capable of underly everything.
March 19, 2022
If he loved someone, he would lay down across a track for them, with the train oncoming. And he fell in love too easily: with causes, countries, people.
Loving Amberlough as much as I do (it's one of my very few five-star ratings), I was terrified of being disappointed in this second installment; and I actually was, but not as much as I feared.
If Amberlough felt like watching a slow-motion train wreck, Armistice was more of an extremely slow yet anxiety-packed filler and it had a very different atmosphere about it.
Between the many new places and characters introduced, the pacing that seriously dragged around the middle of the book and the lack of exciting plot-twists, I didn't manage to get consistently invested in the story (but I would still die for Cordelia Lehane and Aristide Makricosta, no questions asked), even though the writing was stellar.
If I'm being honest, I'd be hard-pressed to explain exactly what went down for almost a third of the book... I think Lara Elena Donnelly truly lost me when Lillian pretended to turn then turned for real, and I finally caught up on the plot when they all met at Pulan's place to put their plan in motion.
Nevertheless, I'm very excited for book three and I'm expecting my blood pressure to be through the roof.
Loving Amberlough as much as I do (it's one of my very few five-star ratings), I was terrified of being disappointed in this second installment; and I actually was, but not as much as I feared.
If Amberlough felt like watching a slow-motion train wreck, Armistice was more of an extremely slow yet anxiety-packed filler and it had a very different atmosphere about it.
Everything was clearer now, the edges and subtleties defined; as if cataracts had been cut from his eyes. He’d rendered himself blind through force of will, and hadn’t realized how the charade exhausted him until he began to see again.
Between the many new places and characters introduced, the pacing that seriously dragged around the middle of the book and the lack of exciting plot-twists, I didn't manage to get consistently invested in the story (but I would still die for Cordelia Lehane and Aristide Makricosta, no questions asked), even though the writing was stellar.
She knew, from his pause, from his bitterness. “I ain’t. You wanted to get out with him, didn’t you?”
When he spoke, every last ounce of pride was gone from his voice. No angry northern burr, but no Central City, either. “I tried,” he said, and the words were empty and aching.
If I'm being honest, I'd be hard-pressed to explain exactly what went down for almost a third of the book... I think Lara Elena Donnelly truly lost me when Lillian pretended to turn then turned for real, and I finally caught up on the plot when they all met at Pulan's place to put their plan in motion.
Nevertheless, I'm very excited for book three and I'm expecting my blood pressure to be through the roof.
There was something in her bearing, on the verge of departure, that had been absent from it thus far. A lift to her spine, an angle to her shot-away chin. In profile, she looked a little like the airplane: small and scrappy, nose pointed to the sky. Like she might take off and defy all expectations of physics, logic, common sense.
June 5, 2018
Armistice picks up three years after Amberlough left off, and things have changed drastically. Aristide Makricosta has left his crime lord days behind and carved out a comfy niche for himself as a film director in the India-inspired country of Porachis. His celebrity status has kept him safe from the retribution of the fascist Ospies, but all the fame and glamor in the world won't heal his broken heart. Former caberet stripper Cordelia Lehane has become a prominent revolutionary—or terrorist, depending on which view you take. Though hardly more than a thorn in the Ospies' side, the railroad bombings she orchestrated have given hope to the resistance. Unfortunately, they have also made her a prime target and Cordelia must be smuggled out of the country to lay low for a while. Cyril DePaul, Aristide's lover and the double agent the Ospies used to leverage themselves into power, has been presumed dead for the past three years. Instead, we get a new point-of-view character: Cyril's sister. Lillian DePaul finds herself reluctantly representing the Ospies as the press attaché for the Geddan embassy. Though her job is ostensibly just to smooth things over with the press, her boss ropes her into doing a bit of espionage on the side, using her young son as leverage. Though these three characters start off the book with completely different goals, they soon find themselves joining forces in a precarious scheme to topple the Ospie regime.
See my full review on TheGothicLibrary.com after 6/11
See my full review on TheGothicLibrary.com after 6/11
November 12, 2018
I grabbed this from the shelf at the library due to the awesomely stylish cover... I didn't realize it was a sequel until a got home.
Still, I'm a smart guy that has read lots of books, I'd catch on. Nope.
I feel like this could be a excellent book, but I just couldn't get into it. The writer has style, and the characters seem like they could be interesting, but it was definitely written assuming you had not only read buy absorbed the first book.. no hints at all at much of anything.
That wasn't what really made me not be able to finish it, though... it was the lack of context. I feel like it would have been easy to set this in, say, Cold War era Czecholslovakia... or 70s Cuba.. or make up a clear analogue. Instead you get this generic world that has no obvious analog, no fantasy elements to make it need to exist, and not a lot of global setting. Perhaps some of that was in the first book, but it felt lazy to me.. do your research and make it legit historical fiction... or use a analogue if you have something to say but don't want to offend, but just mixing random bits in felt wrong.
I don't think this is a bad book, it's just not for me. (For those curious, I got to about page 150 before giving up)
Still, I'm a smart guy that has read lots of books, I'd catch on. Nope.
I feel like this could be a excellent book, but I just couldn't get into it. The writer has style, and the characters seem like they could be interesting, but it was definitely written assuming you had not only read buy absorbed the first book.. no hints at all at much of anything.
That wasn't what really made me not be able to finish it, though... it was the lack of context. I feel like it would have been easy to set this in, say, Cold War era Czecholslovakia... or 70s Cuba.. or make up a clear analogue. Instead you get this generic world that has no obvious analog, no fantasy elements to make it need to exist, and not a lot of global setting. Perhaps some of that was in the first book, but it felt lazy to me.. do your research and make it legit historical fiction... or use a analogue if you have something to say but don't want to offend, but just mixing random bits in felt wrong.
I don't think this is a bad book, it's just not for me. (For those curious, I got to about page 150 before giving up)
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