Comments on: Book Review: The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas

By: Vive La France (Dragons World Tour: France) (17/6/09) | Stephen Deas

Vive La France (Dragons World Tour: France) (17/6/09) | Stephen Deas — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:21:13 +0000

[...] a new review. The usual split of opinions, only this time packed into a single review. “I swear that to [...]

By: Ana

Ana — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:20:26 +0000

Hello Stephen

thanks for your comment, and for the fascinating insight on a book that inspired you . I always love to know how/where writers get their ideas from.

Jehal is one character I liked to a point. I saw glimpses of someone I could come to care for in those unguarded moments where he cried (right at the beggining after being comfronted by the Speaker) or when he was with his new wife. I would love to learn more about him to the point of being haunted. either for the good or bad.

Looking forward to reading the sequel!!

By: Stephen Deas

Stephen Deas — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:18:02 +0000

It’s true that most of the characters are selfish bastards. It’s pretty clear that for some people, this really really works, and for others, it really really doesn’t.

A long time ago, I read The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. For most of the book I was a bit bored. The characters struck me as two-dimensional and cartoonish. And then something happened. Just as the horror of the denouement was about to descend, the characters suddenly somehow flipped into three dimensions. The cardboard cut-outs I’d sneered and laughed at suddenly became people with souls. As I watched their world fall apart, I felt guilty and ashamed. That’s just how one book happened to work for me, but it’s haunted me ever since, and now that’s what I’m trying to do, trying to recapture that.

My muse is largely right – the second book will be slower (not a lot slower, but it will be slower). It will advance the story, obviously, but if I’m doing my job right, it will give the world and the characters some more depth. But if you get that far and if I’ve done my job really right, the shallow selfish bastard that is Jehal will haunt you long after you put book three down.

Oh yeah, and book three is written. Needs a lot of polishing work, but it’s all there. Mwah ha ha…

By: The Adamantine Palace (19th March 2009) | Stephen Deas

The Adamantine Palace (19th March 2009) | Stephen Deas — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:55:09 +0000

[...] The book smuggler pretty much sums it up with “I swear that to read this book, is probably the closest you will ever get to being inside say, the Borgia’s inner circle.” and “…the plot in this book is utterly fascinating…” but “I am, essentially a character-driven reader who missed someone to connect with and to truly root for (or even against).” It’s true that most of the characters are selfish bastards. It’s pretty clear that for some people, this really really works, and for others, it really really doesn’t. [...]

By: Ana

Ana — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:23:17 +0000

Dear Michaela(part time muse of author )

Thanks for your comment. Glad to know that the author will be able to expand on the characters and thanks the heavens for a map. (I am the sort of reader that needs and loves them!)

I think the link did not work, so I will try it again: http://www.stephendeas.com

By: Michaela Deas (part time muse of author)

Michaela Deas (part time muse of author) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:10:27 +0000

Hmmh, didn’t take the link – let’s try this again!

By: Michaela Deas (part time muse of author)

Michaela Deas (part time muse of author) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:07:23 +0000

Trust me, when I say that the author was under strict editorial instruction to not write a sprawling tome (which is what he usually does ) and to make the chapters short and action driven. The next books will be alot slower with fewer chapters and you will get more of an insight into the characters. And there might well be a map of the realms and a gazetteer with tons of additional material going online soonish at You cannot please everyone and so far the opinions re. world building etc. appear to be split pretty much 50/50

Thanks for the review – constructive criticism is positively encouraged

By: orannia

orannia — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:41:48 +0000

Thank you Ana!

…the machinations of power-hungry, ruthless characters.

OK, that has me hooked. But if the book isn’t character-driven then I guess all those machinations feel a bit…empty? Hmmm. My library has it but I’m guessing I should read In the Name of the Wind first

By: Doug Knipe [SciFiGuy]

Doug Knipe [SciFiGuy] — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:02:44 +0000

I think I’ll take your recommendation to see how the series progresses with the next book before I try this. Character development is pretty important to me too and these days a smart book isn’t quite enough without the other elements. I love books with political but there needs to be more than that.

By: Ana

Ana — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:29:17 +0000

M *g* yes, the cover is amazing.

Kmont- I don’t think you will like it either.

Lusty Reader – I do think Snow is one of the best things about the book. If you are really interested in reading the book, drop me an email at contact@thebooksmugglers.com and I will send you my copy!

Jeff – Kvothe is to blame for the way I review now. I end up comparing every single book I read to the Name of the Wind and they are fall short, obviously. The greastest strenght of TNOTW is definitely in its characterisation of Kvothe. Gotta love them anti-heroes.

I really do need to read Joe Abercrombie though. The Blade Itself has been gathering dust for such a long time in my TBR