The Ghosts Of Blood And Innocence (2006) - Plot & Excerpts
My favorite of the seriesWarning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS. Rating: 9/10PROS: - It’s interesting seeing all of the events in this story from the perspectives of new characters. We get to see many of the old favorites (the main characters from the earlier books), but we see them with a new set of eyes, from the point of view of young hara who don’t know all the political and emotional history of everyone else.- Constantine creates multi-dimensional characters who are neither wholly good nor wholly bad. The villains, for example, often seem hateful at first, but as the other characters come to understand and even love them, I could feel my feelings toward them transitioning as well. I felt more connected to the characters in this story--both good and bad--than I have with any of the previous volumes.- The new worlds introduced in each new book seem more beautiful and fantastical and brilliant than those introduced in the books before it. This series is worth a read if only for the descriptions of the realms the characters inhabit.- The politics in this story are so complex that I was never sure who was in the right and who was in the wrong--who the good guys and the enemies were, who was being honest and who was playing a political game, who was being used as a pawn, etc.CONS:- The language in this volume is a bit less mystical than that of the earlier books. It’s not that the writing in this book is bad (far from it); it’s just that a bit of the magic of Constantine’s writing is gone when she uses simple, straightforward language that contrasts so greatly with her previous writing style.- There’s one minor difference between these History books and the original trilogy that I find a little irritating: with the later installments in the series, Constantine takes to writing “har” in the place of “one” in pronouns (that is, “nohar,” “somehar,” “everyhar,” etc.). It’s an interesting convention, but because the original books don’t do it and these later ones do, it jars me for some reason.Overall comments: This is my favorite of the Wraeththu books, because I became much more engrossed in the worlds and in the characters’ lives than I did with the earlier volumes. There are references throughout to characters and terms introduced earlier in the series, so I think you’ll be quite lost if you attempt to read this book without having read at least some of the earlier ones. I had trouble myself, and it’s been only six months or so since I read the most recent predecessor. It truly is worth the time to go back and read all six of the books, though. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
This final book of the Wreaththu Histories brings the generational gap between the founders of Wreathu (those who were incepted) - and the pure-born Wreaththu (those who were pearls) full circle. The battle for the control of Wreaththu and the world has gone into other lands and through the outer pathways, battles are being fought between beings far beyond the comprehension of Wreaththu. Yet their very survival depends on their understanding and negotiating with all of these varied entities. Who/what are the Sedim? Who/what is the "helpful" character who is teaching Loki? And what did Lileem find in the ancient pyramidal library? All of the hanging threads that have been tantilizing for the past three books come to conclusion here and all I can say is "I want more!" Read on my NookColor.
What do You think about The Ghosts Of Blood And Innocence (2006)?
I'd really like to write a good review, not only of this book but of the two trilogies I've just finished. However, a string of adjectives such as "amazing", "stunning", "fabulous" and so on doesn't feel like enough! No matter how I try to describe how I felt reading these books, with its complex main characters, its colourful, rich array of secondary characters, and how they all relate in a hundred complex ways, plus the vidid descriptions, the magical settings, the mysteries of love, sex and procreation in Wraeththu life, the beautiful writing style and power of narration... Everyone, go and read them for yourselves if you haven't (in the right order, of course!); the odds are that these books will change your inner world the way they've changed mine!
—Maria
