In the end, I had to give this book a middle-of-the-road rating. High marks for creativity related to the Leor society and how they fit into the Shielder universe, but low marks for the insipid Jenna. "Spirit, what could she do? One thing was certain: lying here in the sand, giving in to tears and hopelessness would not help Arion." This quote, which occurs 83% of the way into the book, pretty much sums up my constant impressions of main character Jenna as feeble and not especially clever. Notice I didn't describe her as a "heroine." Jenna is more like a sacrificial lamb. She heads to Saura as the result of a vision that basically tells her she must offer herself to the savage leader of the Leors, Arion. The pity-party started off early: "There was nothing for her in Shamara. Nor did anyone care that her destiny was that of mating with the leader of a barbaric and cruel race. Her life here, and her freedom, had just come to an end." Once on Saura, she suffers unbearable cruelties, such as cut hands, an overly heated bed, hard work and close proximity to an uncommunicative man. Even her impressions of supposed cruelty by the Leors are later proved wrong. Sadly, Jenna is so unaware of potential threats and so inexcusably ignorant of the culture surrounding her, that she finds her only solution is to sacrifice herself again. Heroes are often defined as people who sacrifice themselves for the greater good, and I agree with that notion. Spangler was setting the visionary Shielder up for her big climactic moment, which was perfect for this book, but I just wish there had been more to admire about Jenna along the way.Speaking of big climaxes, Spangler surprised me with a twist at the end. She foreshadowed it, but how it came about was a complete surprise. The conclusion tied in well with the atmosphere she was building throughout the book and kept the lead roles perfectly in character.The highlight of this book is the creativity Spangler shows in devising the reptilian Leor people and their spiritual culture. A hard, physical race known to outsiders for their stoicism and cruelty, but who privately observe a societal structure that emphasizes communing with a deity and a strict devotional life was refreshingly original. Intermixing the mystical aspects of the Leor religion with everyday life, the high celebrations, and the settlement's setting was very well done. Spangler also creates an arid atmosphere suitable for the reptilian race. The impact of this atmosphere on Jenna is profound, and I liked the many ways the dwellings and personal hygiene practices of the Leor people showed a habitual adaptation to their reptilian ancestry.In the final analysis, while I enjoyed visiting Saura and reading about the Leor people, I was disappointed in the lead character. Though told in third person subjective, more time is spent with Jenna than Arion. Jenna was kind, but not inspiring, and I wanted her to be more.
This is the first of this author's books I have tried. I did enjoy it.I thought at first I was not going to like the hero, Arion. He seemed very dominating and misogynistic. Something I can't stand in real life and not so much in fiction. He soon began to change though and became a very nice man as he tried to be a good husband. The heroine, Jenna, was a little wimpy but had an interior type of courage and did her best to stand up to him within the limits of her personality. She wasn't strident and out to change Leor society. (As another human woman evidently was. Lana must have been the main character in another book and from reading this one, I know that I don't want to read her story. She was a ludicrous stereotype and I cringed every time she was present.)So the two main characters were very well written and fairly true to themselves. I had a problem with some of the Leor politics in that SPOILERS there was a character who had to die because he had accidently killed another Leor man in a drunken brawl. So here we have a society at war with outposts being wiped out and who have a low birth rate that they are trying to address and they kill a guy over an accident. It would have made more sense that instead of two fatherless families, the man should have been made to provide for both families. I guess the point is that the Leor have a very hidebound rigid society and over the course of the book are being made to see that they must change and adapt.So all in all I guess it was pretty good. Well written and I liked the climax at the end as I am fond of the sacrifice all for love type of romances. Pretty good sci fi romance.
What do You think about Shadow Fires (2015)?
Doubtful look…On the one hand, it sure was nice to have a heroine that didn't make me want to kneecap her and break all her fingers so she could never steal another ship (or at least move fast enough to exercise her right to bad judgement while endangering others). On the other hand…Pacing was an issue. You get the whole "donate a female to be mate" thing in the first chapter or two - which she expected, being a seer and all. Then she's being put in stasis, waking up, getting married and… spending the next 2/3 of the book getting to know the H better before the alignment of the moon and stars and stuff makes optimal mating in the religious sense. This was several days. Yeah; days. During this time, every time she was confronted with his people's laws, her immediate response was "how barbaric". To the point that my immediate response was "what a judgmental beeeaaach" Then *bam* they get it on and the next several days pass in a paragraph (or was it weeks, I'm not entirely sure).This all comes to a head when her brother (who disappeared 14 years prior - around the time their parents died) rears his head and assists a couple of traitors in allowing the settlement to be attacked, which leads to the Leors demanding retribution - her - and the H offering himself instead, only to be thwarted in his heroic self-sacrifice by some of the most melodramatic crap I've read - in the last chapter mind you.This was the last book of the series - that was released. There was the sense that more was planned but you know, at this point, I don't give a shit. Too many heroines needing their arses kicked for my taste.
—Crystal
