The Virtu: Initial Thoughts
Jul. 4th, 2006 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lareinenoireRead 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.
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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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-06 05:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-06 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-07 05:48 am (UTC)I adore Felix even though he is quite the drama queen, what with his desire to always be the center of attention and his histrionics. And I love his sense of humor. He's very amusing.
But, what I love most in the books is the relationship between Felix and Mildmay, in spite of its fucked-up-ed-ness there is an intense bond of love and loyalty between them. I am interested to see how their relationship will develop and what part the obligation d'âme will play. I remain hopeful that Felix has learned his lesson and won't abuse that power anymore.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-08 12:29 am (UTC)The relationship is really the centre, sorry, heart, of the books.
I wonder if Felix will try to break the obligation - if anyone can find out how it's him. Though, if he stops using it, there mightn't be any real reason to do so.
Felix has had enough of a shock that he might have learnt his lesson about using it. Of course, having Mildmay say "Remember what happened last time" might stop him but Mildmay probably wouldn't say it. I did think, when Felix started using it, that a well placed "Yes master" might have had an interesting effect :-)
It has occurred to me that punishing Felix is pretty pointless - there isn't much that can be done to him that he hasn't been through and got used to.
Margaret
no subject
Date: 2006-07-08 04:42 am (UTC)Heh. So very true. It's fun reading about drama queens, but putting up with one 24/7 would be very trying. :-)
I wonder if Felix will try to break the obligation - if anyone can find out how it's him.
That's an interesting thought. Felix certainly has the intelligence and the power to figure out a means to break the obligation. Hmmm... I wouldn't mind seeing that happen.
I did think, when Felix started using it, that a well placed "Yes master" might have had an interesting effect :-)
LOL! That sounds like what I would have said under those circumstances. But Mildmay... not so much. Still would have been funny and perhaps effective in getting Felix to see reason.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-09 11:35 pm (UTC)Not much point while they're in the Mirador as Mildmay's life expectancy would be measured in days without it, but if they left ... And Felix did manage to break the obligation de sang, more or less.
BTW I've been wondering what Malkar was up to with those letters to Felix. He clearly didn't expect Mildmay to turn up so who was he expecting? Felix? I really can't imagine Felix doing his own dirty work and I doubt Malkar would expect it, so the most probable person would a hired killer who wouldn't give Malkar any sort of handle on Felix. So what was the point? And would he really expect Felix to risk himself to rescue Mildmay? From the Bastion??
And what was Felix up to? He rushes off to rescue Mildmay from Malkar, with the intention of killing Malkar but doesn't seem to have any plans beyond Mildmay's rescue. He's never successfully resisted Malkar before so why would expect to able to kill him now? In spite of his saying that it would be disastrous for him to fall into Malkar's hands it seems it seems that is where he puts himself.
Margaret
no subject
Date: 2006-07-06 10:03 pm (UTC)Margaret
no subject
Date: 2006-07-07 01:31 am (UTC)Margaret
no subject
Date: 2006-07-07 05:37 am (UTC)About 30 years of therapy. Or perhaps a bottle of really good scotch. ;-P
Sorry. You probably didn't want a facetious answer. I think he needs more love and companionship in his life. He particularly needs Felix's love and attention. I think Mildmay values his relationship with Felix more than anything else in the world. That's one of my favorite things about these books is the intense relationship between Felix and Mildmay.
Apart from being convinced that Felix loves him, I mean
Well, I think that's an essential key to Mildmay's happiness. Or at least, in general, being convinced that he is a lovable and worthy human being. But how to accomplish that is beyond me, aside from the aforementioned psychiatric therapy and good booze.
Perhaps Mehitabel will be able to help in that arena. He does seem to be able to talk to her and venting is cathartic.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-07 08:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-08 12:07 am (UTC)(odd what a strong moral sense he has, all things considered, isn't it)
That's one of the things I love so much about Mildmay is his strong moral compass. I think you're right to point out that creates a lot of the unhappiness in his life since he is compelled to actions that he knows are morally wrong.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-08 12:41 am (UTC)While he's tied to Felix by the obligation d'âme and living in the Mirador he can't support himself, that is take on any work for anyone else. His support is Felix's responsibility.
Margaret
no subject
Date: 2006-07-08 04:51 am (UTC)Perhaps that will be in the next book. Mildmay is obviously highly intelligent but he does have difficulty with learning to read. Maybe he's the equivalent of dyslexic?
Mind you, I think his refusal to speak grammatically is deliberate.
I think you're dead on here. Very deliberate and rebellious.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-09 11:38 pm (UTC)I got the impression that Keeper was the one teaching him to read. If so, perhaps that why he can't.
Margaret
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 06:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 05:17 pm (UTC)But he's good with maps. So he's very good at the spatial, visual, language aspects of learning. Wonder how he is at math?