How to begin with a summary of this book...A millennium ago, Mageborns fled to a planet called Lenfell to escape persecution, but Lenfell was soon devastated by the Magewars. Magical factions battled against each other and unleashed horrific creatures called Wraithenbeasts. Centuries after the war, the world is recovering--the Mageborns are allowed to practice magic, but with severe constrictions and the tension between the classes has culminated in agonizing tension. The novel follows the story of three sisters, separated from each other as children, yet all powerful in their own right. They will fight against each other for power, all the while ignorant of the familial connection. In this female dominated society the men act as pawns to the strong-willed and petulant females, but the three sisters rise above the rest to assert positions of the highest authority.
Something like that. It was 900 pages and I only got through 3/4ths of it before giving up--cut me some slack.
Overall Merit: I am loathe to give up on a book, even when it's exorbitantly long like this one is, but in this case I couldn't bring myself to finish. I felt like I was reading a history textbook for the majority of the story and to be honest I didn't connect with any of the characters. The only reason I picked up this book was because it was highly recommended from several sources and I did like some of Rawn's other work, but this one was a disaster. I guess in theory it could have been a good story, but then again I have no idea, I didn't finish it. I mean this is especially saying something since my irritating paramour somehow roped me into reading the entire Fifty Shades trilogy (I'm debating whether I should post about those books or not even though they're not entirely relevant). Anyway, point being: I really did not like this book. It did have some merits, but I would not advise reading it. Score: 3
Characters: I hated all the characters. This was my biggest gripe with the book. Maybe it's because I am so not a feminist by any definition of the word (here comes the hate) anyway, but the women were obnoxious. The men weren't much better. I did not connect with a single character and even though the book kept switching perspective between primarily the three sisters Cailin, Sarra, and Glenin none of the perspectives were better than the others. Usually I can find at least one character to link with--I am currently reading Game of Thrones and I don't like all the characters, but at least some of them are palatable. Score- 2 (because there were actually characters)
Blush Factor: Sure there was awkward sex in this book in which it was considered kinky if the guy was on top. Best line ever: "'Damn Garon!' she raged weakly. 'Damn him to Geridon's Hell!' In that legendary location, men who were promiscuous, sexually importunate, or a bed sheet burden to the women who married them were condemned to the exquisite torment of a constant, total, eternally unrelieved erection." Essentially I've decided that Rawn is a man-hater, which I guess is cool, but come on she didn't cut them any slack. There was nothing romantic about anything in this book. Score- 0 I can't give a score to something that didn't exist.
Structure: I don't have a problem with female dominated societies, in fact my favorite guilty pleasure books happen to be just that (check out the Black Jewels Trilogy if you have the time), but this was excessive. There was no love, no romance the men were literally treated either like chattel or they were ridiculed if they had any sort of status. I mean I understand this is sometimes common treatment for women in books, but it just felt so alien doing it to men and it didn't really add anything to the plot. I felt like Rawn had too many components in the book and if she had stuck to fewer oddities the story would have been more coherent and cohesive. Score- 3
