![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
The White Dragon - Chapter Eighteen
Nov. 27th, 2020 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalinaraSo last time...stuff happened.
Look, to be honest with you, I've completely checked out of this book at this point. Jaxom is aggravating and tedious. Robinton is worse. And while I actually do really like the political element of the Weyrs, Holds and Southern Continent, that thread is unfortunately just a backdrop for the characters I dislike.
Oh, I'm sure Jaxom will do something important at some point. Eventually. I hope. He saved the egg in Chapter Six. We've had twice as many chapters since then, with pretty much nothing. So god willing, he'll be doing SOMETHING soon. We're only three chapters from the end!
I think ultimately my problem with this book, and Jaxom in general, is actually similar to my problem with Dragonsinger and Menolly. Though Menolly is admittedly far less obnoxious. The problem is that both characters could be the center of truly interesting or fun stories, but Ms. McCaffrey, for whatever reason, isn't interested in those stories.
Menolly is the first female Harper. That SHOULD bring with it unique challenges and perspectives and possibilities. Instead, we saw Menolly rock some music classes and then...nothing.
Jaxom is the young Lord of Ruatha. And that in and of itself could be a really interesting story. We could have seen what it truly meant to be a Lord in such a perilous setting, and have to be responsible for so many lives. Jaxom would have to learn to manage different pressures and expectations. He'd have to figure out how to allocate sparse resources and ensure that everyone is protected. Ms. McCaffrey could have even played up the divided loyalties a bit more. Jaxom thinks of himself as a Weyrman, but maybe Ruatha would also benefit from the resources available in the South. Maybe Jaxom has to learn to juggle that, while proving himself worthy to finally take his kingdom.
We get none of that though. We get some lip service to Jaxom feeling restless and powerless, but there's no sign of any attempt to improve his situation. There's no acknowledgment of the reasons why a Lord of Ruatha can't just be an ordinary dragonman. He shows carelessness with his subordinates, taking advantage of them professionally (Brand, the people who run the firestone mines, the watchdragon) or personally (Corana). He's not even been in his kingdom for five chapters.
In three chapters, this book will end. I'm assuming it will end with Jaxom as Lord of Ruatha. But he's done nothing to show his worthiness of it, and I have a hard time believing that will change. But I'd like to be wrong.
Now I should probably stop stalling and get to the actual review, right?
( Maybe it'll surprise me )
Look, to be honest with you, I've completely checked out of this book at this point. Jaxom is aggravating and tedious. Robinton is worse. And while I actually do really like the political element of the Weyrs, Holds and Southern Continent, that thread is unfortunately just a backdrop for the characters I dislike.
Oh, I'm sure Jaxom will do something important at some point. Eventually. I hope. He saved the egg in Chapter Six. We've had twice as many chapters since then, with pretty much nothing. So god willing, he'll be doing SOMETHING soon. We're only three chapters from the end!
I think ultimately my problem with this book, and Jaxom in general, is actually similar to my problem with Dragonsinger and Menolly. Though Menolly is admittedly far less obnoxious. The problem is that both characters could be the center of truly interesting or fun stories, but Ms. McCaffrey, for whatever reason, isn't interested in those stories.
Menolly is the first female Harper. That SHOULD bring with it unique challenges and perspectives and possibilities. Instead, we saw Menolly rock some music classes and then...nothing.
Jaxom is the young Lord of Ruatha. And that in and of itself could be a really interesting story. We could have seen what it truly meant to be a Lord in such a perilous setting, and have to be responsible for so many lives. Jaxom would have to learn to manage different pressures and expectations. He'd have to figure out how to allocate sparse resources and ensure that everyone is protected. Ms. McCaffrey could have even played up the divided loyalties a bit more. Jaxom thinks of himself as a Weyrman, but maybe Ruatha would also benefit from the resources available in the South. Maybe Jaxom has to learn to juggle that, while proving himself worthy to finally take his kingdom.
We get none of that though. We get some lip service to Jaxom feeling restless and powerless, but there's no sign of any attempt to improve his situation. There's no acknowledgment of the reasons why a Lord of Ruatha can't just be an ordinary dragonman. He shows carelessness with his subordinates, taking advantage of them professionally (Brand, the people who run the firestone mines, the watchdragon) or personally (Corana). He's not even been in his kingdom for five chapters.
In three chapters, this book will end. I'm assuming it will end with Jaxom as Lord of Ruatha. But he's done nothing to show his worthiness of it, and I have a hard time believing that will change. But I'd like to be wrong.
Now I should probably stop stalling and get to the actual review, right?
( Maybe it'll surprise me )