Zimiamvia: A Trilogy

This was an extremely fun, highly unique, and yet rather hard read.

It had a charm that was difficult to resist. The moment you picked this one up, you would find yourself embarking on one amazingly awesome adventure.

The story took you on a wild ride through various landscapes and experiences. It was filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept you on the edge of your seat.

Despite the challenges it presented in terms of its complexity, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. You couldn't help but get lost in its pages and be carried away by the excitement.

Whether you were a fan of adventure stories or simply looking for something different, this book was sure to satisfy. It was a true gem that would leave a lasting impression on your mind.

I truly relished the trilogy.

It's not the kind of book that makes you eager to flip through the pages non-stop. In fact, at times, it can feel like a bit of a slog.

However, if you have the perseverance to stick with it, you'll find that it's an extremely enjoyable read.

The story unfolds gradually, revealing its depth and complexity as you progress.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, and the world-building is immersive.

Despite the initial challenges, the payoff is well worth it.

You'll become invested in the story and the characters, and by the end, you'll be sad to see it all come to an end.

So, if you're looking for a book that requires a bit of effort but offers a rich and rewarding reading experience, this trilogy is definitely worth checking out.

There is simply nothing else that even comes close to this.

It is truly one of a kind.

If you possess the courage and determination, then by all means, read it!

This piece is not for the faint of heart.

It offers a unique perspective and challenges the reader to step out of their comfort zone.

With its engaging content and thought-provoking ideas, it has the potential to leave a lasting impact.

So, if you are ready to embark on a journey of discovery and growth, pick up this article and prepare to be amazed.

You won't regret it!

This book is truly excellent.

I have already read the first installment, and it has left me completely captivated.

The story, the characters, and the overall atmosphere of the book are all so engaging that I simply cannot wait for the next one to come out.

Every page turn has been a thrilling experience, filled with anticipation and excitement.

I find myself constantly thinking about the events and characters in the book, even when I'm not reading it.

The author has done an amazing job of creating a world that I want to be a part of.

I'm eagerly looking forward to delving deeper into this world and seeing what adventures await in the next book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story.

It's one that you won't be able to put down once you start reading.

Trust me, you'll be as eager as I am for the next installment.

I have very mixed feelings about this book.

The quality of the writing and language is truly amazing. The author's command over words and the way the sentences are constructed is something to be admired. It's like a masterclass in writing.

However, when it comes to the actual story or plot, I just didn't enjoy it. It didn't capture my interest or engage me on an emotional level.

This book, in my opinion, is one that can be read and re-read solely for the purpose of honing the craft of writing. The techniques and styles used by the author can be studied and learned from.

But as a story, it's not one that is ever going to resonate with me. It lacks that certain something that would make me connect with it and want to read it again for the sake of the story itself.

Overall, it's a bit of a disappointment in terms of the story, but a great resource for improving one's writing skills.

Okay, this series can be a hard sell. The language is deliberately, yet beautifully, flowery. The setting is antiquated and almost story-book like. The ethos requires one to admire evil men for their honor and purity of purpose while accepting that good men will fight one another for the same reason.

Plus, it wasn't finished when the author died and some of the chapters in the middle are replaced by notes describing what would happen in them. The cheesy frame story doesn't help either.

But it's well worth it. It redeems itself with its ontology and with the reasons why its characters act the way they do.

In "Mistress of Mistresses", we are introduced to Zimiamvia, a fantasy land of dukes, princesses, and armies. There is one magician, described as a philosopher, who works his wonders in the garden instead of the battlefield. Our first hero is Lessingham, the perfect specimen of the fighter: a daring general, a dashing leader, and known kingdom-wide for his honor and his mercy. Our second hero is Duke Barganax, the perfect specimen of the lover: a painter, devoted to his lover Fiorinda, and known for ruling his prosperous dukedom with kindness and generosity.

If they merged into one protagonist, you would have a book by Heinlein. Instead, the prince's death, an uncertain primogeniture, an unmarried princess, and Lessingham's sense of duty to his evil cousin puts them at the head of opposite armies in a succession war.

The military story is fine. Lessingham and his cousin, the Vicar Horius Parry, face off against the combined might of the country's admiral, the duke's own soldiers, and the armies of his allies. In between engagements, they and their agents engage in politics, betrayal, and persuasion among the nobility and among criminals.

And of course, whenever they encounter one another, as on the night before hostilities break out when everyone knows tomorrow will be war so they hold a garden party, they treat one another with civility, leading to some wonderful court insults, lies, and honesty.

"A Fish Dinner in Memison" drives us deeper into the philosophical side of the story. It takes place during the third book, shortly before a pivotal battle, when the principals come together for an evening and discuss the meaning of life. Trust me, it isn't as boring as it sounds. This isn't "My Dinner With Andre", it's a chance for gods and goddesses to make themselves known and for the world's mage to explain why the battle makes sense and what the purpose of their sacrifice is. This is an idealist's version of the Bhagadvagita and it explains many of the stranger moments in the first book.

"The Mezentian Gate" brings the story to a close by going back to before the first book. We see the politics and relationships that led to the war and in many ways resolve the political story that actually hasn't begun yet. This is the most political and "courtly" of the books and it's a wonderful chance for great character interactions.

Some people will try to tell you to read the books backwards, so you get the story in "chronological" order. But that's nonsense and heresy. The events of "The Mezentian Gate" don't work as well if you haven't yet read "A Fish Dinner in Memison". "A Fish Dinner in Memison" doesn't work as well if you don't know the characters as antagonists from "Mistress of Mistresses", and "A Fish Dinner in Memison" spoils too much of the character development in "Mistress of Mistresses" by telling you why the universe needs the characters to develop as they do.

These aren't light fantasy, but they aren't nearly as heavy as some other, more popular, books. Give them a try. Read some of the text out loud to get a sense of the beauty of the language. Skip the framing chapters at the beginning of "Mistress of Mistresses" if they bother you (but go back and read them later; they will make sense then).

Get this omnibus edition with the forewords by Thomas and Winter if you can. They make the series a much more rewarding read.

Not my cup of tea at all.

These rambling monologues with numbered references are just too confusing.

It makes you have to constantly flick back and forth to try and figure out what the speaker just said.

It's really a pain in the neck.

No thanks!

This hefty tome was recommended by J R R Tolkien, one of my favourite authors, and so I persevered with it.

It is an extraordinary mixture of the exotic, the detailed, and the brutal. For instance, one of the characters kills one of his hunting dogs that is misbehaving with his own hands.

It took me a while to work out that Aphrodite manifests herself within the various female characters in the book. The over the top descriptions of physical perfection in the female characters and luxurious settings read almost like a parody as they are so extreme.

I find myself wondering whether ordinary women, in terms of looks, have any place in the mind of the author. I was also confused by the fact that the women were not in any way noble characters but seemed to be excused everything they did on the basis that they were so beautiful.

The men are much more well drawn characters and more believable, and therefore more likeable. The author maintains that he is not a poet and yet his descriptions read like poetry - they are beautifully crafted.

The time settings switch from the mediaeval to the 1950s without warning, and I was startled to suddenly find parts of Norfolk near where I live described in detail. It makes the reading experience both fascinating and a bit disorienting at times.

Overall, despite some of its flaws, this book has its own charm and keeps the reader engaged with its unique blend of elements.