Okay- based on the number of reviews I’ve been doing, I may be coming out of my reading slump. Or, the promise to do reviews on what I’m reading has forced me to actually finish books (instead of repeatedly listening to the same loops (audio) as I’m falling asleep). Either way, I am wading through my backlist. Okay, no, I’m not. I’m just adding more books to mount TBR:)

So, this one was recommended to me when I was looking through possible comp authors (more on that later, in its own post). This, along with another title that is working its way up the slippery slopes of MTBR.. def caught my attention.

This is a well-written, solid story that has an interesting premise.  Seri is born into a world where sorcery (magic?) is forbidden and hunted down by priests known as templars. She is a high-born woman married to her soul-mate… the downside is that her soulmate partner happens to bear the gift of magic/sorcery. I don’t recall if it is ever stated, but the way events play out leads me to believe that this ability is an inherited trait. And the ruling priests of the world, the Templars, are determined to eradicate it from the human bloodline (with the full blessing and help of the empire).

The story opens up with Seri living in exile, eeking out a living in a secluded cottage– and a strange young man appearing out of nowhere: with no name, no memory, and no ability to speak. She is not that thrilled by the idea of having this person around, and in fact, makes almost every effort to discourage him from sticking around. We do find out that he is a very skilled fighter, which is well beyond random chance.

(now, I missed a section here, which I should go back and re-listen to– but, I presume that it is essentially a section that pops us back in time, to the start of the events that led up to this moment. A large portion of the book is telling the story of Seri and her husband, Karon (this occasionally got confusing to me because the text to voice would sometimes refer to him as a name that sounded like Kirrin, and occasionally Karn or Koran– but that’s neither here nor there- just that it made the night-time listening a bit of a challenge, and is the shortcoming of listening over reading;). Anyway, the two of them have a soul-mate level relationship. It shows a bit of their life together.. but politics and fears intrude, and her husband is arrested, tried, and executed (brutally, I might add- but beautifully and poignantly done).

I think my one complaint about the story is that too much time is spent on the trial. If I had been reading, it would likely have been less of a nuisance factor, since we can read faster over parts that aren’t revealing anything critical. Going into the trial, it isn’t as though there was a chance of a reprieve; there is a little bit of shock-factor, but again, well handled, and it didn’t feel gratuitous. Seri had been staying mind-connected with him throughout most of his imprisonment and torture- using their connection to ease his experience. But by the time he is brought to trial (severely disfigured and injured), it is clear what his fate will be, but he has come to terms with it.

In listening to the story, I had thought that this would be the climax, but i was happily surprised to know that this was still setting up the story that will follow. She finds new allies, friends etc, as she gets embroiled in the bigger plot elements– which revolve around a mystic gate that binds the two worlds– the one where the sorcerous race of beings exists (who may or may not be higher-level beings) and the human realm. And that there are factions desperately trying to destroy this gate– which, IIRC, has not been opened (or freely opened?) in quite some time.

Needless to say, the gate and control of it is a power struggle, as is gaining control over the heir of the Avonar realm, the race of beings known as the Djidd.  It turns out that people on both sides have been corrupted. Seri is trying to get her new charge, D’nathiel, a powerful sorcerer prince, whose father built the bridge between the realms. The exiles of the Djidd now hope that their young prince will have the strength to infuse them, and the bridge would be made strong again, and they would be able to push the Djidd back from the walls of the city.

So, this is the setup that is playing out. I’m not sure I can say too much more without giving away major spoilers.

The world-building and lore are very complex and rich, and the characters feel complex and well-fleshed out. There are some things that seemed unrealistic, only later to have additional information that gave new perspective to actions and situations, such as the complicated relationship Seri has with her brother Thomas– who is soo fanatically against sorcery that he was willing to betray his sister and her husband– who, it should be noted.. had never demonstrated (used) their magics– so the charge of sorcery was more like a witch-hunt, hoping they could foce Karon to reveal his true nature.  And when they did– through foul means, he was found guilty and sentenced to be executed. Later, we learn more about what drove his actions in a satisfying way that makes the world-building that much richer.

I was hooked thoroughly enough that I immediately picked up bk2– cringing at the 10.00 sticker tag but sucking it up and plowing on with the story. I’ll keep you posted on how bk2 plays out.