The Virtu (Doctrine of Labyrinths, #2) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Mar 17, 2012 Jamie Collins rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This is a lot like the first book, except that Felix is less crazy and a lot meaner, and Mildmay has become a complete doormat. The dynamic between them has gotten weird, without the excuse of one of them being insane. The author often uses a technique that I associate with romance novels: she gives the reader two points of view of the same scene, where both parties are misinterpreting the other’s actions or intentions.

Now that I think back on the first book, I guess Mildmay has always had a sub ...more

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Dec 28, 2007 Schnaucl rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, fiction, fantasy, read_2007, later_purchased, december, lgbtqia, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Warning: This review contains spoilers. Read at your own risk

I really liked this book, too. With Felix's madness gone, it was a pleasure to read from his point of view again (though I continue to enjoy Mildmay as well).

The world and magic system are ever more rich and complex. I enjoyed seeing so many of the characters from the first novel make a return appearance. While in the first novel I initially hoped that Felix woudl get together with Giddeon, by the end I was rooting for Felix/Mildmay (a Warning: This review contains spoilers. Read at your own risk

I really liked this book, too. With Felix's madness gone, it was a pleasure to read from his point of view again (though I continue to enjoy Mildmay as well).

The world and magic system are ever more rich and complex. I enjoyed seeing so many of the characters from the first novel make a return appearance. While in the first novel I initially hoped that Felix woudl get together with Giddeon, by the end I was rooting for Felix/Mildmay (and still am, though in some ways it looks unlikely). I like that Monette addresses the fact that it's technically incest headon and I completely believe that it doesn't bother Felix (the way it might had they actually been raised together).

It's true that much of the tension and angst could be resolved if Mildmay and Felix would just talk to each other, but it's completely believable that they don't. They obviously trust each other with their lives, but really talking about what was bothering them would require both self-awareness and much more vulnerability and neither of them likes to be vulnerable (being open is not the same as being vulnerable). I think it's easier for them to talk about the past, even the things in the past they've kept from everyone else, than it is to talk about how they feel. And frankly, I don't think Felix can be trusted with Mildmay's heart. He'd want to be good to him, but he'd get careless and hurt him all over again. I like that he's self aware enough to actually say that at one point (though honestly, I can't remember if it was in this book or the one before).

It makes sense to me that Felix can't just change over night, even if he wants to. But neither is he a static character. He learns from his mistakes and tries to be more aware of them in the future. But like most people, he has relapses. Frequent relapses.

I look forward to reading more about these characters, seeing them change and grow. I'm concerned about Mildmay now, and very anxious to read the next book. ...more

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Jul 28, 2008 Kimberly rated it really liked it

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 repair the V ...more

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