The Tyrant

by Seth Dickinson

Shir moves, a shrug, a shiver. Behold what I am. “I escaped all meaning. You cannot. You are a reader of books and an interpreter of signs. When you look at the stars you see constellations. I only see lights. That is why I cannot be mastered.”

This exchange right here kind of summarizes what's interesting about this novel specifically. The conflict between a person who's power and worldview is based around the political vs a person who is entirely practical. Great book btw, 10/10.

homme fatale

Excellent worldbuilding is inferring the presence of homme fatale as an in universe literary trope