A cozy epic with Goblin Emporer-y vibes. I laughed, I cried, and thought about what it means to be the one who leaves home. ( )

Comparing this to Sarah Monette/Katherine Addison's "The Goblin Emperor" does both books a disservice: TGE, because it's a far better novel, and Hands because it makes the novel's flaws worse by comparison. This is not "what if TGE but longer", nor is it Csevet Aisava/Maia Drazhar fanfiction, unless it's a very bad approximation of both those things. A lot of people who like TGE think it's TGE but longer. At least a few don't. I'm among the latter, and I'm at the point where I find the comparison ridiculous and wonder what book people read when they were reading TGE. But given so many people recommend this as "TGE but more", I'll run with that here for folks who expect to find that (particularly for those who are confused when they don't).

One major issue in the comparison is the opening. Monette has strong openings in her work, exemplified particularly well in TGE. Hands does not. It is at first tedious and then even more tedious by going into a literal fishing trip, which is partially described with inaccurate sailing terminology. There is no real sense of character or plot, and I find Cliopher more exasperating than compelling. I love Csevet, but I cannot even remotely pretend Cliopher is any version of him, and on Cliopher's own, absent comparisons, I can't stand him. The political analysis is also incredibly stupid to the point of farce.

Another comparison issue is that TGE at once feels long and also doesn't. Your mileage may vary, but I've always described it as the longest, most detailed political fantasy that doesn't feel its length. For all its faults, and TGE has a number, this is one of the good things about it (I adore TGE, but I acknowledge it's not perfect). Hands doesn't have that, and describing a positive as "TGE but longer", as many people have, is an incredibly strange thing to say, given one of TGE's highlights is that it doesn't outstay its welcome (and much as I'd love more of its ideas to be explored, I'm not sure the experience would be improved if the book were 2-3 times as long). All Hands does is focus in on minute details in an overly cluttered story, dragging out scenes beyond what they should be, throwing in a dozen different concepts without connection, and making the story read like a collection of first draft ideas that never saw an edit. This isn't helped by the frequently stilted dialogue.

If you love this book/series and think it's TGE but longer, I won't convince you otherwise. If you haven't read TGE, I would highly recommend it, as it's a wonderful fantasy novel, and in my opinion, Hands is no reflection on TGE's quality. If you like TGE and want more of it, there's a spin-off trilogy called "The Cemeteries of Amalo" (along with two short stories). Book 3 comes out in 2024. Monette also has a large catalogue of work to browse, and her quartet fantasy series, "The Doctrine of Labyrinths", is coming back in English ebooks in entirety on July 11, 2023. There are quite a few m/m fantasy political thrillers out there, now, so this really isn't all you're stuck with. Maybe you'll like this novel too, since so many people do. I didn't. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2023/01/2023011-hands-of-emperor-victoria.html ( )

What a way to start a new reading year (2023)! A complex and rich world and characters it would take someone far more hard-bitten than me not to adore and relish. Go read the blurbs for the essentials, I won't bother with them here. What matters are the relationships, Cliopher's relationship to his enormous, rambunctious and faraway family and Cliopher and his deepening friendship with His Radiancy, the Last Emperor (after a magical cataclysm). Isolation, loneliness, and the prejudices of an aristocracy that has lasted for thousands of years, affect Cliopher deeply while the Emperor too, struggles with the emptiness of being treated like a god. I love the way magic is handled -- somewhat remotely but with assurance. Really I can't do the book justice, but I enjoyed every word. ***** ( )

Cliopher Mdang is the secretary (read: second-in-command) to the Emperor, the Sun-on-Earth, a literal god, ruler of the entire world. It's a heady position, but Cliopher, or Kip, as he's known to his family, is both humble and civic-minded. He just wants to serve his lord and make the world a better place. But he's noticed, lately, that His Radiance looks a little... tired, maybe? Would it be the height of presumption to suggest a vacation? Kip knows just the place...

I loved every bit of this book. I didn't want it to end; I am thrilled that there is a sequel and that this author has written other books (though why are they so expensive and hard to find?!). I could say that this book is light on plot, and that there was one misunderstanding (Kip's family and friends being completely unaware of his importance, even after seeing him made Chancellor) that I felt went on way too long, and that the library ebook version that I read had several typographical errors. But none of that matters because I loved it so much. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed The Goblin Emperor. ( )