I always worry about the middle book of a trilogy, especially a traditional high fantasy trilogy. While the first book can be used for introducing characters, developing plot, world building, etc. and the third book contains the final build-up to the hopefully awesome climax, the middle book is often left with the task of bridging the two. Movie trilogies are sometimes successful (Empire Strikes Back and Godfather II come to mind) but it seems rare that a trilogy of novels can pull it off.JV Jones has done it. While I enjoyed the first novel in this trilogy, The Baker's Boy, I thought this one was quite a bit better. It's also the second published by the author and her progress as a writer is a delight to behold. It certainly promises great things for the third book of the series. As for the book itself, I was pleased to see that this was not merely a bridge to a final book but rather had a nicely developed structure and plot as well as further character development. Several sub plots are hatched and completed within this volume, all serving to move the larger story along. We get to learn much more about the main characters from the first book and are introduced to new characters as well. Especially noteworthy are the introduction of the two guards, Grift and Bodger. They have minor roles (but one critical role) and really serve as a sort of comic relief between chapters. Guards are usually relegated to the background color in fantasy novels so it's nice to see what a couple of bored guardsmen talk about to pass the time.I was also pleasantly surprised to see how far Ms. Jones has deviated from the traditional and predictable "assistant pig-keeper" plot that the first book suffered from. Lots of palace intrigue here, political maneuvering, romantic maneuvering, all in the name of power. The stakes are getting higher and the end of this book definitely sets us up for a rousing climax in the third book. I was very close to a 5-star rating for this one and expect the third book might just do it.
The second instalment in the Book of Words trilogy is much more exciting than the first one. In fact, I would rather have read a summary of the first book and skipped straight to this one (if it weren't for Baralis and Maybor's Loony Tunes assassination attempts, I might have done so). This book is much more fast paced than the first one and Jack's character becomes more tolerable as he seems to wisen up and become less immature. The ending smacks of JV Jones' later work in the Sword of Shadows Series, honestly it felt like that end scene could have been taken right out of that series. I'm really excited to find out what's going to happen with Kylock next (I love a crazed lunatic, I'm especially fond of that nutter Izgard in JV Jones' Barbed Coil). I did find Bodger and Grift's occasional philosophical conversations a bit tiresome, I think their brand of comic relief subtracted from an otherwise rapidly intensifying plot. I have yet to judge this series fully as I haven't read the 3rd one yet, but already it feels like there have been lots of interesting characters introduced and sent on their own journeys but we'll never get to find out what happens to them once they leave the scene.
What do You think about A Man Betrayed (1996)?
Quel ne fut ma surprise en refeuilletant le livre de tomber sur l'intro et d'y découvrir que derrière les initiales J.V. se cachait Julie Victoria, une femme. o_OJe ne l'aurais jamais deviné car cela ne transparait pas franchement dans son écriture.Ce volume a beau faire 850 pages, et afficher une certaine épaisseur, on ne les voit pas défiler, captivé(e) par l'intrigue, et l'action non stop. Avec Jones je redécouvre de la Fantasy comme je l'aime : bien écrite, palpitante, imprévisible et avec des personnages hauts et admirablement contrastés.
—Angie
I love these books!! The plot and subplots are amazing!I <3 Tawl :pIn this book basically Melli is seperated by Jack, and taken to be sold, but gets sold to the duke of Bren. Meanwhile Tawl has lost his ways and is becoming dodge in the city of Bren while Nabber tries to help him. Kylock is envading countries causing war, while Baralis is overseeing that the mariage will come through. Then Jack is taken to a family that decieves him and at teh very end he is being taught by a real man who can teach him how to control the socerey.
—Laura
This book has made up for the first in the series. Here we get to know characters like Nabber better, and Tawl, and yet - Maybor, who I thought was kind of a slime ball in the first book, turns out to be one of those characters the author just changes to match whatever thread of the plot he should be a part of. I mean - one minute he seems fine to be without his daughter. The next he's thrilled to see her. First he's thinking how his sons are enough, and then he's thinking of offering a reward for Melli's return. What? Tawl and Nabber are wonderful, I must say, and Jack, when not throwing himself into senseless beatings and wounds, is much more likeable. The plot is fleshed out nicely in this one, and I finally started believing in the world. So I'd say this makes up for the first one, and I'm on to the next.
—Sarah
