The Virtu: Initial Thoughts

[lareinenoire]

Read it in spurts over a two-day period -- damned work. At any rate, I think I will reread before posting a full-out review, but for now, here is what I've got to say.



I had been wondering ever since starting my reread of Mélusine last week when the opening story of Porphyria Levant and Silas Altamont would come into play. Initially, I thought it was meant to draw attention to Malkar's treatment of Felix -- the obligation de sang, as we now know its name. Except that the voice is very distinctively Mildmay's; Mildmay, who is not made aware of Felix and Malkar until much later.

So, a mystery. Until halfway through The Virtu, that is.

truepenny wrote an entry where she explained how The Virtu and Mélusine were initially one single volume called The Shadow of the Mirador. In light of that, so much of The Virtu makes perfect sense, especially the way single threads are picked back up after having been literally left behind in Mélusine during the first book.

Many of my questions in this entry were answered. Including my guess that the Mirador was a labyrinth -- go me! My guesses in general were far better with this book than they have been for previous books (i.e. Harry Potter, George R.R. Martin).

At any rate, moving on. I do like the distinction made between the obligation d'âme and the obligation de sang. The latter is, in some small way, voluntary. The soul, after all, is not part of the blood or the body, therefore it must be given. Is it generally a bad idea? Yes. However, there is no compulsion involved in the initial decision. The annemer has to ask for it. Now, I'm quite sure it's the sort of thing that can be -- and certainly is -- often badly manipulated, but if one looks at it completely objectively, it is a free-will decision. The obligation de sang, on the other hand, is forced. One need only look at Malkar and Felix to illustrate this. Malkar cast the obligation de sang on Felix, and Felix didn't even know he'd done it. Again, back to the Blood Magic Is Bad credo. Interesting how the obligation d'âme is not blood magic, but still heresy because it does create absolute control over another human being.

Malkar was Brinvillier Strych all along. *That* caught me by surprise. I was quite sure he and Vey Coruscant were working together; their apparently disparate plots in the first book were far too well-planned for coincidence. But I didn't guess that she *had* succeeded in bringing her old master to life, and that he'd been in the Mirador all along. Sneaky, sneaky.

And of course, Thamuris' prophecy. Mildmay trusted Felix, loved him, and Felix sent him off after Vey Coruscant without a second thought. Bad, bad Felix. I wanted to shake him repeatedly after that scene. He does have this rather annoying habit of doing something awful to Mildmay, feeling bad about it, apologising, and then doing it again five minutes later. But it is a realistic character trait, and I definitely have to give Sarah Monette credit for that. All the same, poor Mildmay.

I did like seeing a nice, strong female character in Mehitabel. And while I guessed that she'd eventually end up with Mildmay about ten seconds after she showed up, the journey was very nice. And I like how Gideon calms Felix down a little. The man needs it.

Again, with the small threads coming back. Mildmay's Keeper making an appearance toward the end; Rindleshin's cameo as they entered Mélusine; the return of Hugo Chandler, not to mention Cardenio; and I *knew* Malkar was going to aim for Stephen. It was simply the next logical step, and Malkar is nothing if not logical when it comes to his own ambitions. And the ghosts, of course. The dead will not stay dead.



As I said,a more detailed and coherent review later, once I've reread the book and let it sink in properly. But at the moment, all I really want to do is sit down with the author and pick her brain about how on earth to write such gorgeous and intricately structured novels.

Comments

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that Strych ever died so much as transformed himself to escape detection. He certainly put a great deal of value into different names.

I think Felix is right in that Marvotian manipulated him, but just as correct in that he used Mildmay and should feel guilt for it.

And I loved how Mildmay collects friends and loyalty the same way that Felix collects enemies and worshipers.

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

I kept wondering if there was a connection between Malkar and Strych, because I wanted to know if Malkar had any more motivation for what he was doing than what he could get out of the gang at the Bastion.

Also I'd love to see Mildmay and Felix through another narrator's POV. For one thing, I'd like a more disinterested opinioon on Mildmay's looks.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, we do know that he looks very like Felix...

[(Anonymous)]

I believe The Mirador alternates Mildmay and someone else.

Margaret

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

It's Mildmay, Felix, and someone else. She's adding Felix in her current re-write.

[(Anonymous)]

Ah! The last I heard he was complaining about not being allowed to give his POV and Sarah was being firm with him. Looks as though he won. Typical.

Margaret

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

matociquala called her on it. Basically it was something along the lines of "without this POV, this book fails to function."

I can see how she would try to avoid it, though - Felix at the end of The Virtu is insanely powerful, and while his demons and flaws remain considerable, all's well with his world. He doesn't really make a good protagonist.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not sure all is well in his world. OK, I know he's won but I feel he's going to get increasingly dissatisfied in the Mirador. He's never going to be the court's golden boy again - he's stuffed up too many relationships and he will never forget that they threw him out and have seen him mad.

I've been wondering why no-one has mentioned his dubious past again. Robert has presumably told all he knew, though that mightn't have been much, and it was certainly a big deal to Thaddeus at least, so why hasn't anyone taunted him with it?

Margaret

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

It's hard to mention such things when he's arguably the most powerful wizard the Mirador has, with a trained assasin on a leash (and whether he'd use him is a matter best left to academic debate ;), and oh, by-the-way, he's managed to repair the thing that holds not just the Cabaline school, but all of the country together and safe from attack.

Yeah, he used to be a Simside whore. But he's got a lot going for him right now.

Felix himself will be increasingly dissatisfied, but I think his thirst for knowledge will keep him trying to make change from the inside.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, he was the most powerful wizard when Robert dropped his little remark at the beginning of Melusine.

Do they know Mildmay is an assassin? Would it matter? I got the impression that the wizards didn't use their power against each other, or anyone else really, and that it was only characters that got assassinated. Felix is very powerful and very scary but I don't think he can actually do much without getting thrown out.

I'm not sure he will try to make changes from the inside - I don't think he's that interested in making the world a better place for anyone but himself and changing the culture of the Mirador would probably take years, if not generations.

With the 4th book being called Summerdown I wondered if Felix and Mildmay (and possibly Mehitabel and Gideon) leave the Mirador and settle elsewhere. I doubt that Mildmay's going to be that happy living in the Mirador and that might incline Felix to leave.

Margaret

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

Yes, but at that time, Robert stood at higher esteem with Stephen at court. Now, while Stephen and Felix don't really like each other any more than they previously did, I'm willing to bet Stephen's well aware of who has done more for him.

They do now that they know he killed Cresset. :) And the whole point of it is that Felix can't act directly against a wizard (not even Vey, not even Malkar - that's why he claims Mildmay killed him), but Mildmay can - they don't burn annemers, and anything Mildmay does doesn't matter so long as Felix himself isn't treasonous. It's a very nifty legal fiction.

As for Felix not changing things... well, he could have restored the Virtu by relying on Necromancy, if he was all that fond of the status quo. In his own very self-centered way he is interested in bettering things.

[(Anonymous)]

So who's the other then? Mehitabel? Gideaon? Someone we've met? Someone new? A friend? An enemy?

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

That, I do not know. It'd be interesting if it was someone like Shannon.

[(Anonymous)]

Mehitabel

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

Not sure it's not a wholely new person POV - though I know it's a female one.

[(Anonymous)]

From her journal:

The Mirador has a female narrator.

(For those of you who have read The Virtu, yes, it is who you think it is.)

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

Ah, 'kay then. :)

[praderwilli.livejournal.com]

And I loved how Mildmay collects friends and loyalty the same way that Felix collects enemies and worshipers.

Nail. Head. You have been hit.

This is a very astute observation. I agree about a thousand percent. ::g::

[(Anonymous)]

Pity Mildmay doesn't notice it.

Margaret

[praderwilli.livejournal.com]

It's quite sad really.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes - he doesn't believe anyone cares about him. He seems to think anyone showing signs of caring is pretending or, when it's Felix, is being manipulative.

I was hoping Felix would tell him that Thamuris and Krysogonus were missing him, but I suppose that would mean Felix confessing that he had been conversing with Thamuris and hadn't told Mildmay.

Margaret

[praderwilli.livejournal.com]

Margaret, I love your comments. I think we see the characters the same way.

I was hoping Felix would tell him that Thamuris and Krysogonus were missing him,

Me, too. I'm kind of fond of Khrysogonos, especially since he's the one in Mélusine who went to Felix begging him to go visit Mildmay. I love that scene, btw.

but I suppose that would mean Felix confessing that he had been conversing with Thamuris and hadn't told Mildmay.

True, but I was still hoping that he would at least mention it to Mildmay.

P.S. Livejournal spellcheck doesn't like Mildmay... one of the suggested corrections: Moldy

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for kind remarks! I think we do too, but divergences may yet appear.

I don't think Felix ever mentions to Mildmay that Krysogonos was very annoyed at him about his treatment of Mildmay. Yes, it is a great scene with Felix starting of all snitty.

I think Mildmay would take Felix's not mentioning the conversations as a lack of trust and we know Mildmay gets REALLY UPSET when he thinks Felix doesn't trust him.

P.S. I preferred Mildew
Margaret

[praderwilli.livejournal.com]

Thank you for kind remarks!

You're welcome. :-)

I think we do too, but divergences may yet appear.

Well, do you have a ridiculous crush on Mildmay as I do? Searching for the divergence....

I don't think Felix ever mentions to Mildmay that Krysogonos was very annoyed at him about his treatment of Mildmay.

No, he didn't- not in the book, anyway. Also, it would be out of character for Felix to mention it.

I think Mildmay would take Felix's not mentioning the conversations as a lack of trust and we know Mildmay gets REALLY UPSET when he thinks Felix doesn't trust him.

Agreed.

P.S. I preferred Mildew

::snerk::

[(Anonymous)]

Well, do you have a ridiculous crush on Mildmay as I do? Searching for the divergence....

Well, of course I do! I really, really want him to be happy but not much luck so far.

Margaret