Queens of Tristaine

Tristaine #4

by Cate Culpepper

When a deadly plague stalks the Amazons of Tristaine, Jess and Brenna must return to the place of their nightmares—the notorious City Clinic, to find a cure.

Tristaine’s hard-won peace is shattered when a lethal epidemic threatens to devastate the Amazon clan. Their only hero for a cure lies in the sinister laboratories of the City Clinic. To save the sisters they love, Jess and Brenna must leave their mountain village and return to the malevolent government facility that almost cost them their lives. The danger they face is harrowing, the stakes enormous…and they have precious little time.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Lesbian, LGBT, Romance, Military Fiction, Queer

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2007

About the author

Cate Culpepper grew up in southern New Mexico, where she served as the state lesbian, before moving to the Pacific Northwest twenty-five years ago. She has won one Lambda Literary Society Award, three Golden Crown Literary Society Awards, one Lesbian Fiction Readers' Choice Award, and an Alice B. Toklas Award for her body of work.

Reviews

[Ted]

Well that's the lot. Series done. I'm not sure why she stopped here, the framework was in place to keep the series going but... shrug. Still liked this a lot although the focus was less on an army on the borders, or undead, etc.. but on for all intents and purposes a bird flu. And so the quest is on to go back to the 'City' to get meds to save the Amazons. I still think book 3 was the better of the series, but it's not bad in it's own right. Looks like she shifted focus after this to put out 4 more books, so I'll have to see what that's about :)

[Natsu]

4.5

To be continued...


CONTINUATION...

Hmm.. no, just 4.25. It was a wee bit slower compared to "Tristaine 
Rises." I felt that there was more tension in this book due to the 
nature of the threat that they face.

The twists weren't that surprising anymore. Brenna kicks ass in this 
book, though she goes through a minor bump while in the city. Jess is 
ever the hero in sickness and in health. I see Dana here as "part 
warrior-part child" in a good way (especially during the first chapter). 
The fact that she's "Kyla-smitten" makes her more endearing. I was a bit
sad for way things turned out for the honorary Amazon, Sammy, 
she was not able to meet nor hold Elise. I enjoyed this but not as much as "Tristaine Rises."

This 4th book in the Tristaine series tells us about the events 2 years 
after their battle with Botesh.

The Amazons found peace and was able to build their home and lives in 
the mesa. However, while people were still basking in the high of an 
annual ceremony, Brenna, Jess, Ky and Dana notices something unusual in 
the forest which trips Brenna's seer switch. A vision of an H5N1-ish 
plague hits the Amazons. They have to face the irony that their only 
hope can be found in the Clinic, the same place where Jess and their 
sisters have suffered so much. The clan council bore 6 Amazons on a 
mission (or two, for our dear Brenna). The plague hits Brenna's 
(and eventually Jess's) blood kins which adds to their worries. On their way to and in the city, they find help in the form of old and new
allies. Old demons and ghosts from their past resurface. A rebellion 
ensues in the mesa.

With the help of an unfamiliar voice/person in Brenna's visions, they brave a perilous journey where time is of the essence and failure may lead to 
death, not just of one, but of their whole clan.

[Clo]

Last but not least, this is my favorite book of the series.

Three years after book#3, a plague strikes the clan and Amazon's are forced to return to the city to find cure.

I loved that the action took place in different settings : in the wilderness - Amazon territory, in the city - guards territory, and everywhere in between. Character are forced to adapt, and the different POV is interesting.

Plot was less predictable than in the other books, even if the rule "good is good and evil is evil" still applies.

The story could continue, but if it doesn't this is a good ending as it is.

[Subira]

I loved this series so much!

I liked the Amazon vibe and the lore of the village

[MJSam]

The last of the Tristaine stories, so far at least, and it's a fitting end. We circle back to the beginning with a trip to the City and a confrontation at the Clinic. Original characters are revisited, and new characters added. There are quite a few harrowing moments, and some genuinely throat closing (to borrow Cate's term for sadness) moments.

This book didn't have a lot of Shann, and I felt that missing element a bit. I wish the ending had gone a bit longer to allow for a bit more closure around the prophecy etc, but perhaps there's another story there waiting to be told. I've enjoyed the characters very much and if this is the last of the Tristaine series then it's a fitting, if somewhat bittersweet, way to close the arc.

[D. Omars]

This a good sequel and a good way to end this series. There were some great amounts of suspense and drama in this story, which seems to be the focus in this volume. There was action and romance in it, but not that many moments with it. There are some new characters in this story and some unexpected things in this story that helps this story, but it is mostly near the end of the story that it happens. This was a good story and ending for this series.

[Dani]

I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane with the Tristaine series. It’s still just as great as I remember it being the first time I read they books years ago. I love and miss all adventure, community, and love between the sisters with in its pages. Jesstin, Brenna, and the other Amazons will forever hold a special place in my heart. Cate Culpepper is truly missed.

[Nikki]

I loved this book just as much as the other Tristaines. I was on the edge of my seat in their journey through the City, and loved seeing Brenna blossom. Two thumbs up!

[Alena]

My absolute favorite in this series and hard to put down!

[Melanie Wood]

Loved this series. If you love Amazons, but in a slightly futuristic earth (never tells you the exact year or century), then go read it