Jayson’s Reviews > The Ring of Solomon > Status Update
Jayson
is 52% done
Notes:
(1) So far, this hasn't felt urgent and there's no real threat. It's about a teenage assassin commanded by the Queen of Sheba to kill King Solomon, all because of unjust taxation.
- Granted, much bloodshed's been kicked off over less, but it just seems very small potatoes, and nothing that justifies regicide.
(2) This teenager being an object of desire for older men, including Bartimaeus, is pretty unsettling.
— Aug 27, 2023 10:00PM
(1) So far, this hasn't felt urgent and there's no real threat. It's about a teenage assassin commanded by the Queen of Sheba to kill King Solomon, all because of unjust taxation.
- Granted, much bloodshed's been kicked off over less, but it just seems very small potatoes, and nothing that justifies regicide.
(2) This teenager being an object of desire for older men, including Bartimaeus, is pretty unsettling.
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is finished
Notes:
(1) I think I enjoyed this slightly more than I did the first time I read it. Being an audiobook made the difference. Though, it doesn't really change my opinion about the content. Especially on the heels of "Ptolemy's Gate," which was better in every way.
(2) The protagonist, Asmira, never rose above her basic description.
- Just another generic orphaned, strong-willed girl, like so many other MG/YA heroines.
— Sep 01, 2023 11:40PM
(1) I think I enjoyed this slightly more than I did the first time I read it. Being an audiobook made the difference. Though, it doesn't really change my opinion about the content. Especially on the heels of "Ptolemy's Gate," which was better in every way.
(2) The protagonist, Asmira, never rose above her basic description.
- Just another generic orphaned, strong-willed girl, like so many other MG/YA heroines.
Jayson
is 77% done
Notes:
(1) I think one reason this book isn't clicking for me is it's not particularly special.
- The previous books were set in the present day with an interesting contrast between exotic magical beings and an almost Victorian British formality.
- This is set in the ancient Middle East where magic and djinnis are par for the course. It's not on-its-face interesting, meaning the story and characters bear that burden.
— Aug 31, 2023 08:00PM
(1) I think one reason this book isn't clicking for me is it's not particularly special.
- The previous books were set in the present day with an interesting contrast between exotic magical beings and an almost Victorian British formality.
- This is set in the ancient Middle East where magic and djinnis are par for the course. It's not on-its-face interesting, meaning the story and characters bear that burden.
Jayson
is 27% done
Notes:
(1) The ancient Kingdom of Sheba, at least in this alternate history, appears to be a matriarchal society, where the ruling class and elite are all women and men toil in the fields.
- I'm no expert, but I doubt the ancient Middle East was ever so Amazonian.
- The way it's described sort of reminds me of a beehive.
(2) King Solomon's portrayed as a harsh ruler. Not quite a tyrant, but definitely not a nice guy.
— Aug 26, 2023 10:30PM
(1) The ancient Kingdom of Sheba, at least in this alternate history, appears to be a matriarchal society, where the ruling class and elite are all women and men toil in the fields.
- I'm no expert, but I doubt the ancient Middle East was ever so Amazonian.
- The way it's described sort of reminds me of a beehive.
(2) King Solomon's portrayed as a harsh ruler. Not quite a tyrant, but definitely not a nice guy.
Jayson
is starting
Notes:
(1) It's quite a ballsy move to set this series in Ancient Israel. Especially over a decade ago when anything Biblical was treated with more reverence. To say that miracles and divine acts in scripture were actually carried out by demons is fairly blasphemous.
- Even Rick Riordan, in the present with modern attitudes, only ever grazed the subject and only to mark Judeo-Christian tradition as entirely separate.
— Aug 25, 2023 10:05PM
(1) It's quite a ballsy move to set this series in Ancient Israel. Especially over a decade ago when anything Biblical was treated with more reverence. To say that miracles and divine acts in scripture were actually carried out by demons is fairly blasphemous.
- Even Rick Riordan, in the present with modern attitudes, only ever grazed the subject and only to mark Judeo-Christian tradition as entirely separate.
