Back after finishing Under the Yoke and half of Stone Dogs on Audible
Things I like: The tonnes of worldbuilding that he does, having characters that are serfs and members of the Alliance, he can get into the headspace of his characters well so they are somewhat believebale in the context of the fictional universe, the fact that the stories are largely a family tale of the von Shrakenberg Clan
Things I don't like: He can go into pages of very descriptive lesbian sex without any warning or care for pacing. One page, we're in a deep dialogue between an OSS agent and a nun that has gone through hell in occupied Europe as they discuss their philosophical reasons for what they do and plan a mission to save a scientist and escape into the US. The next, Mistress Tanya is playing her serf like a harp. Unfortunately, the lesbian sex is also written by a primarily fantasy/sci-fi writer, making it excessively cringe both in regards to the details that he chooses to focus on and the dialogue. Nobody speaks like that, Mr Stirling. Also the first part of the Stone Dogs, a story about the final war between the Draka and the Free World... is a story about two bi-curious fifteen year olds that go for naked swims with their friends, pounce on each other at every opportunity and fuck in barns with a dash of serf killing before we go to a serious espionage tale of a man that has to kill his traitorous friend. It's like you've been promised a season of the Boys but first you're forced to go through half of a Season of Euphoria.
TL;DR If he controls his worst impulses, we're good.
Under the Yoke is my favorite so far, it gave a good mix of everything and the story was engaging, the plot was moving and not getting stuck in Myfanwy's "liquid metal muscles, red hair and freckles, oh my uwu"
