All the Hidden Paths

All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows, 517 pages

In this sequel to A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, newlyweds Cae and Vel are still trying to get to know one another (and recover from the horrific events of the first book) when Cae is suddenly named as heir to his grandmother's title and attendant holdings. Cae is NOT excited about this, as he's more suited to swinging a sword than dealing with politics. Vel has more talent at politics, but given that he's a foreigner from a land that's scandalized by his same-sex marriage, he's more than a little hesitant to step in. Anyway, not long after Cae's grandmother's announcement, the pair is summoned to the monarch's court, which again, was not something Cae was looking forward to, and the fact that they were followed on their journey by a series of "accidents" doesn't make it any more comfortable.

In an afterword, the author explains that All the Hidden Paths isn't just a continuation of Cae and Vel's story — it's also an exploration of what happens after someone comes out. Because as they explain, and as Vel experiences throughout the book, there's a lot of internal struggle, self-doubt, and revelation that occurs both before and after that initial external announcement, and Meadows does an excellent job of illustrating that here. There were a few times in the book where I felt like all of their issues could be resolved if Cae and Vel just talked to one another honestly (which is one of my pet peeves in romance), but in general, this was an excellent addition to this romance/fantasy series. I hope to read more of Cae and Vel's story!

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows, 528 pages

Velasin has left his home country of Ralia as part of an arranged marriage to Cae, the son of the ruler of Tithena. Vel was originally intended for Cae's sister, but when the Tithenian envoy learned of Vel's preference for men, they offered up Cae's hand instead. Neither man expected this match, particularly because such pairings are forbidden in Vel's homeland, but they're determined to be friends if nothing else. Trouble is, someone in Tithena isn't a fan of the marriage, and they're going out of their way to try to break it up.

This is an interesting twist on the courtly intrigue brand of fantasy novels, with the vastly different attitudes toward LGBTQIA people and relationships in Ralia and Tithena adding a dimension that isn't often present in this sort of book. The mystery at the center of the book, the slow-building trust and love between Cae and Vel, and Vel's growth and healing over the course of the book make this a compelling read (though it should be noted that there are depictions of rape and suicidal ideation in this book, so head in with open eyes). A sequel comes out this winter, and you can bet I'll be reading it.

The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu 1177 pp.

This is one of the books selected for the adult summer reading discussions. It is a book that had been on my "to read" list for many years but its length made me keep putting it off. Kara's commentary is excellent and I don't have anything to add except that it wasn't quite what I was expecting, although I'm not even sure what I expected. I do enjoy Asian literature although this is the first I've read with 1000 years of age on it. I'm glad I finally crossed this one out of my "to reads". 

The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, translated by Dennis Washburn, 1177 pages

Written more than 1,000 years ago, The Tale of Genji is often considered to be the first psychological novel, as in it deals with emotions and relationships instead of action. And indeed, this book is ALL about the relationships, particularly those surrounding the super-attractive son-of-an-emperor Genji and the many ladies of his life. He might be "radiant" and swoon-worthy to the Heian court, but so many of his actions are abhorrent to modern readers and eye-roll-inducing to even the narrator. I appreciated the subtle sarcasm and the strong female characters (despite the fact that most of them don't have actual names), as well as the insight into Heian Period Japan. At times, it was hard to keep track of timelines and characters — though with all of Genji's wives and consorts, I'd be shocked if a first-time reader could keep them all straight — but overall I'm glad I read this monumental book. I'm curious what the final word will be on Genji at our last adult summer reading discussion tomorrow night.

The Priory of the Orange Tree

 The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, 830 pages. 

Tis' the season for all of us to be finishing the big book challenge for the summer! If you want to see a synopsis of this book, I would recommend scrolling down one post to see what Kara had to say.

As far as my own thoughts, I really enjoyed this book! The writing was engaging enough to make it seem shorter than it is (although it is already shorter than it looks). I really appreciate a fantasy novel with enough points of view to give you a good idea about what most of the world looks like, and it is definitely the case for this book that countries where people are from and spend time feel more real than ones we only talk about. A neat book overall, although I'm not sure I'm invested enough to read the other book in the setting. Although I am excited to talk about this one on Monday!