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Title: A Deeper Season
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga
Pairing: Gregor/Miles
Categories: Action/Adventure, AU, Romance
Length: Super Epic (117,605)
Warnings: None
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lightgetsin & sahiya
Author Website: lightgetsin & sahiya
Author's Summary:
Take one Miles, a hapless cousin, Cetagandan social politics, a galactic conspiracy, a scientific discovery, a lot of firepower, and an unexpected declaration. Mix well and step back quickly.
Review:
Let me preface this to say that I haven't read a single word of the Vorkosigan books. I keep meaning to! But it just never quite happens. So, no, I don't know a lot of background information about the fic, but you know what? I don't need it, and you probably won't need it either. Will you get lost? Maybe sometimes! Who cares! It's so good that I keep on reading anyway, and the authors have a way of writing that makes everything flow along beautifully and somehow you know everything even without all of the extra stuff.
Or you don't and you're okay with that anyway. Um.
In any case, A Deeper Season is pretty plotty. You have Miles, who's an Imperial Auditor for Gregor, who is Emperor of Barrayar (a planet). They've known each other since forever and apparently Gregor has been in love with Miles since forever. There's no real fireworks about them getting together in the beginning of the story. The real fireworks come from what's happening after--the fact that Gregor is expected to have imperial heirs, new scientific breakthroughs that could tip the relationship one way or the other, a conspiracy that involves more than just Barrayar, informing people about their relationship, and Miles being the target of several assassination attempts.
It's endlessly fascinating. Miles and Gregor's relationship is complex, a kind of slow burn sort of thing that just sort of makes me sigh happily. There's so many outside pressures, what with Gregor being an emperor, but Gregor just wanting to go for something just for himself for once--yeah. I'm a sucker. The relationship is important and plays an important role, but what's happening around them is just as important.
Then there's the people around them, who are so perfectly crafted. Ivan, Miles's cousin, who seems to spend a lot of the time bemoaning his fate of being around Miles (and all of his shenanigans), but is so steadfast and loyal. Even Miles's parents are amazing people in their own right. Everyone's amazing!
But the fic is more of a low-key one. There's passion, but it's the sort of held carefully to one's chest passion. The plot is complex, as are the characters. It's just a really good piece of writing.
It's also part of a series, haha. A Deeper Season is actually the fifth part (the previous four being short one-shots), but is where the meat of the story begins. You don't need to read the previous parts, most--if not all--were written after A Deeper Season anyway. So it's even longer if you want more! But A Deeper Season is one contained story that is wrapped up rather nicely as well.
A Deeper Season
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Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga
Pairing: Gregor/Miles
Categories: Action/Adventure, AU, Romance
Length: Super Epic (117,605)
Warnings: None
Author on LJ:
lightgetsin & sahiyaAuthor Website: lightgetsin & sahiya
Author's Summary:
Take one Miles, a hapless cousin, Cetagandan social politics, a galactic conspiracy, a scientific discovery, a lot of firepower, and an unexpected declaration. Mix well and step back quickly.
Review:
Let me preface this to say that I haven't read a single word of the Vorkosigan books. I keep meaning to! But it just never quite happens. So, no, I don't know a lot of background information about the fic, but you know what? I don't need it, and you probably won't need it either. Will you get lost? Maybe sometimes! Who cares! It's so good that I keep on reading anyway, and the authors have a way of writing that makes everything flow along beautifully and somehow you know everything even without all of the extra stuff.
Or you don't and you're okay with that anyway. Um.
In any case, A Deeper Season is pretty plotty. You have Miles, who's an Imperial Auditor for Gregor, who is Emperor of Barrayar (a planet). They've known each other since forever and apparently Gregor has been in love with Miles since forever. There's no real fireworks about them getting together in the beginning of the story. The real fireworks come from what's happening after--the fact that Gregor is expected to have imperial heirs, new scientific breakthroughs that could tip the relationship one way or the other, a conspiracy that involves more than just Barrayar, informing people about their relationship, and Miles being the target of several assassination attempts.
It's endlessly fascinating. Miles and Gregor's relationship is complex, a kind of slow burn sort of thing that just sort of makes me sigh happily. There's so many outside pressures, what with Gregor being an emperor, but Gregor just wanting to go for something just for himself for once--yeah. I'm a sucker. The relationship is important and plays an important role, but what's happening around them is just as important.
Then there's the people around them, who are so perfectly crafted. Ivan, Miles's cousin, who seems to spend a lot of the time bemoaning his fate of being around Miles (and all of his shenanigans), but is so steadfast and loyal. Even Miles's parents are amazing people in their own right. Everyone's amazing!
But the fic is more of a low-key one. There's passion, but it's the sort of held carefully to one's chest passion. The plot is complex, as are the characters. It's just a really good piece of writing.
It's also part of a series, haha. A Deeper Season is actually the fifth part (the previous four being short one-shots), but is where the meat of the story begins. You don't need to read the previous parts, most--if not all--were written after A Deeper Season anyway. So it's even longer if you want more! But A Deeper Season is one contained story that is wrapped up rather nicely as well.
A Deeper Season
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chasethestars
chasethestars
Comments
I will! E-eventually. Orz.
But if you haven't read the actually books by LMBujold, they are a wonderful mix of adventure, scifi and romance. Miles Vorkosigan is the best underdog you will ever root for. And after reading the Miles books, don't ignore the earlier books on his parents. Wonderful.
I just finished Shards of Honour and while I enjoyed parts of it - there was a lot I hated and I'm not sure if I want to read more of the series. I'm intrigued by Miles though (so few protagonists with disabilities in fiction). I was wondering if they're worth continuing to read?
Miles is one of the best characters being written today, imho
Thats a pretty good argument I must add.
And it does help, thank you!
I'd also recommend the novella, "The Mountains of Mourning". It won both a Hugo and a Nebula, and this is also an excellent introduction to Miles. It delves into the reasons why those individuals with "disabilities" (like Miles) are so feared and sometimes despised by Barrayaran society. I go back and read this one on a regular basis.
Do give the series another try - I don't think you'll regret it!
Oh, and I do so much second the rec for "A Deeper Season". This has been my personal head canon ever since I first read it...
I'm interested in Miles from a disability perspective. If he was a systemically "normal" man I honestly probably wouldn't be inclined to read further along.
"I guarantee you'll be rooting for him wholeheartedly before you finish this story."
well thats a good argument. I do love characters that make you root for them.
I think I will give the series another try - I mean its so well revered there must be something to it right. Thanks for the recommendation to start with the novella - that sounds like a great idea.
thank you so much for your help!!
ahhhhhh, now that *does* make a difference. Okay, I can totally forgive some of the technical aspects of the book that irritated me as they could have just been growing pains of a new writer. Tell me, does she get better at writing villains? lol.
" If you liked Cordelia and Aral in SoH even without liking the whole book, give Barrayar a chance"
hahahah. Well thats it in a nutshell. I did really enjoy Cordelia and Aral and I got quite invested in their romance lol.
you've been super helpful btw! thank you
I was thinking of starting off by reading Cordelia's book first and then going on towards the Miles books. I have such a backlog of books I want to read though, sigh. On the plus side, at least this is somewhat near the top of that list!
http://www.audiofic.jinjurly.com/deeper-season