Book number 548 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
I wonder if Anne Bishop had a miserable school experience as a child? Because most of the books in this series deal with mean girls and the shit they stir up. Or maybe she just has a clear eyed view of humanity?
I'm unsure if this is actually the final book in the series. Bishop left things at a satisfying point, but in my opinion she did leave space for future development. This is my “silly series" which I have a yen to read when my reading life is stalled out. I guess I can start over when I hit my next reading glitch.
I much prefer Bishop's The Others series and her brand new Turns of Fate. Neither of these have all the dark fantasy trappings that make The Black Jewels series seem so silly to me. Whatever she's writing, Bishop is skeptical of humanity's ability to act in kindness. Her antagonists in this series are power hungry and cruel, something we all know about in this day and age.
In this installment, Daemon's daughter, Saetien, must learn to be a decent human being. In the previous book, she was very influenced by one of the aforementioned mean girls and has acquired a snobbishness that her father can't seem to pierce. Saetien (how in the world does one pronounce that?) receives a vision from a girl in the sanctuary where she is living. When she petitions her father to be allowed to explore this avenue, he agrees with strict conditions. Saetien resents the rules intensely, but it is plain that without them, she will not visit the Isle of Scelt.
Saetien reminded me a bit of Robin Hobb's character Malta Vestrit, who is transformed from a spoiled, pouty teen into a practical, much more likeable young woman. (See the Liveship Traders for that tale, but I warn you that you will hate Malta for a lot of pages!) Growing up is hard to do.
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