Status Updates From Servant of the Empire (Rift...

Mara is so frustrating in this novel,I feel like I’m reading about a different character! Before, she had the foresight to look at what was happening before her and guess their purpose. But now, even though she knows the Minwanabi are out to get her, she refuses to fully think critically and reads in between the lines like she used to! She also keeps calling Kevin a barbarian or slave which is very disturbing

Mara’s enemies are actively plotting her demise and instead of focusing on how to defeat them or listening to Nacoya’s warnings, she pre occupied with Kevin… bring back Book 1 Mara bc she would never allow something like this. Im not even convinced about their “love”, it just seems lustful!

I really do not like the “romance” plot I see happening between Kevin and Mara. All he does is sexualize her and he literally called her out of her name. As much as I like the political intrigue so far, the beginning of this book is not hooking me as it did for the first one. I’d really hate to DNF this book as I’ve had to for so many other books this month 🙁

I am enjoying the political intrigue so far but I can’t help but notice the fat phobia present in this book. Almost every other sentence has some mean comment about Desio and how big or “pudgy” he is and it’s very off putting. The discussion around slavery is also bothersome. I know this book was written 30 years ago but it’s still disturbing to notice.