The Virtu (Doctrine of Labyrinth, Book 2)
by Sarah Monette
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 161)
Read in December, 2007
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Read in August, 2007
Fantasy. This is the sequel to Melusine and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first book, though you absolutely need to have read Melusine -- preferably, like, just the day before -- in order to make sense of this one. I picked this up just two weeks after I finished the first book and even then I couldn't remember who Felix was talking about half the time, and Monette doesn't drop any hints to help clue in the reader, which is kind...more
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Read in October, 2007
This is the sequel to Melusine. Renegade wizard Felix Harrowgate has regained his sanity but is hated, feared and scoffed at across two continents because of his dark past, madness and most recent betrayal, in which he inadvertantly broke the Virtu, the magical core of the Mirador. With his half-brother Mildmay in tow, Felix treks back to the Mirador, where he intends to fix the Virtu.
Now that Felix is sane again, the reader can g...more
Now that Felix is sane again, the reader can g...more
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recommends it for:
Fantasy fans, slash fans, tortured protagonist fans
Sequel to Melusine. Monette sends her protagonists back to their home city to try and repair the havoc created in book 1. While outwardly things go about as well as can be expected, relationships grow steadily more complicated. What is Felix to do with the feelings he's developing for the man he recently discovered to be his half-brother? If you're freaked out by the mere hint of incest, this may not be the book for you, but I can get pas...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
fans of Ellen Kushner or Jacqueline Carey,
This was the book that convinced me I actually liked this series. Like I said in my review of Melusine, the two books really feel like they should have been one, and this installment does tie up many of the loose threads from the previous volume. It also adds a few of its own, including one character whose reason for being I really couldn't tell. Felix is newly restored to sanity, and he and Mildmay journey from the Gardens of Nephele (love that name!) back to Melusine, hopefully to re...more
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I don't think it would work well as a standalone, but I enjoyed this sequel. There was more satisfying plot resolution at the end than in the first book, but at the same time it's clear that this is still a middle volume in a series. The pacing was also a little better, because even if you hate Felix--which I don't--I think the fact that he is no longer completely insane, as he was for almost the entire previous book, really helps. Of course, sanity does not equal healthy boundaries for Felix, e...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
fantasy fans, slashers
The sequel, or apparently the second half, to Melusine, this continues the bad, wrong and sweetly loving relationship between Felix Harrowgate and his brother Mildmay the Fox. Felix continues to be a total arse for most of the book, while tongue-tied Mildmay continues to wish he was good enough to be treated like a person. It's especially effective when the same scene is see from both points of view, and the reader gets to feel both the fru...more
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I'm wavering between a 3 and 4 for this book (a 5 star system isn't great for an indecisive person!) because although I enjoyed it, it seemed like there was scope for more depth. This is the sequel to Melusine, and although we found out more about the magic system rich fantasy world Monette constructed, I still felt like there was scope for more information on the history and politics of the featured societies. Similarly, although the relationship between the two brothers who narrate the ...more
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Read in March, 2008
This book was fabulous.
I think most of what I have to say will result in spoilers, so I'll just say that the plot was out in full force--a refreshing change from the first novel--and I adore Felix and Mildmay's relationship in all of its demented glory even if, yes, Felix is a giant prick.
If you read the first novel and aren't sure whether to continue with the series, please do, as this has everything the first one was missing and much, much more.
I think most of what I have to say will result in spoilers, so I'll just say that the plot was out in full force--a refreshing change from the first novel--and I adore Felix and Mildmay's relationship in all of its demented glory even if, yes, Felix is a giant prick.
If you read the first novel and aren't sure whether to continue with the series, please do, as this has everything the first one was missing and much, much more.
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Read in September, 2007
I am fascinated with this world, though I still have quibbles about some of it. I have to admit I like it so much more when Felix and Mildmay are back in Melusine; such that the pace dragged at the start but the story became really involving in the second half, a reverse of how I found the first book. I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series though, a good sign.
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Read in August, 2007
Felix and Mildmay are fascinating, complex characters. The Virtu gives readers even more insight into who they are and how their relationship is developing, while at the same time advancing the story and giving answers to several of the mysteries started in Melusine. I was left wanting more, and that's almost always a good thing.
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Oh i so wish Monette made a different choice of the place to break the first book, because I think it fazed out some readers. I read the two back-to-back and didn't have a problem, though. And all right, I died every time Felix called Millyfox "little brother". Seriously, love!
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The structure of this book is more balanced than the first, which you might like or not, and it gives you more of a example of Felix when he's well, which again, you might like or not. I did enjoy this book and I enjoyed both narrators, even when I wanted to smack them.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
people who like character-centric books
The Virtu is a lot better than the first one in both writing style and challenges to the characters. I must admit, that I prefer it when it's from Mildmay's point of view. Felix is someone I want to smack around perpetually.
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Read in January, 2007
My previous review of Melusine says pretty much all I have to say about this series of books. Gritty, but overall pretty good. Lots of intrigue, some characters to like, others to pretty much hate.
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See my review of Melusine, subtract a star, and you've got the Virtu. A continuation of that story, with the unfortunate fact that it's just not quite as good. See also: The Mirador.
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Great second book in the series. Continuing the adventures of Felix and Mildmay. Gotta love Mildmay. This one explores their relationship a bit more.
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Read in June, 2007
Am still incoherent about these books stop. Have just found out that there should be four books total in series stop. May have plotzed stop.
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Read in June, 2008
somewhat hard to get into right now - second in the series - I've missed stuff - might just start with the first one
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Read in June, 2008
Wonderful continuing saga of Mildmay the Fox and Felix Harrowgate. Can't wait to read the next part.
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