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 limited 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's naivete in Black Sun was annoying at times, so it was a joy to watch her metal being tested in Fevered Star. She has a lot more grit in this book, and moved from my least to my favorite character.
If you like your books to have a definitive ending, this one may have too many loose ends. The narrative moves all of the characters to new places, but it’s a bit like a chess game with everyone lined up for a final confrontation. Small threads are tied off with Xiala, Naranpa, and Serapio, but the overall arc remains open for the sequel. The only weakness was how 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!
I found all of the viewpoint characters equally compelling. Balam the dreamwalker is equal parts creepy powerful and limited 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's naivete in Black Sun was annoying at times, so it was a joy to watch her metal being tested in Fevered Star. She has a lot more grit in this book, and moved from my least to my favorite character.
If you like your books to have a definitive ending, this one may have too many loose ends. The narrative moves all of the characters to new places, but it’s a bit like a chess game with everyone lined up for a final confrontation. Small threads are tied off with Xiala, Naranpa, and Serapio, but the overall arc remains open for the sequel. The only weakness was how 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!
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