Fevered Star is even better than Black Sun, the first installment in the series. The political intrigue is fascinating, the sorcery intriguing, the characters complex and human.
I found all of the viewpoint characters equally compelling:
- Balam the dreamwalker is equal parts creepy, powerful, and flawed by his hubris.
- Serapio, the broken tool of his god, is heart-wrenchingly human in his desire for love and connection.
- Xiala, the grounded Teek sea captain, is less spunky in this installment, but her backstory is well handled. Okoa, the conflicted Carrion Crow warrior, may be the least intriguing character, but his simple values and desire to do what’s right lend a moral center to the narrative.
- Naranpa the deposed Sun Priest. Her naivete in Black Sun was annoying at times, so it was a joy to watch her metal being tested in Fevered Star. Naranpa has a lot more grit in this book, and moved from my least to my favorite character.
The only weakness was the frustrating way characters kept missing each other: Xiala and Iktan the Knife, and Serapio and Xiala, but a small quibble in an otherwise fabulous epic fantasy.
More please!
What was your take on Fevered Star? Please share your insights with me.