Unbound, by Jim Hines

[rowyn]

Unbound is the third book in Hines's Libriomancer series.

As with the first book, I found this one improved as it approached the climax, with several clever uses of the magic available to the protagonists. The characters are a little overwhelmed by the plot in this book: it's a big world-and-history-spanning epic, with lots of ramifactions that reverbate through the narrative.I do like the way the series started as a "secret magic" setting, and is evolving into "secret exploded, everybody knows" instead.

Isaac has been ground down by the events of the last two books, but still gets some delightfully geeky moments. The polyamory angle is handled well, with maturity and commitment on the part of the participants, and obvious imperfections that they deal with. There were some weaknesses in the book, but overall I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the series' conclusion, coming out in February! (I will note that the book has a solid conclusion:it resolves the central conflict decisively. No cliffhangers!) I'll give it an 8.5.

Comments

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I will have to figure out if I want to read the 4th book enough to buy it at its initial hardcover-lite price or I want to wait for paperback/corresponding cheapening. :)

[rowyn]

Normally I'd plan to check it out from the library, but it goes on sale on the same day Further Arrangements does, so I'm tempted to buy it. But I might get it from the library anyway, because my inner grinch is so cheap. c_c

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Clever uses of magic is always good. But do I want to read through the secret magic part of the series to get to the part without it?

[rowyn]

I think you'd enjoy the series, although there is like 2.5 books of secret-magic stuff to get through. The way the narrator uses the magic system reminds me of Pip, though. I suppose it's possible you'd be put off because you could think of MUCH CLEVERER things to do! :) But I liked the first book especially.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

One thing that bugged me about the Libriomancer series is the whole, 'why haven't you escalated all the way up?' That totally would've been the first thing I did with access to that sort of magic. Exalt the entire planet, ascend humanity, etc. etc. There has to be something from some of the sci-fi books I read that would enable that...