Jotari

Wasn't looking for a recommendation. I've read it too and have a bit more mixed an opinion. Thought the characters and themes were great but the long author diatribes on the history of it broke up the flow way too much and didn't really actually connect that well to the characters within. It's essentially two books one of which being a really long thesis.

I actually do think the historical thesis on subjects like the "great men of history" connects to the situations and experiences of some of the characters, but the explicit discussion of that theme doesn't really strengthen their stories.

It does insofar as it's talking about war and the characters are suffering the effects (and sometimes benefits) of war. But mostly the character's plot is on a very personal level where's the philosophy parts are pretty apersonal talking about the politics of war and factual retelling of the events. Only towards the end when most of the characters have resolved their arcs is there any real attempt to marry the two.