The Mirador

'The Mirador' is the third book in a trilogy written by Sarah Monette. This book is about the continuing story of Felix Harrowgate, and his half-brother Mildmay the Fox. Mehitabel Parr becomes a major figure in this story. I felt that this book was addictive! There are so many explanations and mysteries revealed that I felt that I didn't want to miss anything. Sarah -again-does such a phenomenal job of creating such multi-dimensional characters. It seems that everyone has secrets and a dark past. I also thought that this book was equally emotionally charged as the other two books. Felix and Mildmay both have handled their abuse suffered at Malkar Gennadion's hands differently, but with equally disastrous results. Gideon suffers a terrible end, and Mildmay's nightmares of his past as an assassin continue to haunt him. I found that I liked Mehitabel Parr as a major voice and character in this book. Her past is revealed as well, which again explains many things about her that were merely alluded to in the second book, 'The Virtu'. You might be able to jump into the series by reading 'The Mirador', but the author does not give any review of the events leading up to this third book. You will understand it, but so much of this third book covers events from the first two books. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, and the evolving story of Felix and Mildmay. Sarah Monette has becomes one of my favorite authors!

I've now read all 3 of Monette's books in this series. I've been reading fantasy for more than 50 years, and I can honestly say---Wow! This woman can write!! This is character-driven fiction. And what wonderful, multidimensional, complex characters. Mildmay has to be one of the most fascinating voices in all literature. He's the reader's "honest informant"; I'd love for his voice to go on and on through another few books...Her plots are serpentine, political and unexpected, and the world she's created is at once familiar, so we don't get lost in the world-building, and exotic, so we find a new experience on every page. Talk about mind candy. I will now read anything this talented woman chooses to write, so all I ask is that she keep on working and give us more. Of anything.

Sarah Monette has created an absolutely fascinating world, but it is her characters who really draw me in. I love both Felix and Mildmay (though Mildmay is my favorite). I wasn't sure if I would like having Mehitabel as a narrator, but it seemed to work and allowed the reader to see outside both Mildmay and Felix. I don't know if I enjoyed this 3rd installment as much as the first two. Don't get me wrong, I liked it quite a bit. And the first 2 were so good, that even if this one wasn't as engaging, it is still worth 5 stars.

This is a profoundly upsetting book, worse even than the previous two in the series. That probably doesn't sound like much of a compliment, yet it is, because the reason this novel leaves you in such an emotional muddle is entirely due to the depth of affection you feel for the characters. There's not a fantasy author in the business right now better than Ms. Monette at drawing you into her world and making you believe absolutely in the people she's writing about. There's not as much pure adventure in this novel as there is in its two predecessors, which is inevitable given the fact that the action takes place entirely in Melusine. Nor does this book exhibit the solid emotional core that made _The Virtu_ such a joy to read--the complicated, fascinating relationship between Mildmay and Felix. While that certainly still exists, it is neither explored nor developed. Felix has lapsed back into his nasty, self-centered ways, and is backsliding by degrees on the promise he made to his brother not to use their magical bond against him. Mildmay is stuck, for most of the novel, in exactly the same amnesiac place he occupied when _The Virtu_ ended. And there are very few scenes in the book that involve only the two brothers. You understand why they're being so cautious, and yet so careless, with each other, yet you can't help but feel frustrated by the distance between them. You hope for better, but you never get more than occasional echoes of the intensity that characterized their journey back to Melusine. All that aside, the plot does move with its expected intricacy from point A to point B, Mehitabel's character emerges from the shadows, Mildmay continues to exhibit his extraordinary talent for finding his way through mazes both literal and figurative, and Felix narrowly escapes the gruesome fate planned for him by his enemies. By the time the book ends you do have reason to hope that life is going to improve for the brothers, which I suppose is about as much in the way of optimism as one can expect from such a dark, painful novel. This is an excellent read. The book won't make any sense if you try to start with it, though, so begin at the beginning with _Melusine_ if you haven't already. And if you've visited Ms. Monette's world before, by all means keep going with it. It's very much worth your time.