Eric Appelbaum
The Strength of the Few is a solid book, that unfortunately suffers from elevated expectations. With The Will of the Many, we are left stunned by the crescendo of the ending and the hook from the 2 epilogue chapters. It's a hard act to follow, and the 3 plotline structure of the book doesn't do itself any favors.
Where The Will of the Many felt lean, The Strength of the Few felt starved. The 3 plotlines are competing for space that in the end results in the major plot points lacking the necessary impact. I don't get enough time with any individual story to be truly invested. This is already a long book, but I think it would actually benefit from some extra length.
To the themes, I was left confused. In some ways it felt like this book undermined a lot of the interesting discussion from The Will of the Many. The other topics it brought forth felt like a step backwards and, like the plot, did not have room to be as nuanced. How can I appreciate how different environments shape us, if the shape isn't fully formed?
Speaking of not fully formed, the side characters barely feel like characters. Again, this is a symptom of the 3 plotlines, but the side characters arguably suffer the most. I felt zero attachment to anyone, and at best they feel like tools for Vis' development.
Overall I still enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next entry tying things up. I have faith that I will be wowed; because, while the twists don't have that same emotional impact, it doesn't make them any less bombastic. If Book 3 is structured like the Part 3s from the other books, it will be an exciting end.
The Strength of the Few is a solid book, that unfortunately suffers from elevated expectations. With The Will of the Many, we are left stunned by the crescendo of the ending and the hook from the 2 epilogue chapters. It's a hard act to follow, and the 3 plotline structure of the book doesn't do itself any favors.
Where The Will of the Many felt lean, The Strength of the Few felt starved. The 3 plotlines are competing for space that in the end results in the major plot points lacking the necessary impact. I don't get enough time with any individual story to be truly invested. This is already a long book, but I think it would actually benefit from some extra length.
To the themes, I was left confused. In some ways it felt like this book undermined a lot of the interesting discussion from The Will of the Many. The other topics it brought forth felt like a step backwards and, like the plot, did not have room to be as nuanced. How can I appreciate how different environments shape us, if the shape isn't fully formed?
Speaking of not fully formed, the side characters barely feel like characters. Again, this is a symptom of the 3 plotlines, but the side characters arguably suffer the most. I felt zero attachment to anyone, and at best they feel like tools for Vis' development.
Overall I still enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next entry tying things up. I have faith that I will be wowed; because, while the twists don't have that same emotional impact, it doesn't make them any less bombastic. If Book 3 is structured like the Part 3s from the other books, it will be an exciting end.