The Traitor Queen

Recensione completa qui: http://thereadingpal.blogspot.it/2017/01/recensione-59-la-regina-dei-maghi.html

Esisteva, a Imardin, l'erronea convinzione che le presse da
stampa fossero state inventate dai maghi. Lo spettacolare
frastuono e i movimenti convulsi prodotti dai macchinari avrebbero
potuto facilmente trasmettere a una persona poco esperta
la convinzione che lì stesse avendo luogo un qualche tipo di
alchimia. Invece non c'era nessun bisogno di scomodare la
magia; bastava che qualcuno si occupasse di far girare le ruote
e azionare le leve.


Sono arrivata alla conclusione di questa saga, con non poca tristezza. Mi sono affezionata a Sonea, e, anche se meno, a Lorkin. Ho adorato Dannyl e Anyi, mi sono affezionata ad Achati e mi sono ricreduta show more su Tayend, che in quest'ultimo libro ha recuperato. E' davvero difficile separarsi da loro. In particolare Sonea, Cery e Dannyl, che mi hanno accompagnato per ben sei libri.
In questo ultimo libro ci troviamo su più fronti. Se da una parte Cery si sta ancora nascondendo da Skellin e vuole ancora catturarlo con l'aiuto della Corporazione, dall'altra Lorkin è imprigionato ad Arvice cerca di tenere nascosti i segreti delle Traditrici. Ed in mezzo troviamo Sonea, che cerca di raggiungere il figlio assieme a Regin, sperando di creare un'alleanza tra la Corporazione dei Maghi (e Terre Alleate) e le Traditrici.
Le Traditrici sono più forti, ora, e vogliono sferrare un attacco. Tutto dipenderà da una loro vittoria o da una loro perdita.
Lorkin è combattuto tra lo scegliere sua madre o Tyvara, Sonea combatte i possibili sentimenti per Regin, c'è qualcosa tra Lillia e Anyi... mentre la relazione tra Achati e Dannyl sembra essersi incrinata, a favore di una rinata amicizia con Tayend.
Trudi Canavan ha la capacità di farci affezionare ai suoi personaggi in modo incredibile, tanto più che a me risultava più importante la sicurezza di Dannyl e degli altri, rispetto ad una possibile cattura di Skellin o ad una vittoria delle Traditrici contro il re di Sachaka. Avvenimenti che mi incuriosivano comunque, grazie anche ai libri precedenti. E' un'ottima scrittrice e mi spiace che (a quanto ne sappia io) i suoi altri romanzi non sono stati tradotti in italiano.
Le ultime centinaia di pagine mi hanno lasciato una grande tristezza: alcuni personaggi ci lasciano definitivamente, e le mie speranze di vederli felici vengono infrante. Devo dire però che, a discapito della mia tristezza, sono felice di come questa saga si sia conclusa, e me ne ricorderò come una delle migliori che io abbia letto, non importa quante altre saghe leggerò d'ora in avanti... show less

The Traitor Queen is the final volume in Trudi Canavan’s Traitor Spy Trilogy. I read the first two books as they came out and while I only have vague recollections about the plot of the first book, I didn’t find this to be an issue at all with picking up the story again.

The Traitor Queen is very much two story lines running parallel with little impact on each other. There are a few minor common characters — most notably Sonea, who was the main character in the Black Magician Trilogy set earlier in the same world — but for the most part the two story lines took place in different countries and didn’t intersect. I didn’t have a problem with this as I was already invested in both sets of happenings from the earlier books. I can show more see how others may find this more irritating, however. The two story lines did come together at the very end in terms of having related consequences on the future of the world, but otherwise weren’t very thematically linked either.

The war that takes place in the The Traitor Queen is fairly short by fantasy book standards (and by Canavan’s own past writings) but what I found interesting was that it dealt with non-combatants caught suddenly in a war zone. And not miscellaneous peasants (who always get caught in war zones in these sorts of things) but foreign diplomats who don’t necessarily have a clear “side” and who will have to deal with whichever side does win. Assuming they’re not caught in the cross-fire. Although the shortness of the war meant this wasn’t explored in a large amount of depth, I very much liked that it was included and that there were tangible consequences for the observers.

I continue to like all the characters we’re supposed to like in this series. My favourite is easily Lilia who grows quite a bit as a person throughout this book. There are few lesbian protagonists in fiction, so it’s nice to see that the number isn’t actually zero. And she gets to save the day. (Actually, given what happens in Sachaka as well as in Kyralia — where Lilia is — the Traitor Spy Trilogy is fairly heavy in empowered women, so yay.) My only objection to Lilia’s story is that I would’ve liked to see a bit more of a conclusion to her run-ins with the novice bully magician.

Canavan has left the ending open so that there might be a sequel but with all the loose ends absolutely tied up. From her website, I see that Canavan is working on something in a completely different world, so I wouldn’t be expecting more Kyralia/Sachaka/Allied Lands books soon if at all.

I recommend this series to fantasy lovers, especially those who enjoy non-medieval Europe settings. Of course, you should start from the first book in the trilogy, Ambassador’s Mission, then read the second, The Rogue, before reading The Traitor Queen. If you want the full effect, I suggest reading the Black Magician Trilogy first (The Magician’s Guild, The Novice, The High Lord) but that isn’t necessary for the Traitor Spy trilogy to make sense. Although if you’re thinking of reading the Black Magician Trilogy, Traitor Spy does contain spoilers for the ending as the consequences are important to the world building.

4 / 5 stars

You can read more of my reviews on my blog, Tsana's Reads. show less

Conclusion to the second trilogy. And probably this series, although there are a few loose threads left if Trudi did want to continue. Meanwhile there remains no connection between the two disparate strands of our main plot, other than the calls on Sonea's attention. Her son remains with the Traitors looking to learn more about their secrets, whilst Lila the young accidental black magician helps Cery avoid the attentions of the Thief Hunter whilst hankering for the attentions of his daughter.

It remains engaging entertainment without any special deeper insights. There are thought on death and addiction, family relationships and those you love. But it's all a little trite somehow, with no real engagement to the characters involved. This show more goes even so far as the somewhat sudden war. One side had said earlier that they weren't sufficiently preprepared, but then bam off they go. This does give Trudi the chance to look at it from the bystanders viewpoint, but it's all over very very quickly, especially since this is supposed to be an entire country's worth of people.

Significantly lacking the focus and drama of the first trilogy, this nevertheless remains an interesting fantasy, more involved with the relations between people than any insights into how they come to be in that situation, but without the pathos that would make it truly excellent. show less

Fairly generic fantasy stuff; nothing particularly exciting or new-very good if you're looking for an easy, enjoyable read without too much brain power needed. There isn't much character development though they all seem likable in their own special way, or unlikable if like me you enjoy that sort of thing. I haven't read any other Trudi Canavan books, though from other reviews I'd say it's best to skip this trilogy and read one her others, instead.

The third and final book in the Traitor Spy Trilogy by Trudi Canavan. Set in the same world, and years after the Black Magician Trilogy. Here the story comes to a conclusion for the characters from the lands of Kyralia and Sachaka, however, there will be questions as to wheteher or not Trudi Canavan will continue work in this world and develop the stories further, probing deeper into points raised and touched upon.

Personally, I felt underwhelemed by the trilogy in general, this book and it's climax. I almost felt disappointed, and let down, but I believe that it due to my possibly unrealistic expectations that I had built up following the great Black Magician Trilogy which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

In comparison to the Black show more Magician Trilogy, I felt this trilogy was a bit slow, somewhat dull in places and did not deliver the impact the first trilogy did. It seemed there was a cross over with the characters, that the old ones from the first trilogy were being fazed out, but all too soon in my opinion. Some of them such as Sonea and the higher guild magicians were made almost redundant and had no major focal point in the trilogy so to speak. No action, no impact, just filler for the story without anything real almost happening to them. Sonea in particular I was looking forward to reading, and the way the book was building, I was hopeful of a final bit of action from her, especially after her escapades, ability and knwoing what she is capable of from the first trilogy. This was not to happen unfortunately. She appeared to be a whipped character, playing by the rules, a sheep following a shepard, oberying others only. This was not the Sonea that I enjoyed from the first trilogy. At the same time, the characters being developed, such as Lorkin and Lilia seemed to be no where near exciting as they should have been. Powers seemed to be left undiscovered, their abilities and potential not really tapped into or developed and all in all, I felt that there was scope for so much more than what was received. I found it hard to get on board with both Lorkin and Lilia, I struggled to like them, and the older characters such as Cery were by far my favourite due to the lack of anyone new and exciting being built up. The Duna people left basically untouched was another aspect that frustrated me, I would have enjoyed to see this line developed, their relationships, history and aims etc for the future.

It sounds like I am bashing the book and the series, which was not my intention. All in all, it is a good read, it is well written, as everyone Trudi Canavan book is that I have read. There are touches that suggest she is not finished with this world, especially the exciting possibility of the non-magic people and their new technology that could mean a new form of power and threat to magic, the guild and all the lands which could lead to a very exciting storyline. Would the magic lands and different magicians team up to take on this new non-magic power and their new technology and weapons? Good potoential there, one I'll be watching out for.

In conclusion, read the Black Magician Trilogy - it's amazing, and as you will enjoy that so much, you'll want to read this trilogy too. It's a good read, familiar people and places but ultimately don;t expect too much and you won't be disappointed. Book 3 is the worse one of the trilogy for me, 1 and 2 were a better read.

Thanks show less

This series belongs in the light fantasy reading section. It was enjoyable enough but nothing special and I never really felt all that attached to any of the characters or that any were in any serious danger. Just OK really.

The Traitor Queen is the final book in the Traitor Spy Trilogy. It took me a chapter or two to get back into this, merely because it has been a while since I read the last one. I have read all Canavan's books and have never been disappointed – though I enjoyed this series overall, the original Black Magician Trilogy still sets the pace. This is a very fitting conclusion to the series with many things wrapped up. Without giving anything away, all I can say is if you are a fan of her work you won't be disappointed. I can't wait for her to bring out her next series.