Vorkosigan 14.5--The Flowers of Vashnoi--note--numbers are OUR reading order only

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

Here is the discussion for the novella, The Flowers of Vashnoi

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Started it today, seems a fun sidequel

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Good - I liked how they showed Cordelia's work with the poorer areas of the district had progressed.

Good - I liked how it showed how in love Miles and Ekaterin are.

Bad - Lack of real mystery plotline or any real theme which made Mountains of Mourning so good.

Bad - I don't like this talk of Miles dying young!!!!

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

Lee wrote: "Bad - I don't like this talk of Miles dying young!!!"

So agree! But he was always so damaged and then so reckless that I guess we are lucky we had him as long as we did!

[John]

Thanks! This is a new one for me. I really enjoyed the entire series and will read this in a few days.

Note that I was able to find it on Audible Plus so bonus that I can read it now for no cost: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Flower...

[Antti]

I'm sorry I saved this for last, because I found it to be one of the weakest works in the whole saga - almost as bad as Winterfair Gifts. The plot was basically an amalgamation of Mountains of Mourning and Penric and the Shaman, and it was pretty boring and rote.

I don't like Enrique as a character, but I looked forward seeing Ekaterin in new context. I was sorely disappointed, though: in Komarr, she had personality and depth, but now every time we see her she becomes more and more generic wife-heroine. Her characterization is moving backwards!

[Eva]

Yes, this was one of the weaker ones for me, too, but still enjoyable. A solid 3 stars. I also wish it had been longer and had had more humor.

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

Looking back on this, I am surprised I rated it 4 stars. I think I will reduce it to three stars if I think of it. It was interesting to see the fallout zone, but otherwise, meh.

[Eva]

Me too! Just realized I had it at 4 stars - I do love Bujold but this one was just an "I liked it".