The Red Knight discussion

I am somewhere in chapter 6, and I am really enjoying this book. I love fantasy, and it's seems like I don't find one I enjoy that often. That being said, I feel like I am reading a series of unrelated, but well-written, scenes of life in this kingdom. After working all day and various chores, I just don't have the mental energy to deal with all of these points of view. Except for the main guy, I am having a hard time remembering the people and if I've seen them before and wondering if this person/event is even important (like a scene about the Queen's picnic). This book would be so much better if it had a nice list of characters with a sentence about them. And a map.

I thought the same myself, I really liked the world that the story was set in and I was really interested in the individual characters but the sheer amount of them and the different povs wore me down. It now sits in my 'probably not going back to it' pile.

Hello--Let's just say I know the author.

The set up is meant to be complex. In fact, part of the theme is that things don't 'just happen.' They take time to develop. About 1/5 of all reviews hate the book because there are 25 or more POVS and it starts so slowly. Most of the positive reviews point out that they all come together gradually. If you can't get through the set up--then its not for you. But like a spy novel, it's written with a a large and very open intro period, and the cast and plot take time to develop.

And if you don't like all that--apologies. Er--from the author, my cousin Miles.

As I mentioned in my review of the book, I normally don't like novels which jump from POV to POV too much - a syndrome that this book is definitely guilty of. However, for whatever reason it does end up working out quite well in this case. In fact the author does a neat trick with the POV jumping during a battle scene that conveys the chaos of the battle so effectively.

This is far from a perfect novel and I'm terrified that it is going to fall into the King Arthur trap (I can see the Arthurian parallels for many of the main characters) but the POV jumping (which I still don't like that much) isn't as much a headache as you would think it would be.

A map would be nice though.

I am surprised that there are that many haters out there though (20% of all reviews hate the book?). I considered it one of the best new books I've read this year. I have already read it twice.

I think there are some interesting world building ideas in the book but found the author's reference to the real world and real world theologians/philosophers kind of threw you out of it, if just for a second? As a medieval history geek, I have enjoyed a number of fantasy novels set in the actual period (Judith Tarr's Hound & Falcon to name but one). However, the author's mish-mashing of fantasy world and real world made his world less 'real' for me.

End of the day, I'm waiting on book two (fingers crossed for no Arthurian tropes).

A map and a glossary of the characters would definitely be helpful. But I loved this novel and can't wait to sink my teeth into the next installment.

I was half way through the book before it all started to come together. After enough plots were tied in and I was familar with it, I enjoyed it more. I imagined those who hated it gave up before getting through it.

The book has a map of the world, at least my edition does. However a map of the monastery and the city around it would be very helpful. I am completly confused sometimes where everyone is and how it's all set up there. Obviously there is a monastery with its own walls (and how are those set up? You read about person X guarding a wall Y, but there a lot of walls, is it south west or east? and where and who is where?), but then there are also some towers and farms and a city and it's quite confusing. Also didnt understand why the king couldnt get to the monastery in the end of the book while being very near. It mentioned natural obstacles but without a map i just didnt get it. Other than that, a great book!

Loved this book to bits.
I suffered from the whole "took many POVS at first" but as thing started come together I really appreciated what each different POV brought to the narrative....how characters wove around each other and painted the story with various shades of grey.
If im going to point out one minor flaw it just that the book could really have used a listing of dramatis personae.

Justine wrote: "I am somewhere in chapter 6, and I am really enjoying this book. I love fantasy, and it's seems like I don't find one I enjoy that often. That being said, I feel like I am reading a series of unrel..."

Many readers had this complaint. But, please be patient and keep reading. Certain characters will become more familiar with time and reading. This is a massive work, especially when you factor in the scope of the series.
My primary complaint mirrors the common ones- a dramatis personae and a map would be great.

It's not just you.

Justine, I created this character summary to try to keep everyone straight. I hope it helps

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...