This is a deliciously robust standalone fantasy in contrapuntal themes and, delightfully, with two unapologetically strong, intelligent, and appealing female leads.The disparate plot threads intertwine more closely as the book progresses until they merge about 3/4ths of the way through. The beginning of the book was slow for me because of the necessary framework-building and setup. It more than repaid my diligence for sticking with it and has been one of my best reads for 2019. The world building and magical system along with the racial interactions and societal background (troll vs. human, town vs. rural, magic class vs. mundane, etc.) are all on point and well rendered. One of the biggest standouts for me with this book was the expert way the author managed to explore perception. Motivation from one character's perspective which seems perfectly logical to -them- may not appear so to characters from other classes or backgrounds and the author's ability to highlight both viewpoints was exemplary.
This is a BIG book in terms of themes and narrative reach. There's a lot to unpack and process, and I don't doubt it will stick with me a long time. It's also a very very well written book and an enjoyable read.
Strong language warnings apply. There's a fair bit of no-nonsense non-smutty sex in the book along with themes of gender identity, androgyny, some body horror (in context), non-sexual violence, gender roles, and more. This is a very comprehensive book. I sincerely hope there's more. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this author in future.
Five stars. Superlative.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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