The Privilege of the Sword was unlike any fantasy* novel I've read. The novel contained all the elements one would expect from a story like this -- the young protagonist who is not as lady-like as she is supposed to be; the flighty, more feminine best friend; the rakish, dangerous lord who breaks all the rules; the corrupt, vengeful antagonist; the aging mentor; the street-wise orphan; quasi-regency society; romances both true and false; the supreme importance of honor -- but nothing played out as I expected. Kushner did something entirely fresh and unusual, yet mostly plausible, with these tropes. The result was a compelling novel I took in as if I were completely new to reading fiction; no small feat given how much I've learned about story-telling conventions over the years.
I don't think I will read the other two novels in this series, however. For all that I appreciated, and even enjoyed, what Kushner did, the world she created is not one I want to return to. Despite all the ribbons and lace and swordplay and adventure, it is a fundamentally amoral, materialist world, filled with people who are clever and witty but not sincere, always seeking pleasure and never experiencing joy.
*I use the term loosely. It is set in a world similar to but not our own, yet there was no actual magic.
It sounds very intriguing. I read a lot of fantasy and YA, you do tend to get the "read this before" vibe after a while.
ReplyDeleteFor that reason alone, I recommend the book; it's a refreshing story in some ways.
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