Today's review is the first from a new Pal. Welcome Joan Slowey.
Description:
When I
started reading this book I thought it would be about warring tribes,
about hate and destruction. But instead it is about love and peace as
realised through a passionate and tender love story between two
people of different race and background. Their situation calls for
patience and tolerance and a willingness to learn about the "other".
They have to question their accepted perceptions, their core beliefs
and their place in society.
Author:
Appraisal:
This
story takes place in an alternative universe where there are extra
suns and moons and where people have two hearts. I stepped into this
wonderful world and accepted it but I would have liked a bit of
information about the effect on the planet of all the extra light and
heat, and the function of a second heart in an otherwise normal,
human body. The story involves two types of people, the Morevas and
the Hakoi. The Morevas consider themselves superior to the lowly
Hakoi and behave accordingly.
The
main character, Moreva Tehi, is banished from her home for breaking
the rules of her grandmother - The Most Holy One. For a year she is
to be steward to a garrison in a Hakoi village, Mjor, in the far
north of the country:
"
. . . cold and dark, with dense woods full of wild animals."
Spoiled
from birth, she assumes she is smarter and more knowledgeable than
anyone else and she hates the Hakoi, considering them all stupid. She
is reckless and impulsive but she is also a marvellous healer,
working hard to find a cure for the Red Disease. Her grandmother
forbids her to continue her research when she goes away but she packs
up her mobile laboratory and her notes and takes them with her
anyway.
And
this, for me, is where the story becomes enchanting. I loved the
colourful Hakoi village. I loved climbing the tower where Tehi lived,
and I loved spending time with the kindly, local healer, Hyme, in his
clinic. Tehi meets the Laerd Teger who runs the village; he is a
Hakoi with no time for Tehi's people. They clash immediately, each
determined to best the other but very soon they fall in love, and
it's a wonderful love story. Tehi's hearts are opened up and she
realises that anger and hate are based on fear:
"
. . . My hate, a black blot upon my soul."
And
later:
"
. . . we may find there was nothing to fear at all, and we can
replace our hate with love."
The
narrative drive of this book is very good; it's what makes us all
read, and the characters of Tehi, Teger and Hyme are very likeable.
The best thing, for me, was the atmosphere; it was so strong. I
really felt I was there, in the village, and when it snowed it was
pure magic. The dialogue is realistic and the whole story is well
paced with hints of the outcome skilfully placed here and there with
a glance, a word. The main theme is love and how it heals the damage
caused by bigotry and prejudice. I wondered as I read, how all the
problems were going to be solved and I found the resolution both
clever and unexpected.
On the
negative side - there are a couple of villains in the village but
they appear rarely and we know little about them. And I think a few
more main characters would add to the interest of the story, and
maybe a sub-plot. I have to mention the repetition - locking and
unlocking doors, going up and down the stairs, going to meals, eating
the meals, walking back to the tower or laboratory, putting on and
taking off costumes and make-up.
But in
the overall story this is a small complaint. I really enjoyed this
book and often find myself thinking about the village and the forests
and mountains, and wondering how everyone is getting on.
FYI:
There
is some sex in this book and some mild violence.
Format/Typo
Issues:
No
significant issues.
Rating:
**** Four Stars
Reviewed
by: Joan Slowey
Approximate word count:
165-170,000 words
1 comment:
Welcome, Ms. Slowey. It is great to have you on-board. Nice review, it's great to have someone else reviewing fantasy as well. :)
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