Councilor

The Grand Illusion #2

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., bestselling author of Saga of Recluce and the Imager Portfolio, continues his brand new, gaslamp, political fantasy series with Councilor the thrilling sequel to Isolate. Welcome to the Grand Illusion.

Continued poor harvests and steam-powered industrialization displace and impoverish thousands. Protests grow and gather followers.

Against this rising tide of social unrest, Steffan Dekkard, newly appointed to the Council of Sixty-Six, is the first Councilor who is an Isolate, a man invulnerable to the emotional manipulations and emotional surveillance of empaths.

This makes him dangerous.

As unknown entities seek to assassinate him, Dekkard struggles to master political intrigue and infighting, while introducing radical reforms that threaten entrenched political and corporate interests.

The Grand Illusion
Isolate
Councilor
Contrarian

Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Steampunk, Science Fiction, Politics, Dystopia, Urban Fantasy

528 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.

He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I don't think this is a series for everyone. For starters it's fairly slow, having a very politically driven plot. Its large cast of characters can be hard to keep track of as many characters have brief appearances and only appear to move the plot along. There aren't many side characters and the few that exist are not really developed at all. In fact, even the main characters are fairly flat.

I could see how Modesitt's constant description of every meal each character has at all times of the day could become tedious for some readers. Even one of the main characters from the first book took a significantly less prominent role in this novel than the first.

So what is it about this book that I enjoyed so much to give it four stars? I have no idea. The politics and the political machinations sucked me in I guess. Modesitt does this with masterful skill. His writing is experienced and engaging. The politics were enough to keep me reading what I would consider a rather wordy book. But I really enjoyed it. So would I recommend this series?

Yes but... get if from the library before you buy it. There is a good chance it may not work for you.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaslight fantasy slowly comes to the boil!

Reread October 2023

The rogue Security Ministry agents are being brought under control. Steffan has drafted new laws towards this end, not that all measures make it through the Council unaltered. A fact that will be regretted.
The New Meritorists are continuing to making demands. Steffan is worried. He has a new aide, Nincya Garroll, not quite an empath but someone who can sense areas of trouble, sense people.
I love the way Modesitt imbibes his main characters with a sense of thoughtfulness, of care for each other.

One man stands against the tide. Modesitt nails it as far as I can see. Modesitt’s voice is recognisable. As steam powered machinery displaces personnel, social unrest is not very far away. The tone and the belief that things can get better despite the way things are flies in the face of the ‘what is.’ Corporations are busy gathering power. Self-interest is evident.
Stefan Dekkard and Avraal Ysella are now married and living with Avraal’s sister, Emrelda, a District Patroller, whose husband has gone missing, presumed dead.
“It’s been a long time, if ever, since the council has had an isolate councilor married to a powerful empath from a regal lineage, both of whom are experienced security aides.” People are nervous!
Dekkard, Avraal and Emrelsa go about their business in a regulated way. They have systems that help. The three don’t imbibe to freely. They have breakfast and when possible, dinner together either at home or more infrequently out. They are not lavish. The food is a central part of Modesitt’s novels; the coming together over a meal, the catchup on moments of the day. This says something about the author, this attention to detail.
And always we’re on edge, waiting for that moment when a simple person being on the street is more than that, where a vehicle might be out of place.
Dekkard, now a Councilor, has been given the task of drafting policy to reorganize the Security Ministry—an agency thats grown in power with little or no overriding authority. Deckkard makes changes in that process, but not quickly enough. Always we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.
By grounding his story in a world where some people are Isolates and Empaths, we have a situation that fluctuates and yet calls for stability.
I found the exercising of steps to uncover who is answerable to whom slowing to a crawl except where it isn’t. Each “brick in the wall” uncovered is another minute move forward. Where have the unaccounted explosives, the dunnite, has gone and who is controlling the movement of assets? As Dekkard moves forward things happen. He’s like a dog with a bone, small moves that flush the aggressor out, never good for those around him, but necessary.
This slow inexorable march forward, of changes coming, is attractive. To stand still will not work. Change is the only way, but that change needs the will to stand against corrupt multinationals in an ordered way. Once again “order” raises its head.
I am puzzled by the book that Ingella Obreduur, Legaist and wife of Axel Obreduur has lent Dekkard and Avraal. I know it has purpose but just what it is I still have to get my head around. (There have been other series where a book has an important part.)
I am glued to Modesitt’s processes. When I came to the ending I immediately wanted more. I thirst for what Dekkard’s actions uncover, even as I mourn the loss of good people. I’m hooked!

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

[Chloe Frizzle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is bureaucratically banal. When the blurb says, "political," it's being truthful. When the blurb says, "thrilling," it is lying.

In this book, Dekkard (a newlywed) has just been forced into being a senator. In this position, he must attend meetings and prepare legal documents. At home, he eats croissants and practices his knife throwing. There are occasional scenes where the villains attack and people die. Then there are more meetings.

I think there are people who will enjoy this book. But you must know what you are getting yourself into, and make an informed decision. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed book 1.

Here is the thing I liked about this book: the repetition of a breakfast ritual. Every morning, our characters eat the same things and discuss the newspaper. Every Morning. But by the end of the book, I felt like it was my ritual, too. It was like watching the theme song of a tv show and knowing all of the words.

AUDIOBOOK: The narrator fits Dekkard's voice wonderfully. His measured delivery fits the tone of the book, without being so measured to put you to sleep. If you enjoy audiobooks, this is a great way to consume this story.

A video review including this book will appear on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/chloefrizzle

Thanks to Tor Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Councilor, the follow-up to last year's top novel Isolate (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) was arguably the most expected book of the year for me and it delivered everything I wanted and more.

Starting where Isolate ends and finishing at a good TBC point, Councillor continues the combination of intrigue, politics, action, and romance in a fairly modern fantasy world with subtle "magic"; Steffan Dekkard, Isolate bodyguard and apprentice politician to Craft party leader (and now premier after 60+ years of more or less uninterrupted commercer rule) Axel Obreduur, has been unexpectedly chosen to be a Councillor from a district he visited with Axel and where he made an extremely good impression with the local Craft leaders, and especially with the prickly Guildmistress Gretna Haarl for his dedication to women's rights, so after the two main Craft rival leaders there die unexpectedly, one after announcing his candidacy and the second after being elected, Steffan becomes a compromise nominee who of course, the premier-elect cannot reject for someone else he may prefer more.

This leads to complications in his private life, as his romance and sort of engagement with his partner, Avraal, empath, and daughter of an aristocratic family who rejected the lifestyle of landed nobility women (marry, have children and take care of the estate) for an independent life in the capital, meant that she cannot continue to work with him or for the Council under the usual anti-fraternization rules (and as an empath who can read and influence people her career choices are limited to essentially being an aide as she is legally barred from any leadership position), so Steffan proposes sooner than he expected and they get married, go to live with Avraal sister (a patrol officer - policewoman who also rejected the aristocratic lifestyle), while Avraal becomes Steffan's unofficial empath bodyguard and starts working for Carlos Bartol, businessman, and craft party operative, unoficially in charge of countering Security's moves against the party as Security has become an arm of the commercers and is mostly ocupied in trying to disgrace any influent Craft politician or guildmaster that dares to oppose commercer abuse, rather than protecting the state.

Usually a junior Councillor and one not elected in his own but nominated after the death of an elected Councilor is expected to be quiet, deferential, show up for work, and vote for the party, but Steffan has his own strong opinions about the grave problems that confront Guldor and led to the unexpected collapse of commercer rule, so with Axel's blessing he actually starts making waves by introducing a bill to reform Security, take away their weapons used to kill unarmed demonstrators and put some under the army (Steffan, as we recall, is a military academy top ten graduate) and some under strict civil jurisdiction, etc, and while this kind of bill is popular with most Councilors and the public opinion after the Security initiated bloodbaths of recent times, it paints a big target on his back as the agents and their corrupt commercer paymasters do not like it in the least. And of course being a Councilor rather than a bodyguard limits what Steffan can do to defend himself directly...

But being the party in power has its perks too, so now the murderous agents and their leaders can face real consequences if they act directly as the Council has subpoena power and can investigate any such, so various ministers and high ranking Security officials finally start facing the consequences of their past illegal actions and it becomes a matter of will their power be broken first or will they succeed to murder Steffan and terrify the Council in stopping investigations, punishments, and demotions...

And of course, there is the wild card of the revolutionary New Meritorists who want Security broken but also want the Council to change its rules in ways that Steffan thinks will lead to the downfall of Guldor and who somehow mysteriously have transformed from a "talk and manifestos" organization led mostly by academics and idealistic students a few years back, to a fully-fledged terrorist organization with powerful weapons, tons of explosives that nobody in power knows (or wants to know) how they acquired except of course Steffan and Avraal, as not even Axel is interested in pursuing that angle for political reasons.

In addition, Steffan has not forgotten his women's rights proposals and that is a cause that the men dominated Council (there are a couple of wealthy commercer women councilors - one who has been taking a shine to Steffan from a while ago, with of course Avraal not quite liking that, less than a handful from the Craft party and none from the Landor aristocratic party) doesn't really want to deal with, so it's always "Steffan, that is a good idea, but now is not the right time" kind of thing...

And so it goes with all the things expected, subtle and not so subtle intrigue, assassination attempts, murders, power plays, romance, etc

The top fantasy of the year and highly, highly recommended but of course, one should start with Isolate

[Yev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't possibly recommend reading this book unless you enjoyed the first and are predisposed to enjoying this sort of narrative. These are definitely for a niche interest. There's almost certainly nothing else that I've read that's simultaneously so banal and dull, yet intriguing and interesting. The primary way I enjoy is it through what it makes me think about, so if that's not of interest, then you really ought to not read this series. I admit that I'm somewhat baffled as to why I've enjoyed it as much as I have.

Steffan Dekkard, the protagonist, is now a councilor, which is basically a national legislator. Literally almost the entire book is just him going back and forth to work. There's no traveling like in the first. This is just hardcore bureaucratic process and daily life. In some ways there's an inexorable crawling madness to its repetition. I don't think I could read a long series like this, but according to the author this series, or this part of it at least, will be a trilogy. In an interview he said there was a slight chance of their being a fourth book.

There are three major political concerns that Dekkard engages with. The foremost is the reform of the Security Bureau because recently it's had a tendency to wantonly massacre protestors, which doesn't cause as much social unrest as you'd think. Secondly is improving the working conditions of laborers, because they're often wretched at best. Lastly is to expand the rights of women to where they are equals with men, especially in terms of pay. The latter is by far the most difficult and the one which he makes the least progress towards. The overriding significant practical concern is that he's under constant threat of assassination, though many government officials are, but especially him, but despite that he takes it relatively in stride, as does the government in general. Considering how unprecedented everything is said to be I thought there would be more of a response.

As a character Dekkard remains mostly opaque with regards to the specific reasons why he votes as he does, so much has to be inferred. This makes sense in a way since he's an Isolate which means no one can read his emotions, but it's also frustrating. Overall, relative to the context of his society, though not to our world, I'd call him a Progressive Conservative. A US example of this would be President Theodore Roosevelt, though various UK politicians identify as such as well, and there are a few other similar European politicians. As Roosevelt stated that he had "always believed that wise progressivism and wise conservatism go hand in hand." Dekkard has no interest in revolution or reaction, or anything smacking of populism, but rather wants to conserve the country's founding ideals while also gradually and cautiously improving the quality of life for everyone. That isn't something I see often in what I read.

[Thomas Wagner | SFF180 · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Strong 3½.] In the perilous world of politics, winning elections is only the first step. And winning doesn’t guarantee that change will come easily, or at all, as those who are used to wielding power are not exactly eager to relinquish it. This is the reality faced by the characters in Councilor, L. E. Modesitt’s equally strong sequel to Isolate, set in a steam-driven secondary world of emotion-channeling empaths, riots, assassins, and seemingly endless paperwork. Running a nation involves a whole lot of procedural tedium punctuated by bursts of complete chaos, and it’s up to those leaders who still have a shred of integrity to hold everything together.

Modesitt has been fascinated by politics all through his career, but the Grand Illusion trilogy puts his focus on the legislative process front and center. There’s nothing here to suggest that Modesitt is using these novels to comment directly on American politics in the post-Trump era. In fact, what’s notable about the Council of Sixty-Six that governs the nation of Guldor is that, unlike the United States, the Guldorans don’t seem to have a habit of filling their legislative bodies with fringe lunatics. But it’s easy to see which parts of the story are rooted in keenly observed political realities. But while the Guldoran ruling classes respect parliamentary norms and election outcomes, that only lasts up to a point, and there are as many political assassination attempts — an alarming number of them successful — as in Putin’s Russia. Modesitt enjoys dramatizing the ways in which politics can make a nation’s problems both better and worse. It is the necessary illusion that keeps everything from falling down — until it doesn’t.

[The rest of the review includes some spoilers for Isolate. Finish reading it here.]

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the world and the characters but the book is just to slow moving. Lots of repetition when showing the day to day lives although you do get lots of important small details.

Once i go the rhythm of the book it went by fairly quickly.

Still recommend it but know what you are getting in.

Cheers.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

The Grand Illusion of the series title seems to revolve around the illusion that political action can “fix” things, whether what needs fixing is a country or a system or a person’s circumstances. Even, in a peculiar way, the weather. Or at least the effects of that weather.

This second book in the series, after last year’s marvelous Isolate, continues to follow Stefan Dekkard on his journey from being a political outsider, merely a security aide to one of the 66 councilors of Guldor, to his new position as a councilor in his own right. In other words, Stefan has gone from being an observer of the process – albeit an active and sometimes intimate one – to someone who is part of how the sausage gets made.

There’s a reason why politics is such a dirty business that no one REALLY wants to learn the truth of the process. Which doesn’t mean that some people don’t have to – and that some people don’t enjoy manipulating that process as much as they are able.

The setup of Guldor as a country, and its government, is a fascinating one. The setting is gaslamp fantasy, so they have steam power and electric power, they can make some unfortunately high-powered military ordinance. They are also in the middle, maybe a bit later than that, into the throes of their Industrial Revolution. Meaning that there is a lot of change and a lot of damage as a result of that change. Land and farming don’t convey the power that they used to. Large commercial interests have large amounts of money and therefor large amounts of influence. Small businesses and artisan business are on the rise but have not yet caught up in the power games being played.

If one thinks of the Guldorian political parties; Landor, Commerce and Craft, as being (very) roughly analogous to the British Tories, Liberals and Labour parties respectively, that’s probably not TOO far off.

Stories that take place in times of great upheaval are always interesting, because there are so many opportunities to go both right and wrong and so many people lining up to push in one direction or another. Guldor is at such a crossroads. The Landor (traditional) party has lost some of its sway but still thinks they could get back to their “good old days”.

The Commerce party has been the ruling party for 30 years, and have gotten so used to being on the top of the heap that they seem to have stopped bothering to cover up their abuses of power. To the point where the monarch of this constitution monarchy was forced to call for new elections – and to the point where voters were so fed up that they were willing to make a radical choice and vote in a Craft Party administration.

A circumstance that the Commerce Party doesn’t merely want but absolutely NEEDS to discredit and outright reverse by ANY means necessary. Not merely the quiet assassinations of Craft Party councilors that has been going on for YEARS at this point, but outright terrorism and revolution.

After all, they have an existing scapegoat for all their actions in the subversive Meritorist movement. Or, perhaps, and much more likely, they created one for just such a potentiality. So far, it’s been working out well for them, even if badly for everyone else.

And the entire situation is about to get a whole lot worse.

Escape Rating A: Just as with the first book in the series, Isolate, the story in Councilor is a story about politics that is told through people. Stefan Dekkard is, on the one hand, a bit of an everyman, and on the other a very singular individual with a specific set of skills, strengths and weaknesses. He is very good at observing the world around him, reaching synthesis of disparate and often contrary bits of information and then swiftly acting on his conclusions. He’s also damn good at keeping himself alive in a situation where, maybe not everyone, but certainly entirely too many people really are out to get him.

At the same time, he’s been an actual Crafter, he attended the military academy and has been a security guard to an active councilor. He’s also an isolate, think psi-null, in a society where nearly everyone can be read by elite psi-users who can both read and influence everyone except Stefan and the relatively rare others like him.

We’re following him and his career because Stefan is always an outsider in his own society and can observe without being psychically influenced or read by anyone who might want to probe his secrets or control his actions. Which does not mean that he doesn’t feel emotions or that he can’t be swayed by them, just no more or less than any of us, and in the same ways that we’re used to. It makes him an excellent surrogate for the reader.

As a new councilor, Stefan faces all of the newbie insecurities, and also starts out not knowing nearly enough to do the job. As he learns, we learn how things are – and are not – working right along with him.

He’s also newly married – to his former security partner – as this book begins. Theirs has always been a relationship of equals, and that does not change now that they are married (The author generally does an excellent job of creating these kinds of relationships and making sure that females are equally represented and equally powerful throughout his stories.)

At the same time, their relationship is changing in ways that they have to adjust to – and we see them do it. All in all, the way this story is told is that we see both the exciting things and the prosaic things and we keep following along because we get involved with the people to whom these events are happening. The story literally pulls the reader along because we want to see how they cope with the next load of feces that hits the oscillating device, whether large or small.

So this is a story about watching people do the best they can in circumstances that are less than ideal but that they know they need to get through anyway. And it does its best, which is very well indeed, to pierce through the veil that obfuscates the grand illusion that politics or political action can make absolutely everyone happy and solve everyone’s problems every time.

While still presenting the idea that a government – and the people who are part of it – doing their very best to act to promote the common weal and not for the interests of themselves and their partisans, will, by its very nature, satisfy more of the population more of the time more fairly than anyone in the game for the pursuit of their own private interests.

This is the second book in the series, and it looks like we’re going to be following Dekkard’s political career wherever it might lead him, most likely, or perhaps hopefully, from his beginning as a security aide in Isolate through his first term as a Councilor and on up the ladder of achievements and setbacks until he reaches some pinnacle that we can’t see from here. But I hope we do in the future books in this series.

Howsomever, based on the title, it’s quite possible that the next book in the series will represent one-step-forward-and-two-steps-back. The title will be Contrarian according to the author’s blog, and I already can’t wait to read it.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the dullest book in any of the similar series that I have read by this author. Almost nothing happens for 80% of the story except politics, plus endless discussion of food, drink, clothing, and roads. There are a few assassination attempts and riots that keep me from completely falling asleep. Then there is a violent assault which unsettles things, but the story limps to an ending that’s a mere unresolved pause.
The only magic in this series are a few people who can detect and (rarely) project emotions.
As always, the protagonist is one of the few righteous people in his society, who surrounds himself with women who remind him that they are smarter. He has no magic of his own.
Lots of things are often brought up again and again. One entire conversation was repeated, about Ingrella owning a home.
I skimmed a lot, but I still wasted too much time on this book. My predicted ending did not take place. Perhaps in the next book, which I will only read because I’m invested in these characters already.
Typo: page 44, armed protesters should be unarmed, or else the sentence makes no sense.

[That · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this one any more than the first. There just seems to be something missing compared to Imager and other Modesitt books that are better.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Councilor by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Modesitt is a philosopher. His books make you ponder your own reality. I’ve read roughly eighty of his books according to my database. Most had more action than this book but all of them have had some philosophic points to ponder. Who knows if Modesitt is offering commentary on current events with his corporate entities and outside influencers impacting politics? I think this is a political novel.
In college literature, the professor and I were at odds over the interpretation of Robert Frost. I suspect there will be those who question my interpretation of Modesitt’s work.
Dekkard and Avraal are former security aides. Avraal is an empath and is now spending most of her time protecting Dekkard in his new occupation as one of the sixty-six councilors that govern the nation. Dekkard needs protection due to his efforts to reform the government.
There are obvious parallels to current events.
I enjoyed the book and wonder if I am reading more into the book than Modesitt intended.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There’s a definite similarity between law and politics. The more personal you make anything, the more expensive it becomes.”

Well-told steampunk fantasy with obvious plot development. The train-wreck telegraphed in Isolate finally happens. Compelling narrative. Excellent worldbuilding and dialogue. Better-than-average second story in a series.

“There’s an old idea that the truth can set you free. Not so long as people’s truths are rooted more in what they want to believe than the verified facts before them.”

A world populated by liars and hypocrites, not unlike our own. Politics 101 for the majority who have no idea how laws are made. Modesitt pushes all the usual buttons but manages to include a wider perspective.

“Whether we recognize it or not, all beings prefer excess to accuracy.’

Once again Modesitt describe every meal, every route of travel, every conversation. More to the point. Squeezes his 300-page story into 500 pages this time.

“Sometimes, the best outcome is still terrible.”

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot is interesting, but the mc is a little too perfect (always modest, always saves the day, good at everything he does, praised CONSTANTLY by others).

Also, scads of weirdly, boringly specific commentary on the food that characters eat at government cafeteria, even though it consists of exactly three food items: white bean soup, cassoulet, and the oddly named Three Cheese Chicken. Literally dozens of times this happens. Wtf?

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the political aspect but think this author needs a good editor to tell him to pace the story better. We don’t needed to know what they had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Every. Day.
The author tells much more then he shows and it quickly becomes trite. I enjoy character relationships, and I had liked Averal and Steffans’. In an attempt to give his female characters more agency, Monstatt gives Averal the reins of the relationship, it isn’t a marriage of partnership. She acts rather entitled to having her way in all things. Lastly, a character makes the choice to kill. All the idealism of government reform and the good, becomes hypocritical and the character becomes like the power hungry politicians they are fighting against.

Also, this was almost a 500 page novel, all the main action happened in the last 100 pages. I think I am done with the author and series.

[Patricia L. Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Court intrigue and menus

Sadly, Modisett seems to have become consumed with clothing, menus, and court intrigue. I've been an enthusiastic reader but now, no more.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 2 out of 5]

L. E. Modesitt Jr is one of my favorite authors, but I find his Grand Illusion series a bit dry. Steffan Dekkard, and Isolate (ebook) working as security for one of the Councilors of the legislative body has married his his empath partner and become Councilor (ebook from TOR). Over the to months he has to deal with numerous assisination attempts and learn to deal with coleagues as he shepherds a security bill through the council of sixty-six. One of the three major parties dislikes their loss of power and will do anything to reccover their control. Fun, with more to come.

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was honestly really disappointed with this book.

Mainly in terms of the pacing and overall arc. The first book in this series is definitely not a fast mover, but there’s definitely an overall story being told from beginning to end.

This book feels like it ended in the middle.

Other problems: We've gotten to the point where the Main Character, and his Wife are the only seemingly competent 'good guy' characters in the story.

In the first book, Dekkard was good at security, and was insightful into general human nature. But it was Axel who was managing things at a large scale, and was ultimately responsible for the 'good' outcome of taking over the government.

I don't think Axel showed a hint of initiative in this entire book. He either stymied Dekkard, or responded to Dekkard's thoughts. Just didn't seem like the dynamic planning character we saw in book 1.

[Chris (horizon_brave) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**As per all of my reviews, I like to preface by saying that I listened to this book in audiobook format. This does indeed slightly skew my rating. I have found that audiobooks, give me a better "relationship" with the characters if done well, but also kills the book for me if narrated poorly. Also due to the nature of listening to the text, names and places may be spelled incorrectly here as I often do not have the physical volume in front of me.

Also, I have written this review in a "rolling updates" style. In that I basically chronicle my reading as I progress. This may make for a jarring and spoilery review so be warned.**

Book two of the Grand Illusion series! I’m actually excited to get back into this setting. We jump right back into it with Steffen Deckard getting married to Avraal Ysella (they did it!). Really enjoyed their relationship in book one, they got super close and it felt earned. They’ve moved into Ysella’s sisters house as her husband is still missing/dead. ( I think it was confirmed he was dead last book)

I may have come to this conclusion as well in Book one…but I’m so here for the relationship of Deckard and Avraal. I love seeing the reactions to people they know in office about their marriage, and the different reactions they have to the news. What’s nice is that the story is a legitimate continuation of the first book. Nothing was really resolved so it’s just as if this were one huge book and it’s being split up in arbitrary places. So the growing threat and attacks of the New Meritorists is still going on, Obreduur is Premiere etc..

Dekkard and Avraal are working in their separate departments now, and it’s just such an interesting vibe! It follows the same story telling style that it honestly feels like they’re just stringing us along, because information is just dropped on us, but having the relationships be a known thing is vital.

And never let it be said that Modesitt doesn’t inject some humor in his books.. the group sits down to eat (of course) and one of the guests ask Steffan what’s good on the menu… after listing off all of these fancy dishes he asks about a Burger and they both mock it’s name and anything that would be described as beef between two loaves of bread as if it were the most uncivilized cuisine…I love it..

Loving the daily interplay of the characters.

So it seems that Dekkard and Ysella are digging deeper into the idea of having security guards be part of the formal government military corps…or something to this effect, basically restructuring the heirarchy…Also the engineering company that Dekkard (as per normal) is attacked again and they finally decide that it would be wise to hire an entourage.

The same sort of action > dinner >discuss >action sequence seems to be unfolding here as well… So I can’t say that I’m getting tired of it..but it is becoming repetitive. And that’s not to say there’s nothing happening…but Steffen getting attacked, then thinking of a reason behind it, and then going on about his business is a formula that’s is sort of testing the limits here..

The story of Dekkard getting the security faction to be picked up by the military training union or whatever is interesting… and they give us reason to care, but it’s all so procedural it feels like. And also….can we stop and take a minute to recognize that literally no one talks about anything but work?? I just realized this…in both books, there’s no conversation about anything that’s not work related.. We get a hint of talk about shopping, and food is described...but not really talked about. This is actually a problem..and I didn’t recognize it until now, but there’s no secondary story, or ‘home life’ talk..or anything personal…Our couple just got married, but it’s all business all the time..even those around them. This world that’s being built seems so potentially rich..but we’re not seeing any of it. We see the political structure, which is fine, that’s great, and that’s the genre of book so I expect that… but we get absolutely nothing else. No, art, recreation, sport, nothing outside of the political theater. Having every conversation start and end about how someone is trying to get ahead or out maneuver someone, or plot to kill someone etc… As much as I love the book and characters, it’s getting monotonous.

Wow, It’s really finally starting to sink in that Axel Obreduur wasn’t evil.. considering he’s dead now lol.. This series is really making a lot of widows… The book still continues to entertain. The attack on the Consulate was interesting, made for some good residual effects from the characters, but it’s a lot of business as usual… What I don’t understand, and maybe this was explained and it went over my head… but Ysella literally kills a guy. Who was involved in the murder of her sister’s husband.. I still don’t know how I even feel about this. Not to say it’s too taboo but …damn not even frame him to bring him down? Nope, just kills the shit out of him..anyway she does this..and then someone else completely unrelated is blamed, caught and assassinated for it… And there’s not a shred of guilt because of this…? If I’m reading this right the person who was suspected wasn’t great either but still…you killed a guy and then someone else was killed because of that first murder. That is some pretty cold hearted stuff.. Not saying I blame her but jeez.

Anyway sad to see Obreduur go out.. but in service of moving Steffan’s story forward, had to happen.

The book was good…it’s in the same vein as the first, things happen, they react, they eat, they talk about what happened, rinse and repeat for literally the entire book. There’s no moments where the characters talk about anything else..and when it does happen it’s just brushed over. There’s no description to any great detail about what the world around them looks like, We can picture it out of the fact that we know what gas lamp and sort of pseudo victorian style looks like, but it’s just such a shame this is all just left on the floor. That all being said, I still enjoyed it… but by book two I’m starting to see the cracks and flaws in the writing. If you’re like me and enjoy Steffan’s and Ysella’s dynamic, and are here for the story, do not hesitate, but if you get lost in the muck of the story and want a more slower paced book this is a harder sell.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this somewhat better than the first. It did trail off mumbling at the end - not particularly unusual for the middle book of a series, but a bit disappointing.

Re-read, 2/23 ; 7/23.
Listened, 2/24 ; 8/24 ; 6/25.

[Eamonn Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Councilor’ is the second book of ‘The Grand Illusion’ book series and you would need to read ‘Isolate’ before this one for it to make much sense. ‘Councilor’ has many of the same characters and the setting is still the state of Guldor. In the first book, our hero, Steffan Dekkard, was a security aide and administrator in the office of Councilor Obreduur, a member of the Craft Party. Now he’s a Councilor himself, the Craft Party is in government and Obreduur is President.

This is a gaslight fantasy which means technology has reached the steam power level and society is going through an industrial revolution with all the trouble that entails. Workers are made unemployed by new machines and corporacions, as Modesitt calls them, are ruthless about increasing their profits, heedless of any social harm. The Craft Party represents guilds and workers more generally. The Commerce Party serves the corporacions and corruption was rife under their regime. The rich were getting richer and the poor poorer, surprise, surprise. Now that the Craft Party is in control they hope to redress the balance in favour of the toiling masses but the corporacions still have plenty of power and the revolutionary New Meritorist movement is gaining support. The government has a lot to do.

Against this background, we follow Dekkard’s daily life. Literally. The novel proceeds at a chapter a day, more or less. Stephan has married Avraal, his former security comrade, and lives in a suburban house with her sister, Emrelda, now a widow. Every morning, he gets up, breakfasts on coffee and a croissant full of quince paste and drives his steam-powered car to work at the council building. He is on the security committee, working on a bill to disband the Special Agents who seem to engage in illegal operations for corporate interests. There are several assassination attempts on Dekkard, so he drives a different route to work every day. As well as committee meetings, he has talks with Obreduur about strategies to pass bills and lots of lunches. Dekker is fond of three-cheese chicken but will sometimes have white bean soup. Modesitt continues to love describing menus.

He also loves discussing political systems and the one in Guldor has some parallels with our own time. The interest groups in an industrial society perhaps always work out this way, workers against owners with the former wanting better wages and the latter wanting better profits. There is also a Landor Party representing the old aristocracy with vast estates and inherited wealth. As in 19th century Britain, they tend to ally with the rising business class. The set-up is not an allegory for modern day politics because the financiers are not a real force and they control the world now. Ask our new British Prime Minister, whoever it is this week.

Mister Modesitt always put a lot of politics into his fantasy adventure novels but this one pretty much eschews action altogether. It’s the daily life of a new member of the government, not even the man in charge, though Dekker has some influence. Five hundred pages of this may well be too much for some people and it certainly won’t suit a fantasy fan looking for romance and adventure.

I rather liked it for its gentle, almost soporific quality. It’s very easy to read and falls into a comforting pattern as you follow Dekkard’s routine, occasionally broken by something mildly interesting. The characters are quite nice and would make charming dinner companions. The chat about how to run a country so that no one feels left behind enough to revolt is rather engaging if you are at all interested in politics. If you are not, it will bore the pants off you.

Once they have a large enough fanbase, old writers can ignore commercial constraints and write about what interests them. Heinlein slowly dropped plots to become a lecturer on politics and Modesitt seems to be going a similar route. Like Attila the Hun, he is somewhat to the left of Heinlein politically and I find his sensible social democratic ideas more sympathetic. Putting them over in fictional form is an honourable pastime but he might get more readers if he made the plots more eventful, added some sex and violence, cut about 100 pages out of the manuscript and upped the pace a little. He won’t.

Even so, this was worth reading and I look forward without breathless anticipation to the third book, ‘Contrarian’, in ‘The Grand Illusion’ trilogy next year. I’m sure it will be quite interesting.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Councilor, the latest installment in L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s expansive science fiction/fantasy ****Grand Illusion**** series, is a captivating and thought-provoking addition to the author's impressive body of work. Known for his meticulous world-building and compelling characters, Modesitt once again delivers a rich and immersive reading experience.

Set in a meticulously crafted universe, Councilor follows the story of Steffan Dekkard, a young man who unexpectedly finds himself thrust into a position of power and responsibility. As a newly appointed councilor, Steffan must navigate the intricate political landscape, making difficult decisions that have far-reaching consequences.

Modesitt's strength lies in his ability to create complex and relatable characters, and Councilor is no exception. Steffan is a flawed yet sympathetic protagonist, struggling with the weight of his newfound authority and the ethical dilemmas that come with it. His journey is filled with moral choices and ethical quandaries, allowing readers to delve into the complexities of power and governance.

The author's attention to detail is evident throughout the book. Modesitt expertly weaves together political intrigue, social dynamics, and magical elements, creating a believable and engrossing world. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for a gradual exploration of the story's various layers and the development of its multifaceted characters.

One of the notable aspects of Councilor is Modesitt's exploration of the consequences of power and the delicate balance between leadership and personal sacrifices. The author delves into the ramifications of Steffan's decisions, highlighting the impact they have on the lives of individuals and the broader society. This thematic depth adds an additional layer of complexity to the narrative, elevating it beyond a mere adventure tale.

While Councilor shines in its character development and world-building, some readers may find the pacing to be slow at times. Modesitt's deliberate approach to storytelling may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action. However, for readers who appreciate a more introspective and contemplative narrative, the measured pacing contributes to the overall immersive experience.

In conclusion, Councilor is a skillfully crafted science fiction/fantasy novel that delves into the complexities of power, morality, and personal growth. L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s expertise in creating intricate worlds and compelling characters is on full display, providing readers with a thought-provoking and engaging reading experience. Fans of the author's previous works will undoubtedly appreciate this latest addition to the series, while newcomers will find themselves immersed in a rich and captivating universe.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Councilor picks up almost immediately after the first book, with Dekkard assuming his new role and marrying his partner, Avraal Ysella. With the new Crafter Majority in the Council of Sixty-Six, much of the conflict revolves around reforming the abuses from the prior government (quite a fictitious idea, I know...) and suggesting legislation (Not the most gripping of material, I will admit). Dekkard is trying to both make meaningful change while continuing to learn about his new position and where he stands in relation to the other counselors and the corporacions (Modesitt's spelling, not an error).

Dekkard continues to be the target of assassins from these corporacions who do not want their illegal business practices coming to light, and faces the growing threat of the New Meritorists, which continue to pressure the government to make extreme changes or be faced with the (likely violent) consequences. Dekkard spends a good amount of time discussing the ideas of the New Meritorists in comparison to the country's Grand Charter government, which was similar to his stance in the first book. Much of the story hints at a connection between the the New Meritorists and the corporacions in some way but the characters spend most of the books trying to understand how and find evidence of it.

I did not predict the ending of this book, just as I didn't foresee the ending of the first, though for very different reasons. Because you are following Dekkard and through him trying to piece together the puzzle, it feels very real to not have all the answers and to connect with the character through that. In that way, you are just as surprised as the characters by the escalation near the end of the book.

There were a few things that I wished would have been more explored in this story. We are following Dekkard day-by-day as he goes about his legislative business in government, but we rarely see him interact with the people of his district that he is representing. Dekkard and Averaal know they have to get a house in the district but don't have the money or time currently. The timeline in the story is mostly each day, but I would assume we will see more interaction with his constituents in later books, similar to the later Imager books. Though Dekkard receives a number of letters from people in his district, the opportunity to see him interact with different people would break up the otherwise similar days in the government building.

[Frode · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Isolate, which should be read first in order to understand the background and relationships. Some things change from the first book, but the characters are still the same. The author’s style is to include the mundane along with advancement of the plot. He will briefly mention what they are eating or wearing; he will say what the weather is like and driving conditions. There is the friendly banter between the main characters, some of which is humorous and gives the reader greater understanding of the characters involved. It’s a hefty read, 735 pages worth, but it is enjoyable. At least it was for me.

The plot is pretty much a carryover from the previous book. The Dekkards and the Premier continue their task of trying to change the laws and thus the usurpation of power by big business and government insiders. Stephan Dekkard becomes a councilor, and Axel Obreduur becomes the Premier. Their relationship undergoes some shift because of their position changes, but they are still aligned in their goals and thinking. Stephan and Avraal marry both for love and political reasons. They end up living with Emrelda, Avraal’s sister. A new character is brought in, a person who can sense emotions at long range; she has some rough edges, so she adds to the color.

The New Meritorists continue to demonstrate, demand reform, and resort to some violence. Reforms are pushed through the Council via Dekkard’s work on the Security Committee. There is someone or some group who is bent on trying to neutralize Stephan; that results in some brief action scenes. And of course there is the constant byplay and political maneuvering with the various councilors. As I mentioned in my previous review, there is much to mirror today’s political situation.

I am looking forward to the next book and will read it, Lord willing, when I can get my hands on the paperback version.

[John Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

L. E. Modesitt Jr. https://www.lemodesittjr.com is the author of more than 80 novels. Councilor: A Novel in the Grand Illusion was published in 2022. It is the second book in the Grand Illusion series and the 62nd book I’ve completed in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to some scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. Steffan Dekkard continues as the main character.

Dekkard, now married, has been appointed to the Council of Sixty-Six as a member of the Craft party. The Commercers had dominated the Council for decades. They are not taking the rise of the Craft party well. It is well that both he and his wife are former security aids. More than one assassination attempt must be averted.

The controversy around him is intensified by his stand on unpopular issues to the Commercer party. Most important is his introduction of legislation to reform Security. His position on women’s rights has also stirred controversy.

Making matters worse is the growing threat from the New Meritorists.

I enjoyed the 23.5+ hours I spent reading this 521-page fantasy. The novel contains action and a lot of political intrigues. I have read six other novels by Modesitt, and they have been consistently excellent. Those books are Endgames, The Mongrel Mage, Outcasts of Order, The Fire-Mage War, Fairhaven Rising, and, most recently, Isolate. The cover art for this novel is a bit dark but fits the story. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

[Andrea Rittschof · Rating 5 out of 5]

L.E. Modesitt Jr. is a masterful storyteller, jumping right into the plot from Isolate, providing the same level of intrigue and social unrest as the previous novel. In this second book in the series, The Grand Design, author L.E. Modesitt Jr. continues to develop a discussion of political systems and questions that are easily applied to our modern political system and questioning of our legal systems. With strong characters, like Steffan and Avraal, both clever and complex and emotionally charged scenes, this novel flows even better than the previous, Isolate. 

One of the reasons I think I liked this novel is that Modesitt has a unique ability to take what would ordinarily be boring, committee meetings, voting, and political discussion and make it riveting. He adds in intrigue and social unrest, political maneuvering and assassins to create a story impossible to put down. The corruption of the first novel is developed even more in this sequel. And while Steffan and Avraal are far from perfect, I loved the evolution of their characters and their relationship. 

If you love deep, rich complex novels dealing with political intrigue and social unrest, this novel is worth checking out. I do recommend reading the first novel, Isolate, first but that will allow this novel to be even more engrossing and you will fall in love with Steffan, Avraal and those who support them. While this novel is far more emotionally fraught, it is an even more powerful story once you have read both novels.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The genre listing for this novel includes fantasy, science fiction, politics, steampunk, and a couple of others. That's about right. The milieu has enough affinities to early-twentieth-century England that the reader isn't made to work hard. The technological differences are mostly-decorative - e.g., automobiles are steam-driven. The main sf/f element is that a small fraction of the population is empathic, and has the ability to detect emotions and discern lies. (To his credit, the author works out some of the legal implications.)

The novel (trilogy?) has three levels. The personal level focuses on Steffan Dekkard, who has just married Avraal, and has just started his first term as a Councilor. (In the first book, Isolate, they are both guards for the man who has just become Premier.) The larger story is a political thriller. Major corporations and corrupt politicians are using violence in efforts to get and retain power. The big picture is that of a society that is sitting on a social powder keg, as living conditions get worse and worse for the powerless.

This book shouldn't be particularly readable. Much of the narrative is on the level of "On Tuesday Dekkard went into his office, sat through committee meetings, and had lunch with a couple of other councilors". At yet it is remarkably readable, which is a tribute to the author's skill.

(Oh, and then he drives home and someone tries to assassinate him again.)

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generally speaking, I prefer to read books where the protagonist is the magic user. I made an exception for L.E. Modisett's Grand Illusion trilogy.

In this series, there are empaths, susceptibles, normal folk, and isolates. Our protagonist Steffan Dekkard is an Isolate. Magic is done by empaths who can both attack and defend. Except empaths can neither read nor attack Isolates.

Among the people empaths can attack are both normal folk and susceptibles. The susceptibles are unusually vulnerable to empathic attack.

Stephan came from an artistic family. He tried to become an artist but soon realized that the talent had passed him by. So, instead, he attended the military academy and became a security aide (rather than actually serve in the military after graduation). He has a good head on his shoulders and does his best to understand politics.

At the end of book one, Stefan is unexpectedly elected to a Councilor seat and has to resign his security aide position to another Councilor (who becomes Prime Minister in book two). By the end of book one, he has also fallen in love with his empathic security partner. The only way that they can stay together is to get married, so they happily do that.

Throughout both books one and two, Stefan is targeted for many assassination attempts. So, there is quite a bit of suspense in both books waiting to see if he lives another day.

Can't wait to read book three Contrarian to see how it all turns out!

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Councilor by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Modesitt is a philosopher. His books make you ponder your own reality. I’ve read roughly eighty of his books according to my database. Most had more action than this book but all of them have had some philosophic points to ponder. Who knows if Modesitt is offering commentary on current events with his corporate entities and outside influencers impacting politics? I think this is a political novel.
In college literature, the professor and I were at odds over the interpretation of Robert Frost. I suspect there will be those who question my interpretation of Modesitt’s work.
Dekkard and Avraal are former security aides. Avraal is an empath and is now spending most of her time protecting Dekkard in his new occupation as one of the sixty-six councilors that govern the nation. Dekkard needs protection due to his efforts to reform the government.
There are obvious parallels to current events.
I enjoyed the book and wonder if I am reading more into the book than Modesitt intended.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steffan Dekkard, now married to his former security partner Avraal, is the newly elected Councilor from Gaarlack. His former boss is now the Premier of the Council. Steffan and Avraal have to adjust to being married, and new jobs. But when assassination attempts occur, they need to take action in figuring out why they are targets and who is pointing the assassins in their direction. Modesitt has created an interesting world for a political drama. Who knew that crafting and passing bills could be so dangerous! It will be interesting to see what happens in the next volume!

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this volume!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that I'm not entirely sure why I liked it as much as I did. I would say there is even less action than in Isolate. And I still can't quite decide if the author and I would agree politically or not.

One quibble about the audiobook version. Dekkard's dialog is often interspersed with his thoughts, and the distinction between them was often either lost or only clear after the fact. The ones I noticed tended to cause me to question why on Earth he would have said that, only to realize he must have thought it a split second later. It wouldn't be an issue if I were reading it, but in the audiobook it jarred me out of the flow of the story.