Customer Reviews

Confidence Game

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This fantasy novel takes the somewhat cliche story of the tortured spy and sets it in another land, where judges are the rulers and their reasons for their schemes are difficult to ascertain. Elzith, the best spy in the ruling judge's secret army was found as a baby by thieves in a trash pile. Her life pretty much goes downhill from there (figuratively). Elzith is tortured by those she has killed, tortured by the abuse to her own body and somewhat tortured by her magical abilities that make her what she is. Tod Redtanner, is also tortured, but by failure and fear. When Elzith rents the room in his apartment, he falls in love with her and does everything he can to help her. While this may sound somewhat trite, it is difficult to convey the interesting world where Welch sets this tale. As Elzith recounts her story to Tod, one can't help but notice the parallels with all society (corruption of its leaders, their opaque goals). I had never heard of this book and picked it up on a whim, I am glad I did and look forward to the sequel due out in August '04.

I looked at the reviews on this book after checking out info on when Ms Welch's new book is coming out. I find baseless accusations in the reviews currently on the page. Flat characters-convoluted plot-it's not Kushiel's series. First, if you can't get past the fact that 1. Cover artists rarely read the book, and can do covers for more than just one author, and 2. Michelle M. Welch is not Jacqueline Carey, you may be in for a disappointment. As for Flat characters-I don't see how a recovering alcoholic, who's taking it one day at a time is flat, perhaps a little boring, yes, but not flat. A spy, who was thrown in a dumpster as an infant, forced to grow up in a shadowy underworld and who is thus, left cold and logical with few emotions, are flat characters. Maybe I'm just too thick, but I'm seeing depth. Convoluted? The story is well developed, it's set in the middle of a world with a deeper history than you get to see in a single story-Perhaps this is too much for an average reader to grasp. Wait, I'm an average reader, so it can't be that. Choppy. Yes, you win. It's a little uncomfortable to read, but I believe this is by design. You aren't supposed to be comfortable reading this. You're supposed to see hopelessness, and possibly a little gleam at the end, where the future is unclear. I look forward to the second book "The Bright and the Dark", which Amazon claims is coming out soon.

The author has created an interesting world (is it total fantasy or a far-future dystopia on some forgotten colony planet?) and two very engaging lead characters who are both emotionally/physically scarred by their past. A chance encounter that may not be so coincidental as it first appears bring a maybe ex-spy Elzith Kar, who is slowly recovering from wounds both physical and emotional from her recent missions, and bookbinder Tod Redtanner, a lonely recluse who hides deep-buried secrets of his own. As they slowly begin to interact, growing ever more closer, the world around them is threatening to destroy itself as events whirl out of control as forces of government, religion and magic clash with increasing levels of violence and destruction.

I enjoyed the romance aspects most of all. I felt a bit lost some of the time when Elzith was revealing her past with a series of stories (told to Tod a various points in the novel) which explain her present apparent cold emotionless state and cynicism towards her trade and her masters, the despotic Judiciary bent on stamping out any potential threats to their rule of the five countries. It was hard to seperate what occuring presently with her and what was a tale of being recounted (seemed awkwardly structured to me anyways). Looking forward to the sequel coming in 2004, hopefully Elzith and Tod will appear in that as well (doesn't seem likely), set about a decade after the events of the "Confidence Game".

Wow. There are very mixed reviews here, but I think the book was actually somewhere in between the extremes we're getting here on Amazon.

I had a difficult time getting through this; it felt a little like drudgery, and the reason that was so frustrating was because I was sure there was a complex, brilliantly subtle character study that could have been made with this material. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

1. Elzith Kar is unbelievably boring, not in what she does - she's pretty kickass - but in her development as a person. She's broken, unable to feel except to fear, a little - what she calls the 'hole in her head' (which she can hide), and seemingly unredeemable. This would have potential if it wasn't a 1st-person narrative, but the voice the reader is most intimately aware of is hers, and as she can't feel anything it's difficult for her to convey any feeling to the reader. (Well, except for an "aww, she can't feel. That's sad." I wanted more.)

As for the idea that her tortured past alone makes her original or developed - well, no. It doesn't. It's been done, to death, but for some reason I liked her anyway. Probably because she never once lied to herself.

2. And Tod Redtanner. I actually think he's the more interesting character, here - we have more evidence of him changing throughout his life, as a reaction to various events. This differs from Elzith because we don't see her at all before her loss of emotions, and she gets them back just enough to feel only that specific loss - her character is constant. So Tod is developed, but...he's every bit as boring as Elzith - just in the completely opposite way. Elzith's type of character has been done a million times in fiction; Tod's has been done a million times in real life. He's very average.

The only thing even remotely interesting about these characters is that they met each other.

3. Aaaand the setting. The world they live in has slowly gone to hell and it's slowly getting worse. The dangers in rigidity of the law is a premise with a lot of potential, and this is where I was hoping for more. I was sure something fascinating was going on, but Ms Welch didn't extrapolate enough. I have a working knowledge of this fantasy world and governmental structure, but no appreciation for its subtleties.

I wouldn't say the book is flat, but it's not fully developed either - somewhere smack in the middle, maybe two-dimensional. If it had been a little longer (and I'd been able to get better acquainted with some of the secondary characters - I really wanted to like Loyd, Justice Paloman and Aron Jannes, to name a few examples), it could have been a terrific book. But then, I suppose it could have truly flopped, instead.

It's a good book, and worth a read, but maybe not worth purchasing. Check it out at the library, and watch for later books - the writing definitely has potential.

If you're interested in the same type of lead character, try the Kushiel series (and no, not just because of the same cover artist, for Chrissake). If you're looking for subtle, pervasive character development (although there are big world-changing events happening too), I'd recommend Robin Hobb.

In the country of Dabion, the Justices who make the laws and the Public Force militia rule the people. Certain colored jewelry and ornamentation are banned and anyone who has or uses magic is sentenced to death. Dabion has conquered its neighbors except for Sor'raia where magic is the norm and it's borders are closed.

Elizith Kor is the most successful spy in the Secret Force due in part to her Sor'raian blood which allows her to enter and read people's mind. After a very difficult assignment Elizith wants to leave the espionage game but she knows too many secrets to be free of her masters. She rents a flat in Tod Redtanner's home and he becomes someone she trusts and cares about. Their relationship puts both of them in danger from an unknown enemy who wants nothing more than to see Elizith die a slow and painful death.

Over the course of CONFIDENCE GAME, the protagonist slowly reveals her history to Tod. This technique leads to readers feeling sorry for someone who felt nothing until she reaches a breaking point and suddenly feels everything. Michelle M. Welch's debut novel is a fine fantasy starring heroic characters endearing to the audience because they are scarred and don't even realize it. It is hoped that there will be a sequel to this book that explores the magical world of Sor'raia of which the author has given the audience only tantalizing glimpses.

Harriet Klausner

I have one question for the reviewer from BC Canada: who put him in charge of the genre? No, "Confidence Game" is nothing like the Kushiel books. It owes more to magic realism than epic fantasy. All the books that reviewer recommends are epic fantasy. That's comparing apples to oranges. "Confidence Game" is subtle and different. Some of us like different.

I felt, after reading some reviews of this book, that I should add my own piece, since it's true that people who dislike something are more likely to give their opinion than those that like that same something. Well, I liked Confidence Game, and I'm stepping up to say so!

The setting for Confidence Game is Dabion. This is one exceptionally screwed-up place. Law is the religion and its priests are judges. The priests (called Justices), if you hadn't guessed, run Dabion completely. Seem grim? It is. Now, add in that the Justices are corrupt. Seem bleak? It is. Dabion, though, is merely a backdrop to this gem. The story is only surrounded by the confines of this totalitarian-fascistic society. It is really the story of Elzith, former spy.

Elzith has questionable origins. She's deeply broken. More than simply having a "tragic flaw", she is unfixable. This doesn't stop Tod from trying to enact repairs, though. Elzith lives in Tod's downstairs flat. Tod is the only stable element in Elzith's life. If it were possible to meet Tod in real-life, I'd slap him (only to bring a little excitement to his life, of course). Of all the characters in the book, Tod could be considered the most "boring". That's the polite way to put it. Tod's chosen profession of bookbinding is explained in the first four chapters. Still, without Tod, Elzith is unredeemable.

Matters aren't helped by the high-up Justice who wants Elzith dead. Dabion is one exceptionally screwed-up place, after all, and simply leaving a former spy alone with her new "love interest" for the rest of her retirement would make a boring book. Yes, more boring, even than Tod.

Political intrigue is the rule in Confidence Game. While elements of magic and mysticism add to the wonders of the story, this is truly a dark fantasy. This "ain't yer Daddy's" happy world of Hobbits. In Confidence Game the future is dim, and it looks like the author is wearing shades.

Confidence Game describes itself as two characters that are troubled by their history and are caught up in a situation that leads them together to confront their problems. The dual main characters of Elzith and Tod are both broken to a certain degree and the story revolves around their burgeoning relationship and the impending problems that they have to overcome.

Elzith is a orphan, raised to be a super competent spy for the Justices of Dabion, a ruling council of Magistrates. She is emotionally dead and struggling to find meaning in what she is doing beyond being the best at it. A mission gone awry leaves her unable to continue her work and forces her to forge a new life from what she used to be. She's really an unsympathetic character and I really struggled to find a reason to like her.

Tod is the youngest son of a family of renowned tanners. He is extremely timid and has lived through a childhood of abusive older brothers and eventual problems with alcoholism. He's also not an easy character to like because he is so weak. I pity him, but I don't like him.

Michelle Welch has an interesting vision of a corrupt government that is based on the rule of laws that are subject to change by the very judges who are supposed to interpret them. Welch does a decent job of world-building, but the characters that she uses to tell the story are just not very exciting. She introduces magic and it runs a consistent theme in the story. The plots and intrigue that she tries to develop could have been really good, but there just seemed to be a missing element for the story. I finished it, but it was no page-turner.

This was one of the most tedious,tiresome books I have read in years...just getting past the flat characters, unnecessarily convoluted plot wasted too much time. I had to put it down half way through because I was absolutely bored to tears...I guess I broke first.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow and hard to keep track of in the beginning with all the geographical information and a very lacking map for reference, but as I became more interested in the characters, more aware of thier surroundings and able to tell the difference between this guy who wants to wear a wig and this guy who shuns it, I developed a craving to learn more. Ms. Welch gave me just enough information to peak my interest, but never enough to fully understand and drove me after finishing the first book to want the second.

I do admit that I had prior knowledge that this was going to be at least a three part story and expected open questions at the end, but what I did not expect was a craving to know more and a genuine caring for Elzith.

This is not a book for people who read too quickly and want everything summed up in tidy package by the end. Instead it leaves things open for you to think about, ponder and question.

In short, I really liked it. And as a first book, I think it is fantastic.