Councilor

A Novel in the Grand Illusion (The Grand Illusion, Book 2)

By: L. E. Modesitt Jr.

Narrated by: Michael Bower

Length: 22 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., bestselling author of Saga of Recluce and the Imager Portfolio, continues his brand-new gaslamp, political fantasy series with Councilor, the thrilling sequel to Isolate. Welcome to the Grand Illusion.

Continued poor harvests and steam-powered industrialization displace and impoverish thousands. Protests grow and gather followers.

Against this rising tide of social unrest, Steffan Dekkard, newly appointed to the Council of Sixty-Six, is the first Councilor who is an Isolate, a man invulnerable to the emotional manipulations and emotional surveillance of empaths.

This makes him dangerous.

As unknown entities seek to assassinate him, Dekkard struggles to master political intrigue and infighting, while introducing radical reforms that threaten entrenched political and corporate interests.

The Grand Illusion

Isolate

Councilor

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

©2022 L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Fantasy & Politics

If anyone hasn’t noticed by now, Mr. Modesitt Jr. does Political Fantasy. This isn’t sword and sorcery or heavily action laden. It’s meant to move slower and have you thinking.

Even his writing style in these two books of the series are not exactly simple third person. You’re in Dekkard’s head a great deal more. It’s like a hybrid of first and third person. Not quite Third Omniscient, but leaning towards it. It’s a well written book overall and I personally was never bored or felt the story was moving too slow or was hard to listen to/ read.

The performance by Michael Bower was just as solid as in Isolate. The voices felt distinct and gave enough separation that I never was confused. Outside of a few places where he obviously stopped the recording and was a touch out of character, I had no issue with the solid vocal performance.

As for the story, a few things surprised me, but I mostly could tell by the way things went that there had to be a third book coming. I wasn’t disappointed by my own ability to figure out what would possibly happen. That was because enough happened that I couldn’t deduce easily that I felt the breadcrumbs were purposefully set to keep me coming back.

Simply put, the book is well done. If you’ve read Isolate, this is a solid and worthwhile sequel. However, if you read this and get off the train, I would believe Fantasy & Politics isn’t for you.

excellent series

this is the middle book of the trilogy and definitely leaves enough unanswered questions to bring you back for the third. Excellent characters and storyline and details about the environment that make it easy to imagine your there.

A good listen.

Modesitt has moved away from my two favorites (Saga of Recluse & Imager). Some are more successful than others. Some do not even seem to be by the same author. Thankfully this one seems to be more in line with his work. It is entertaining and moves well, though not on par with his best known series, it is still a good listen.

Major improvement

the previous installment was a great set-up for what was to come. looking forward to the next in the series.

Terrific book

Can hardly wait for Wednesday when book 3 is released. Told my daughter to bring home dinner as reading not cooking. This is somewhat indicative of confrontation in our own country. Interesting to see how he finishes book since he is a liberal. Since I have almost all of his books, either in Kendal, audible or book form, I do not allow his liberalness to bother me. I adore his characters, actions, world building and politics.