Sharps by K.J. Parker – Review

Published: July 5, 2012

Publisher: Orbit

Series: N/A

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 482 (Kindle)

My Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis:
For the first time in nearly forty years, an uneasy truce has been called between two neighbouring kingdoms. The war has been long and brutal, fought over the usual things: resources, land, money . . .

Now, there is a chance for peace. Diplomatic talks have begun and with them, the games of skill and chance. Two teams of fencers represent their nations at this pivotal moment.

When the future of the world lies balanced on the point of a rapier, one misstep could mean ruin for all.

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I’ve been meaning to check out some of KJ Parker’s older books for about a year now and recently picked up some Kindle editions on sale. Sharps was one of them and I decided to throw my TBR to the wind, read this and have a little break from romantic leaning books. Sometimes you just need a change of pace. A little blood, some PTSD, and government backed intervention that will either start or stop a war depending on which faction wins.

This starts off by introducing the reader to several characters – Iseutz, Giraut, Phrantzes, Suidas, and several members of the Carnufex family. It’s unclear how these people might come together, but eventually we find most of them in the same room preparing to go tour Permia as the Scherian national fencing team. It’s important to note that these two countries were at war for YEARS and this is an attempt at diplomacy. Or it seems to be on the surface anyway, but bad things keep happening, their escort keeps disappearing and is probably a spy, and the fencers themselves are a host of issues mashed together and about to boil over. Oh yeah, they’re also fighting with sharps rather than foils so the exposition itself has the potential to kill. It sure seems like someone has it out for the Scherian fencing team, but is it the Permians or their own government?

Sharps is an interesting book that on the surface seems like a badly planned diplomatic incident waiting to happen. Which is exactly what it is, but there’s quite a bit happening in the background, off page that seems to be the truly interesting bit. There’s just enough hint of duplicity that I read the entire book with an air of suspicion, which was entirely founded. Basically, you’re reading the entire book through the eyes of mostly ignorant participants who also only suspect something is off. The fencers themselves are, as I said, a hot mess and therefore pretty unreliable. Suidas is a war veteran obviously struggling with some serious PTSD and a weird love for messers and killing Permians and their hired mercs. Giraut is only there because he murdered a politician (self defense, really) and he’s a bit cowardly. Iseutz is a bit unfriendly and bitchy and also the only woman in the party. Addo is the son of General Carnufex, who flooded a Permian city to end the war, so it’s unclear if he’s there to inflame the situation or as a sign of trust. And Phrantzes… he used to be a national fencing champion and his wife is being held hostage in a convent to gain his participation. It’s all a bit shady. These people, with their volatile personalities make for a great group of diplomats, right? Right? All I can say is it’s a good thing the Permians were both blinded by their love for the sport and their own turmoil!

The pacing of this book was… inconsistent. The fencers spent so much time in coaches traveling that I got a bit bored, even with all the violent hold ups! Sharps is a good story that I feel would be better appreciated on a second read through so you can see AND understand all the subtle goings-on you missed the first time through. I appreciated quite a few segments more after the end of the book made clear what was actually going on. Overall, I enjoyed this but I’m glad it was a standalone because I don’t care to read more about these characters.