Merry Meerkat Marginalia

Star Rating: 5 Stars, Buy it

Self Purchase for Kindle, Re-read review

If you haven't read this series, you really have no idea of what you are missing. The writing style is so unique and superb and adds so much to the series. I must admit though sometimes the writing can be hard to follow. Also, there is so much politics in this series, that sometimes I just can’t follow it all. That being said though, it’s still an incredibly original and unique series.   This is a reread for me, having read this originally years ago.  I had forgotten how long the prelude was on this book. At 9% in, I’m only now getting to chapter one. Yes, Michelle Sagara West can be very wordy. Normally I don’t mind but I wanted to get sucked back into this world so it was hard to plow through the opening which I barely remembered- but this time I actually understood what it was about since I know the novel.

Part of what makes this book so amazing is that it’s so unique, not only in the writing style I mentioned above but also in the world building. It’s so incredibly detailed, you can’t keep track of it all. Especially the names, I find the names hard to keep track off. But as this is my second time around, I'm finding it a smidgen easier than the first time.  While I’ve given this book a high rating, If I were to rate it again, I might do so just a smidge less than 5 stars. Some points of this book are so hard to plow through.

Another thing I want to mention is that I remembered this book differently. The writing style was exactly how I rememebered but the plot was different. I’m wondering if I am remembering the wrong book in the series or a different book. But I know I had the characters right.  I will answer this question when I get around to reading the second book in the series.  But for now, some notes on my favorite characters:

Jewel- where to start with her. She has her own series related to this one in which we learn all about her past leading up  to this series (These are called the House War books). I love her character but she is barely in this first volume.  

Diora- The Flower of the Dominion- is my other favorite character. She is a very complicated, intelligent and very sneaky young woman.

Cover- I absolutely adore the cover and think is a perfect depiction of the novel.

Description (Amazon): Tor Leonne—the heart of the Domionion of Annagar, where the games of state are about to become a matter of life or death—and where those who seek to seize the crown will be forced to league with a treacherously cunning ally… Tor Leonne, ancestral seat of power, where Serra Diora Maria di’Marano—the most sought-after beauty in the land, a woman betrayed by all she holds dear—may strike the first blow to change the future of Dominion and Empire alike…

Averalaan Aramarelas—the most ancient of civilized cities, the home of the Essalieyan Imperial Court, has long been a center of magics both dark and bright.  And though the Enpire won its last war with the Dominion, and survived a devastating, magic-fueled battle with a far deadlier foe, both those victories were not without their cost… But now the realm is on the brink of a far greater confrontation, faced with an unholy alliance that could spell the end of freedom for all mortalkind…