Recommended to me by: Fill to me the parting glass by someinstant, fan fiction for this book
This book is beautifully written with strong characters and relationships and an interesting system of magic. It pulled me right through it. It’s another Robin McKinley book with a capable young woman protagonist studying hard to get through challenging circumstances. Mirasol has more help and less desperation than some of her protagonists have had in past books, so it felt softer to read about her and her world. I loved her honey and bees.
When I stepped back to think about the world-building, the book is disappointingly xenophobic and patriarchal. There is a crisis because the land won’t accept an outblood Master (male and hereditary) under an Overlord (also male) and the Master is supported by a Chalice (female and not hereditary).
I would love to see the creativity that went into this book supporting alternatives to xenophobia and patriarchy instead of reinforcing them.
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