Halloween Bingo 2023
Bishop tries so hard to write dark fantasy, but I always end up amused by the theatricality of these novels. They are entertaining, but not really all that dark, in my opinion. At any rate, we start with Theran Grayhaven, last heir of his house in a land with very few women of the Blood and no Queens worthy of the title. He goes to Daemon Sadi, counting on a promise to his grandfather for a favour. But Theran is an asshat who thinks that he knows everything, while actually being extremely ignorant. He manages to reveal his asshole nature to everyone he encounters.
Jaenelle happens to know a Queen who is without a court and who would be a good ruler. Lady Cassidy is down to earth, kind, and caring, but she is not conventionally beautiful. Our asshat, Theran, thinks that only exceptionally beautiful women can be good rulers. He does his very best to sabotage the very arrangement that he negotiated. But he hasn't anticipated that his cousin, Gray, will be drawn to Cassidy. Gray is a damaged man, tortured as a young man by one of the sadistic queens who was eliminated during Jaenelle's cleansing. Gray starts towards healing through gardening with Cassidy and their bond develops naturally.
Meanwhile, Theran is being a gigantic pain in the ass. He doesn't want Cassidy to go anywhere or invite any visitors. He blocks all her decisions and generally thwarts everyone's plans. Then he has the gaul to criticise Cassidy for not doing exactly what he wants. And he is shocked when his cousin says, “If she leaves, I go with her.” Thankfully, there are sensible men among the court who are helpful and protective, as they are supposed to be.
Do you know guys like this? Because I do. They judge women by our physical appearance and won't listen to our opinions. Nothing we do is right in their sight and they will go out of their way to try to ruin anything we like. They firmly believe that their views are the only way to look at things. They are very tiresome, but only a problem if you work with them or are related to them and will see them at family gatherings. Otherwise, walking away is pretty much your only choice.
Cassidy comes close to choosing the “walk away" option, but Theran makes one correct decision for once in his miserable life. He receives far more reward than he truly deserves. The next book will continue the tale and reveal whether Cassidy is able to rule without opposition.
I read this to match the Dark, Darker, Grimdark square on my bingo card. It is also Book number 506 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
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