Thorn has managed to
find her space in Mineral City- her efforts to save the city have largely won
over a lot of the… wary residents. They’re not all her utter fans… but she has
her place there
But she’s certainly
not safe. She has come to the attention of her old Mage Enclave who have sent
their own ambassador - with their own agenda.
But beyond politics
there’s always the shadow - and one of the Greater Darknesses are stirring; a
power more dangerous than anything Thorn has faced before
I love this world -
the world building of this series is amazing and layered (and, frankly, born to
be an RPG). I love the layers of different supernatural elements: the
apocalypse, the seraphs, the angels of the host (in all their diverse forms -
and the level and variety of mythology and examination of the different angels
of the host is fascinating and involved. There are so many more than just men
with wings. And we’re reminded whoever wrote the Bible with three headed angels
with a gazillion wings and just eyes, eyes, everywhere was a very very creative
person) and the ongoing consequences of angelic rule alongside battling the
dark: what it is like to have an ally who may be every bit as dangerous as the
darkness they’re fighting - who may decide to dish out their own judgement. And
that’s on top of the complication of the Seraphs having destroyed the majority
of the Earth’s population to begin with - do you trust them? With allies like
these who needs enemies? And there’s still the ongoing question of whether the
angels are what they claim to be. Then there’s a whole lot of religiosity -
because end of the world etc, but at the same time they have enforced religious
tolerance.
Throw into that a
post-apocalyptic ice age with lots of implications as to what that means for
society, with technology and society adapting to that
And then we have the
witches - the unforeseen, soulless, with powers and a whole history of
prejudice and their own community and traditions which are so very different to
what humanity has built - and there’s a real effort to give them a whole
culture that is very distinctive to them. Not just magic but also their lack of
soul and their greater speed and smaller stature. The world building is just
exquisite. I love it. I want a thousand stories in this universe to wallow in
it.
Thorn herself is an
excellent character - a perfectly produced character out of place. She’s lived
so long among humans she no longer thinks entirely like a witch, she’s ignorant
of so much of her culture and power and traditions - but she’s also intensely
aware of her own lack of soul, holding onto a faith (which is so important in
the human community she lives in) while also being intensely aware of how, as a
soulless being, she’s intensely outside of the trappings of that faith. She
faces prejudice from those around her but also a proud acceptance by many after
what she’s done. It’s complex and layered and comes with some excellent
relationship with powerful friends - and their own complexities
What I don’t get is
Rose. Or the prophecy that makes Thorn and her twin so special. I mean, I can
get Thorn being upset about her sister being missing because, sibling
obviously. But there’s the whole prophecy and power and ominousness around it
which I never quite got - and I never really invested in Rose because she just
didn’t seem to encroach much in Thorn’s life so it felt kind of pushed in and
intruding on the main story
This comes with a
battle that is epic in the greatest possible way. Massive consequences, epic
battles, the world in the balance, powerful magic and epic on epic on epic. And
among the world resting on the battle between light and dark we have some
epicly awesome scenes of Thorn also firmly stamping her own presence on the
town. Making it her own, making herself a place in Mineral City, building her
own home, her own security, her own safety, her own greater family. Her scene
about the embassy is perfect - in fact it made me wish to see Thorn build from
here without the pressure of the world ending because that would be an
excellent story
Thorn has some people
around her… and her relationships range from the good to the complex to the
problematic. Eli, human potential love interest is fun and I think she bounces
off him the best. I also like her relationship with her ex because it IS as
complex as it should be. Love interest #3 though is another random magical
being and… doesn’t seem to have any point beyond that? I think of him as making
up the numbers. Her closest relationships are also the ones I have the most
reservations about: I like her relationship with Audric in that it’s
supportive, he’s a clear mentor figure: he’s intelligent and skilled and super
capable and she definitely respects him. But he’s also a black gay man AND a
half-human/half-witch. This makes him completely incapable of sex - which
stands out since “mage heat” plays such a major and totally unnecessary part of
the book. When we have all these characters ready to have sex at the most
ridiculous times it’s dubious that the only character physically incapable of
sex is gay. And while he is the authority and head “Champard” so outranks
everyone and knows more than everyone, he’s also the most formal… and likely to
turn subservient which is a bad luck for the main Black character and only
prominent POC character. Richard is Audric’s partner and Thorn’s best friend…
but that relationship is all kind of ominous without a lot of connection here -
and there’s a hefty amount of sacrifice I’m really not pleased with
There’s one issue
which is a real barrier to me in this really awesome book.
It is so word - so
descriptive. At times it is beautiful and very descriptive and imaginative and
powerful describing this incredible world and the often confusing and complex
elements of this world with its dimensions, different elements of the angelic
host, the demons, the complex magic and all the levels of politics. In some
cases we really need this elaborate description and asides and conversations.
But this book is full
of action. Absolutely overflowing with action and power and fight scenes and
dimension hopping and angels and darknesses and seraphs and so much power and
drama…. And at times I feel like the powers are fighting and Thorn sometimes
takes these vast time outs in the middle of epic fight scenes. I feel like
powerful powerful demons are rampaging through the town and everyone is
rallying to its defence, fighting, dying and there’s Thorn in one corner having
a conversation. Or engaging in some exposition. Or having some deep thinky
thoughts. Or repeating the last thinky thoughts/exposition sometimes for the
third or fourth time
Which is another
problem with the descriptiveness - it’s beautiful and involved and elaborate
and really showcases this truly amazing world and setting which is among one of
the best I have ever ever read, I have to keep repeating that - but it’s
sometimes repetitive. And sometimes… unnecessarily explanatory. I feel at times
Thorn is made almost lacking in intelligence so she can spell out exactly what
is happening and what will happen next REALLY REALLY clearly when it really
shouldn’t have been necessary to slowly explain things as much as they are. I
do think part of this is because previous books were, perhaps, a little to
confusing. But by going too far the other way the book feels like it drags
through some of its most dramatic and impressive scenes.
