This book was sold to me as being similar to Game of Thrones, only the main contenders are teenaged girls who happen to be sisters. And this book (the first in a two book series) isn't not that, but it's both better and more frustrating than that summary, for me.
Each queen of the realm gives birth to three daughters, who all usually have one unique power. They are separated from each other when young and raised within the city that celebrates that power. The poisoners have been in power for many generations now and are determined to keep it, but Katharine, the poisoner heir, has never shown any aptitude for her power. Neither has Arsinoe, a naturalist who should have an animal familiar and a gift for the hunt. Only Mirabella, the elemental heir, has demonstrated her power of controlling the four elements. But of the three, she's the least enthusiastic about what is demanded of her: to kill her two sisters, or to be killed, for much like Highlander, there can be only one.
I liked a lot of stuff about this book - the different kinds of magic were really interesting, and the three heirs pulled me along in their story and made me root for each of them. But that was also part of what's odd about the universe for me: even beyond the three heirs, the society is nominally matriarchal, with goddesses and priestesses and men who are seeking to be the eventual queen's consort with no expectations for any power of his own. And yet the three heirs are controlled and ruled by everyone and all of the constructs of the universe, even while having vast overwhelming powers. I get that part of the point of the story is to examine the paradox of the most powerful people having the least power, but it just made me mad. And there are a couple of plotlines involving romantic partners that also frustrated me, for similar reasons.
Still, it was a compelling and engaging read, and I'm curious enough about how the author will (presumably) upend the universe in the sequel that I'll definitely buy it, but mostly it's a book that I enjoyed but always wished was just a little different.
Grade: B
Each queen of the realm gives birth to three daughters, who all usually have one unique power. They are separated from each other when young and raised within the city that celebrates that power. The poisoners have been in power for many generations now and are determined to keep it, but Katharine, the poisoner heir, has never shown any aptitude for her power. Neither has Arsinoe, a naturalist who should have an animal familiar and a gift for the hunt. Only Mirabella, the elemental heir, has demonstrated her power of controlling the four elements. But of the three, she's the least enthusiastic about what is demanded of her: to kill her two sisters, or to be killed, for much like Highlander, there can be only one.
I liked a lot of stuff about this book - the different kinds of magic were really interesting, and the three heirs pulled me along in their story and made me root for each of them. But that was also part of what's odd about the universe for me: even beyond the three heirs, the society is nominally matriarchal, with goddesses and priestesses and men who are seeking to be the eventual queen's consort with no expectations for any power of his own. And yet the three heirs are controlled and ruled by everyone and all of the constructs of the universe, even while having vast overwhelming powers. I get that part of the point of the story is to examine the paradox of the most powerful people having the least power, but it just made me mad. And there are a couple of plotlines involving romantic partners that also frustrated me, for similar reasons.
Still, it was a compelling and engaging read, and I'm curious enough about how the author will (presumably) upend the universe in the sequel that I'll definitely buy it, but mostly it's a book that I enjoyed but always wished was just a little different.
Grade: B
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