It's crazy that I've put off reading the penultimate book in such a wonderful series for so many years. But I'm glad that I finally got around to reading The Wisdom of Crowds before the exploits of Savine, Leo, and Orso became nothing more than a light buzz in my memories.
It's the aftermath of the battle of Stoffenbeck, and the victors are only a little better off than the vanquished. Back in Adua, the Burners aren't quite finished yet, as the flames of revolution that started in A Little Hatred burn as bright as ever.
In The Wisdom of Crowds, the already-thin line between protagonist and antagonist (if there ever were any) is at its blurriest.
Will there be any winner at the end of this conflict, or will it be an eternal cycle of evil good, and benevolent evil in the Union?
This is a very aptly named book. Much of my favourite scenes involved the sittings of the Court of the People and the drama and violence that ensued during proceedings. Wisdom of Crowds, indeed!
Judge typifies a modern-day terrorist group leader, passionate in her efforts to weed out every last vestige of the old order.
There's much to learn from her fate, with her acts ultimately no less immoral than the tyrants she sought to oust.
Leo is one of the more interesting characters in the book, and his devolution from hero and standard-bearer for democracy to ruthless schemer is a testament to how deeply the ego of a man is tied to the status and symbolism of his physical person.
A former warlord loved and respected by all, we see that his desire for a fairer government is only outmatched by his desire to be perpetually deified as the architect of its realization. He learns the hard way that society only sees the heroes they want to see, and even the most worthy of causes may not always be worth the loss of loved ones.
Orso's is a sorry case, and it feels very much like he's being made the scapegoat for the sins of all of his royal predecessors and their magic-wielding associates.
While Orso was pretty much an annoying character in A Little Hatred and The Trouble With Peace, I felt a lot of sympathy for him here. A sad end for him, too, even if it was arguably deserved.
The adopted daughter of the most ruthless man in the Union, Savine dan Glokta, shows us a new meaning to the term politicking with her ming-boggling machinations and maneuverings.
Her cunning saves her from what would have been a thoroughly deserved end at the blood-splattered foot of the Tower of Chains. Still, as such a key character to the plot, it would've been a shame to have her bow out in that manner.
Black Rikke's Long Eye and ability to cook up plots and schemes prove to be the decisive factor in the battle for the North as she faces off against Black Calder and his host.
Her POV's a bit muted in this book, as most of the focus is on the events unravelling in the Agriont and Adua.
There are strong political undertones to the themes explored in The Wisdom of Crowds, as the author depicts what happens when the rabble are allowed a chance to restore law and order in the absence of traditional governments.
We also see the workings of capitalist orders powered by suicidal fiscal and monetary systems and how usurers, profiteers and other well-placed opportunists take advantage of flaws in the organization to create deeply imbalanced societies.
Finally, we see the corrupting influences of power and how even politicians with the best intentions end up trying to balance the evil they wreak with conscience-easing acts of good. Victarine's final act symbolizes the incompleteness of a popular saying- you can either beat them or join them. In this case, Vick shows us a third option- walking away.
The Wisdom of Crowds is a thrilling conclusion to the Age of Madness trilogy. I'll admit that the ending was quite anticlimactic, but all things being equal, it was a very apt way to bring things to a close.
Highly recommended for fans of character-based, political fantasy.
