Victoria Goddard

The Cavalier Conju enazo Argellian an Vilius - Conju for short - is alone after the Fall of Astandalas. His family has died, his wild mage lover left, and the paths away from the palace are unsafe. After a year (or was it a hundred years?) of debauchery, he spends much of his time making perfumes. But then he hears through the court gossip that the newly-awakened Emperor has been dismissing his attendants. Conju knows how to play the game of courts, but as he enters the Emperors service and show more starts to learn who he is as a man, will he break protocol and become a friend?

I so enjoyed this novella focusing on a similar time frame that starts just a little before Petty Treasons and carries on a touch beyond it. Conju and Cliopher get off on the wrong foot, and it was delightful to see the beginnings of how they became the compatriots they are in The Hands of the Emperor and other novels. The "game of courts" after all, isn't just his relationship with the Emperor (and gaining his favor), but also who Conju deigns to be seen with. Goddard told her story in the perfect length for what she had to say, but still left me wanting more. Novel from Conju's point of view? Believe you me, I would snap that up in a heartbeat. show less

This is the only sci-fi novella Victoria Goddard has written. Naturally, the fangirl has to try it.

Fun, snarky space opera detected! I am getting Lois McMaster Bujold vibes (In particular, "A Civil Campaign" and "Captain Vorpatril's Alliance"). The author knows what she is doing, and there are very clear nods to Bujold.

Some genre tropes get dissected – in school, people of this universe are told that spaceship faster-than-light engines run on “magic”. I think these teachers were show more probably lying shamelessly, but this is how we roll. Do I dare suppose that Victoria Goddard had read some sci-fi? 😉

Her name is Portia. The name, the name! This is such a clever and lovely literary allusion from Goddard, you’ll see why later in the story.

Portia runs a galactic courier service, sometimes off the radar, but nothing illegal, mind. She is tough – of course. She is competent – of course. She is a great pilot – of course. Also, her hobby is making spaceship engine models – origami ones. Portia, I think you have my heart.

Now she is going to a wedding of a childhood friend. “I promised Vlad I’d be at his wedding when I was ten.” Portia keeps her promises.

There are some complications on the way, such as black holes, event horizons, and Lovecraftian monsters that attack spaceships (yes!). But she makes it, no worries.

Do you want some nice quotes? Here you go:

“Portia, how did you get here?”
“By spaceship. Yourself?”

“I couldn’t think what Trev’s interests were – drinking, I’d thought.”

“...when the Generalissimo came in surrounded by a pack of leaping puppies – sorry, young men of rank and station and good clothing…”

Do you think this story will end just like it’s supposed to? Can you guess? There was one very nice little twist that I didn’t see coming, though. Awwwwww. show less

Oh my goodness

I’ve just read Olive and the Dragon and thought: “why don’t I read Whiskeyjack?” It was an excellent decision.

The beginning is very intriguing. Jemis is in prison and we don’t know why. He is thinking about ancient poetry. (Of course he is.)

In Whiskeyjack, Goddard is playing with all kinds of adventure novel tropes. I’ve lost count of unexpected meetings and coincidences that just happen. There is a sinister cult, we also have old mysteries, suspicious magic, show more puzzles, poetry, heartbreaks old and new. Jemis is being badass and awesome a lot, it’s wonderful. His friends make my heart melt.

Victoria Goddard dropped an amazing plot bomb in this book! I am still reeling a bit. The emotional impact is huge. What will happen next? This series just keeps getting better.

Best quotes:

”My friend Mr Dart said that I was already sufficiently eccentric for a man three times my age.”

”I walked forward out of my silence, into his silence.”

”The Baron finds it exceedingly difficult to comprehend,” murmured Master Dart.
”The Baron finds most things exceedingly difficult to comprehend,” Sir Hamish responded.

”Mr Dart. Friendship runs both directions. You keep supporting me through my various tribulations.”
”Which are considerably more significant and interesting than my own.” show less

Artorin Damara begins his quest to find his heir - or, well, sort of. He's looking for three mirrors that will show him the past, present, and future. Now that Cliopher is left behind officially running the government, the old taboos of not being touched or meeting his eyes no longer apply, but Artorin - who was also the notorious poet and adventurer Fitzroy Angursell before he was the Last Emperor of Astandalas - doesn't know who he is as a man any longer, either. Along the way on one show more quest, he may just rediscover more that is equally, if not more, important.

The Hands of the Emperor was one of my five-star, favorite reads of 2022. This one picks up very soon after that, and while it doesn't have the same tone or length, it is equally delightful. I loved learning more about Artorin/Fitzroy and meeting new-to-me characters along his travels. As a quest narrative, it was more episodic, but it has the same heart and I found myself laughing and tearing up along the way. Just excellent, and I can't wait to read more set in the Nine Worlds. show less