The writing is competent, but the plotting and characterization fall short, making it difficult to overcome the book's deficiencies. The historical backdrop is well-researched, but it doesn't fully compensate for the narrative issues.
The reviewer acknowledges that the writing in The September Queen is competent, but they find significant flaws in the plotting and characterization. These issues make it challenging to fully appreciate the book, despite its well-researched historical setting. The reviewer suggests that the strengths of the writing and historical detail are not enough to overcome the weaknesses in the story's structure and character development. They also mention that the book's deficiencies are notable and detract from the overall reading experience.
Quick quotes
The writing in The September Queen is competent, but competent writing can't overcome large deficiencies in plotting and characterization.
The historical backdrop is well-researched, but it doesn't fully compensate for the narrative issues.
The book's deficiencies are notable and detract from the overall reading experience.