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Twin Kingdoms
Thief of Songs
The lowland conquerers have taken everything from him, or so the composer Amet Emendexte-ilye was prestige, autonomy, wealth, and most importantly, magic. But when one of them steals his fiancee, Amet avenges himself on them all by writing music and giving it away in defiance of the lowland laws. It is a very satisfactory vengeance, or so he thinks, until he discovers the kingdom's royal composer is planning to debut Amet's work—as folk music! So he's riding east to set the record straight. But he has no idea how compelling a decadent lowland hermaphrodite can be. And before it's over, this thief of songs may be stealing more than his music.... A lyrical romance, set in a second world fantasy. Leave the world behind today! Heat ** (not-explicit, some sensual thoughts) Hermaphrodite/male with poly asexual neuter third Novel
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2015
7 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
M.C.A. Hogarth
145 books387 followersDaughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 23, 2020
I expected more along the lines of her Earthrise trilogy, which I liked very much. The tone is similar, but this reminds me more of the romantic fantasy of Grace Draven.
An interesting romance of conquered west meeting magically advanced east and a romance between a man, an hermaphrodite and a neuter. Yep, three people. It works, too. Hogarth also plays with different cultures and societal norms and throws in some entertaining insights into the workings of the minds of musicians.
The story is pretty mellow and slow-paced, the characters are all fairly chilled and there is not an awful lot of tension. The general pleasantness is met with the required conflict and strife about 70% into the book. Luckily enough though, the author avoids the usual, annoying romance cliches and our lovers behave like adults and communicate.
Heat Level: not-explicit, some sensual thoughts
Relationship: Hermaphrodite/male with poly asexual neuter third
Conflict-level: low
I would recommend or gift this to a friend. Probably a good choice for fans of Grace Draven.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
+*+*+
Author‘s bookpage
Here is a summary of my old reviews of Her Instruments: https://cathysreadingbonanza.wordpres...
An interesting romance of conquered west meeting magically advanced east and a romance between a man, an hermaphrodite and a neuter. Yep, three people. It works, too. Hogarth also plays with different cultures and societal norms and throws in some entertaining insights into the workings of the minds of musicians.
The story is pretty mellow and slow-paced, the characters are all fairly chilled and there is not an awful lot of tension. The general pleasantness is met with the required conflict and strife about 70% into the book. Luckily enough though, the author avoids the usual, annoying romance cliches and our lovers behave like adults and communicate.
Heat Level: not-explicit, some sensual thoughts
Relationship: Hermaphrodite/male with poly asexual neuter third
Conflict-level: low
I would recommend or gift this to a friend. Probably a good choice for fans of Grace Draven.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
+*+*+
Author‘s bookpage
Here is a summary of my old reviews of Her Instruments: https://cathysreadingbonanza.wordpres...
January 6, 2017
Aww, yay! It's been a little while since I've read Hogarth's writing, but every time I come back to it is like meeting an old friend after a long time apart. And while I'm not usually one for romance, I'm glad I tried this one, because Thief is a lot of fun.
If you're familiar with the author's previous work, this one has all the usual hallmarks: interesting worldbuilding, lush descriptions, gentle humor, and wonderfully human characters. But that last one is perhaps more on display here than ever, since so much of Thief is a personal story. Unlike many of Hogarth's other fantasy or science-fiction novels, here there are no lives at stake or worlds under threat; only different cultures and personalities learning to mesh, and slowly finding their new balance points. And I like it all the more for the messages that come with that process - that anyone can choose to change, even if they felt very strongly about something before; and that everyone grants trust in their own way, and at their own pace.
Minor complaints: The courtly language occasionally gets in the way of the descriptions - often even my Kindle dictionary (usually very good with poetic and archaic language) had no suggestions, and so I had to go scouting on the Internet for definitions. Equally, I have to admit I had a hard time picturing the characters: I had no clue what "banner" was referring to, and then got blindsided by a description of someone's colorful hair/eyebrows and felt very confused. I still have no clue how the fourth gender (hermaphrodite) looks physically. Maybe some backmatter sketches of the main characters would have helped? Maybe a world map too, for that matter. And what's to the north?
But those really are minor complaints - on the whole I really enjoyed myself with this one, which was a very nice few hours' distraction from gray and rainy weather. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel when it's released!
----------
First read 10/24/15
Reread 1/4/17
If you're familiar with the author's previous work, this one has all the usual hallmarks: interesting worldbuilding, lush descriptions, gentle humor, and wonderfully human characters. But that last one is perhaps more on display here than ever, since so much of Thief is a personal story. Unlike many of Hogarth's other fantasy or science-fiction novels, here there are no lives at stake or worlds under threat; only different cultures and personalities learning to mesh, and slowly finding their new balance points. And I like it all the more for the messages that come with that process - that anyone can choose to change, even if they felt very strongly about something before; and that everyone grants trust in their own way, and at their own pace.
Minor complaints: The courtly language occasionally gets in the way of the descriptions - often even my Kindle dictionary (usually very good with poetic and archaic language) had no suggestions, and so I had to go scouting on the Internet for definitions. Equally, I have to admit I had a hard time picturing the characters: I had no clue what "banner" was referring to, and then got blindsided by a description of someone's colorful hair/eyebrows and felt very confused. I still have no clue how the fourth gender (hermaphrodite) looks physically. Maybe some backmatter sketches of the main characters would have helped? Maybe a world map too, for that matter. And what's to the north?
But those really are minor complaints - on the whole I really enjoyed myself with this one, which was a very nice few hours' distraction from gray and rainy weather. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel when it's released!
----------
First read 10/24/15
Reread 1/4/17
April 13, 2015
DISCLAIMER. The backmatter does include a link to one of my works. If I didn't like the book at the 3-5 star level, the cross-link wouldn't be there. But lo, there it is, and I'm not going to hide it, because, sheesh, it's not hard to find. Hopefully the following will be useful enough anyway to make a determination about whether I'm ultra-biased for the wrong reasons. As always, sample before purchase, etc. (I do not find the tone to be uneven, so if you like the Read Inside sample, it seems probable that you will continue to like the book.)
...this means I am going to talk a lot, rambling, and hopefully not giving away any spoilers, so that people can decide whether their biases align with mine. (Honestly, I'm writing this for the people who follow my reviews, who presumably either share my tastes or think my reviews, though few and far between, are entertaining.)
Adapted from other sites:
This is definitely a romance, in a fantasy setting. There is no B-plot, and there will be a HEA. The book is about the relationship and the complications it creates. That's quite complicated enough! There are politics to be considered, plus the fact that this is not traditional male/female romance. There's a guy (Amet) as one viewpoint, but the other (Dancer) is the world's "third sex" -- hermaphrodite. (This freaks Amet out slightly for... about a chapter? Maybe two?) And Dancer is currently in an asexual romantic relationship with one of the world's /fourth/ sex people, who are neuter. So not only do we have the politics when a patriotic member of a restive chunk of the country gets involved with the emperor's own Court Composer, but they're also negotiating his possible addition to an already-established (but not precisely sexual) duo.
And that's not even counting the finale when Amet's ex-betrothed shows up.
(There, that's the mostly-duplicated review stuff. The following is new. And rambly. I'm a little feverish today. Sorry.)
As one of the other reviews that I read said, ToS is perhaps a little "pat" in some ways, in that almost everyone tends to be fairly rational most of the time. On the other hand, it's sometimes quite nice to have a book where most of the people are mostly rational most of the time. (Note that it's not 100% of any of those, and even the rational people have emotions and opinions and whatnot. This is not Vulcan fanfic. Not that there's anything wrong with Vulcan fanfic, mind you. ;) Though the fourth-sex characters appear to be extremely calm and quietly manipulating the world for the world's best interests, but I may be reading that into things some because I am in a couple of fandoms where I totally fangirl certain characters like that. So actually, if you like the idea of Vulcan fanfic, you may like a couple of the secondary characters.)
But people who are given to talking things out are not going to have a Great! Angsty! Drama-Filled! Epic! For all that Dancer is the emperor's own composer, and Amet starts out with "your country conquered mine!" (and some other complaints stemming from that which I will call spoilers), the relationship is relatively "we are, however, also normal folks and if we put some effort into this, there should be a way to work things out."
The power dynamics are low-key, but present. Dancer mostly outranks Amet, and that has certain issues, and I am still pondering the dynamics that go on between third-sex and male.
For worldbuilding... Yes, there is a world there, and it doesn't feel like a set-piece of cardboard behind the characters. (As the occasional fantasy-setting romance does to me.) It's not dug into except where it impacts the characters, of course, but there are more countries than two in the empire (and a member of one of them has some perspectives on cultural identity... So does the Emperor, for that matter), the magic system is present, low-key but with high social impact, and holds together well enough that I'm willing to accept that even a few of the foggier bits would resolve if any character ever looked at them.
Heat-level. There's a lot of touching and sensuality (which is not necessarily sexual), but the bedroom scenes have very little detail. My imagination is quite "feelthy" enough (as my mom would say) to fill in those details, but I had absolutely no issues handing a copy to my 15-year-old kid.
For an even less biased "review," the aforementioned 15-year-old has been reading it and occasionally going, "It's so good" in reverent, reverent tones. (And for my part, a story modeling a relationship where talking things out is fine, and asking for what you want in the bedroom is fine, and acknowledging problems exist is fine... Hey, there are far worse things she could be reading!)
...this means I am going to talk a lot, rambling, and hopefully not giving away any spoilers, so that people can decide whether their biases align with mine. (Honestly, I'm writing this for the people who follow my reviews, who presumably either share my tastes or think my reviews, though few and far between, are entertaining.)
Adapted from other sites:
This is definitely a romance, in a fantasy setting. There is no B-plot, and there will be a HEA. The book is about the relationship and the complications it creates. That's quite complicated enough! There are politics to be considered, plus the fact that this is not traditional male/female romance. There's a guy (Amet) as one viewpoint, but the other (Dancer) is the world's "third sex" -- hermaphrodite. (This freaks Amet out slightly for... about a chapter? Maybe two?) And Dancer is currently in an asexual romantic relationship with one of the world's /fourth/ sex people, who are neuter. So not only do we have the politics when a patriotic member of a restive chunk of the country gets involved with the emperor's own Court Composer, but they're also negotiating his possible addition to an already-established (but not precisely sexual) duo.
And that's not even counting the finale when Amet's ex-betrothed shows up.
(There, that's the mostly-duplicated review stuff. The following is new. And rambly. I'm a little feverish today. Sorry.)
As one of the other reviews that I read said, ToS is perhaps a little "pat" in some ways, in that almost everyone tends to be fairly rational most of the time. On the other hand, it's sometimes quite nice to have a book where most of the people are mostly rational most of the time. (Note that it's not 100% of any of those, and even the rational people have emotions and opinions and whatnot. This is not Vulcan fanfic. Not that there's anything wrong with Vulcan fanfic, mind you. ;) Though the fourth-sex characters appear to be extremely calm and quietly manipulating the world for the world's best interests, but I may be reading that into things some because I am in a couple of fandoms where I totally fangirl certain characters like that. So actually, if you like the idea of Vulcan fanfic, you may like a couple of the secondary characters.)
But people who are given to talking things out are not going to have a Great! Angsty! Drama-Filled! Epic! For all that Dancer is the emperor's own composer, and Amet starts out with "your country conquered mine!" (and some other complaints stemming from that which I will call spoilers), the relationship is relatively "we are, however, also normal folks and if we put some effort into this, there should be a way to work things out."
The power dynamics are low-key, but present. Dancer mostly outranks Amet, and that has certain issues, and I am still pondering the dynamics that go on between third-sex and male.
For worldbuilding... Yes, there is a world there, and it doesn't feel like a set-piece of cardboard behind the characters. (As the occasional fantasy-setting romance does to me.) It's not dug into except where it impacts the characters, of course, but there are more countries than two in the empire (and a member of one of them has some perspectives on cultural identity... So does the Emperor, for that matter), the magic system is present, low-key but with high social impact, and holds together well enough that I'm willing to accept that even a few of the foggier bits would resolve if any character ever looked at them.
Heat-level. There's a lot of touching and sensuality (which is not necessarily sexual), but the bedroom scenes have very little detail. My imagination is quite "feelthy" enough (as my mom would say) to fill in those details, but I had absolutely no issues handing a copy to my 15-year-old kid.
For an even less biased "review," the aforementioned 15-year-old has been reading it and occasionally going, "It's so good" in reverent, reverent tones. (And for my part, a story modeling a relationship where talking things out is fine, and asking for what you want in the bedroom is fine, and acknowledging problems exist is fine... Hey, there are far worse things she could be reading!)
January 22, 2026
I didn't even know this was possible. I'll go into why this book hit me so hard in a minute, but good god. Go read it, and then come back after the cut for spoilers.
I'm still having a hard time with the level of vulnerability I was left in at the completion of this novel, but I'm going to do my best to put ink to digital paper for this one, because it deserves it. This story demands to be told and then shared in the same way that the music within demands to be written, and then sung for all to hear.
(Slight non-sequitur, but I assured you it makes sense.) One of the themes I explore in my own writing is the concept that music is itself magic. The city Where Magic Lives brings that to life in a way different (and slightly less literal) than I had expected, but in a way all its own. Dancer, Always Falling, and Amet bring their own special gifts to the capital (and to each other) in a way that makes everything shine all the brighter. It's not always the book you expect, though, having considerably less conflict than many others (so much so that my brain kept trying to find it, expecting things to go badly at some stage). By itself, it's a pretty simple story, but one with genuine roots that go straight to the heart. And you know what? That's enough.
Personally, I'm not sure if it could have hit me harder if it was written *for* me. You see, I'm actually a bit of everything in this book, from Dancer's passion, to Always Falling's desire to heal and renew, to Amet's guarded, defensive nature, and everything in between. I even deal with gender identity issues, and to read something that just deals with both dual sexed (hermaphrodite) and asexual (neuter) individuals in a casual "Yeah, these just exist, and they're people... and that's the point!" is mind-blowing. I know there must exist other stories in that vein, but the way this one is told blew me away. I was in chorus for close to 10 years as a tenor, tried my hand at the piano, and desperately want to renew that and the violin when I get a chance. This book may not hit others the same way it hit me, but if I ever needed something I could look to to remind myself why I need to never give up on those dreams, this is it. This book was an honor to read, and I treasure it beyond measure.
I'm still having a hard time with the level of vulnerability I was left in at the completion of this novel, but I'm going to do my best to put ink to digital paper for this one, because it deserves it. This story demands to be told and then shared in the same way that the music within demands to be written, and then sung for all to hear.
(Slight non-sequitur, but I assured you it makes sense.) One of the themes I explore in my own writing is the concept that music is itself magic. The city Where Magic Lives brings that to life in a way different (and slightly less literal) than I had expected, but in a way all its own. Dancer, Always Falling, and Amet bring their own special gifts to the capital (and to each other) in a way that makes everything shine all the brighter. It's not always the book you expect, though, having considerably less conflict than many others (so much so that my brain kept trying to find it, expecting things to go badly at some stage). By itself, it's a pretty simple story, but one with genuine roots that go straight to the heart. And you know what? That's enough.
Personally, I'm not sure if it could have hit me harder if it was written *for* me. You see, I'm actually a bit of everything in this book, from Dancer's passion, to Always Falling's desire to heal and renew, to Amet's guarded, defensive nature, and everything in between. I even deal with gender identity issues, and to read something that just deals with both dual sexed (hermaphrodite) and asexual (neuter) individuals in a casual "Yeah, these just exist, and they're people... and that's the point!" is mind-blowing. I know there must exist other stories in that vein, but the way this one is told blew me away. I was in chorus for close to 10 years as a tenor, tried my hand at the piano, and desperately want to renew that and the violin when I get a chance. This book may not hit others the same way it hit me, but if I ever needed something I could look to to remind myself why I need to never give up on those dreams, this is it. This book was an honor to read, and I treasure it beyond measure.
October 17, 2016
Thief of Songs by MCA Hogarth
Thief of Songs is about music, and it feels lyrical. The writing is sumptuous and flows forth with detail that never feels strained. It's been a while since I've read a story that bursts on the page, but Thief of Songs did that for me. The two main characters, Amet and Dancer, are musicians and composers. They meet when Amet, a Western patriot, goes East to confront Dancer about how she stole his music, which he 'gave away' as revenge against his ex-lover, who broke their betrothal to marry an Easterner. In a fit of rage and passion, Amet hits Dancer, the favorite and ex-lover yet current friend of the Divine, the ruler of both Western and Eastern kingdoms. Dance remains besotted with Amet, but Dancer's lover/life partner, Always Falling, grounds Dancer and helps en (the pronoun of hermaphrodites) deal levelly and intelligently with the messy political and romantic situation.
The story is driven by the romance between Amet and Dancer, which provides real tension for the first half of the book. It resolves mid-way through (kind of), and I expected a more action-packed plot--or at least a less romance-centric plot--to dominate the later halves of the book. The politics between the East and the West, and to a greater extent the magical and the non-magical, do manifest, but a little too late and never nearly as convincingly as the romantic elements. Unfortunately, Theif of Songs reminded me what I disliked about romance-centric plots--they're all about the relationships. Not a bad thing, and if you really like fantasy with solid world-building that digs into the character's relationships, Theif of Songs is probably for you. There are precious few stories I consider too character focused (interesting characters will literally make me forgive so many plot mistakes), but this story crossed into being overly dominated by the character's internal lives. I wanted some other element of plot, yet the romance and all the fourth and third sex difficulties are continuously brought up. The forbidden love amongst the third, fourth, and 'normal' sexes dominated this entire story, but I only found it interesting enough to carry the first half and wish it could've not been the focus during the second half. The other plot morsel is the conflict between those who live in the East and are infused with magic continuously and the magic-starved Westerns.
Maybe I just like more explosions and gore in my stories. That's probably true.
The one world-building element I did like, which was a staple of the romantic plot line, was how the fourth and third sexes fit into relationships. It was implied that a third sex like Dancer and the Divine had more voracious sexual appetites. The fourth sex (asexuals) had no sexual appetite, and magic worked differently for both sexes. Also, Theif of Songs created a completely believable polyamorous relationship in second fantasy, which is something I'm desperate to read more of! If you find most fantasy romances boring, yet are a romance fan at heart, Theif of Songs is definitely a powerful contender for most interesting and believable romance in fantasy I've read in a LONG time.
In many ways, this story reminded me of why I love yet sometimes am frustrated with Charles de Lint, too, who's one of my favorite authors. De Lint can linger too long on characters while forgetting to have an actual plot, but his writing and world-building work is subtle and expressive. The same is true of MCA Hogarth, and while part two of this series might not be for me, I'm curious to read more of her writing.
Rating: 4 stars. The writing is beautiful. The world-building exists, but it's never expanded beyond the scope of the immediate sphere of the character's lives. The romance is believable, and it really is the main plot of this story--for better or worse.
Thief of Songs is about music, and it feels lyrical. The writing is sumptuous and flows forth with detail that never feels strained. It's been a while since I've read a story that bursts on the page, but Thief of Songs did that for me. The two main characters, Amet and Dancer, are musicians and composers. They meet when Amet, a Western patriot, goes East to confront Dancer about how she stole his music, which he 'gave away' as revenge against his ex-lover, who broke their betrothal to marry an Easterner. In a fit of rage and passion, Amet hits Dancer, the favorite and ex-lover yet current friend of the Divine, the ruler of both Western and Eastern kingdoms. Dance remains besotted with Amet, but Dancer's lover/life partner, Always Falling, grounds Dancer and helps en (the pronoun of hermaphrodites) deal levelly and intelligently with the messy political and romantic situation.
The story is driven by the romance between Amet and Dancer, which provides real tension for the first half of the book. It resolves mid-way through (kind of), and I expected a more action-packed plot--or at least a less romance-centric plot--to dominate the later halves of the book. The politics between the East and the West, and to a greater extent the magical and the non-magical, do manifest, but a little too late and never nearly as convincingly as the romantic elements. Unfortunately, Theif of Songs reminded me what I disliked about romance-centric plots--they're all about the relationships. Not a bad thing, and if you really like fantasy with solid world-building that digs into the character's relationships, Theif of Songs is probably for you. There are precious few stories I consider too character focused (interesting characters will literally make me forgive so many plot mistakes), but this story crossed into being overly dominated by the character's internal lives. I wanted some other element of plot, yet the romance and all the fourth and third sex difficulties are continuously brought up. The forbidden love amongst the third, fourth, and 'normal' sexes dominated this entire story, but I only found it interesting enough to carry the first half and wish it could've not been the focus during the second half. The other plot morsel is the conflict between those who live in the East and are infused with magic continuously and the magic-starved Westerns.
Maybe I just like more explosions and gore in my stories. That's probably true.
The one world-building element I did like, which was a staple of the romantic plot line, was how the fourth and third sexes fit into relationships. It was implied that a third sex like Dancer and the Divine had more voracious sexual appetites. The fourth sex (asexuals) had no sexual appetite, and magic worked differently for both sexes. Also, Theif of Songs created a completely believable polyamorous relationship in second fantasy, which is something I'm desperate to read more of! If you find most fantasy romances boring, yet are a romance fan at heart, Theif of Songs is definitely a powerful contender for most interesting and believable romance in fantasy I've read in a LONG time.
In many ways, this story reminded me of why I love yet sometimes am frustrated with Charles de Lint, too, who's one of my favorite authors. De Lint can linger too long on characters while forgetting to have an actual plot, but his writing and world-building work is subtle and expressive. The same is true of MCA Hogarth, and while part two of this series might not be for me, I'm curious to read more of her writing.
Rating: 4 stars. The writing is beautiful. The world-building exists, but it's never expanded beyond the scope of the immediate sphere of the character's lives. The romance is believable, and it really is the main plot of this story--for better or worse.
October 12, 2021
I was delighted to find this two-book series, as M.C.A. Hogarth is one of my favorite authors and I also read romance of various sub-genres.
Besides the existence and prominent role of magic in this world, there is another fantasy element that one could also find in science fiction: two "created" genders, the "thirds" (hemaphrodites) and "fourths" (neuters). Their roles in the lowland societies make for some admirable worldbuilding, and set up some important elements of the character and plot arcs. Music also plays a major part in this story, and while I'm neither a musician nor especially knowledgeable, I suspect that those who are either or both will enjoy the way music and musicians are presented.
There were times I found myself nervous, not knowing whether the reader was being set up for something disastrous, or whether that was just experience with quite different books leaking into my experience of this one. It would be a spoiler to say which.
Off to read the second!
Besides the existence and prominent role of magic in this world, there is another fantasy element that one could also find in science fiction: two "created" genders, the "thirds" (hemaphrodites) and "fourths" (neuters). Their roles in the lowland societies make for some admirable worldbuilding, and set up some important elements of the character and plot arcs. Music also plays a major part in this story, and while I'm neither a musician nor especially knowledgeable, I suspect that those who are either or both will enjoy the way music and musicians are presented.
There were times I found myself nervous, not knowing whether the reader was being set up for something disastrous, or whether that was just experience with quite different books leaking into my experience of this one. It would be a spoiler to say which.
Off to read the second!
August 23, 2015
Just lovely! Reminds me of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin, which is one of my favourite books of all time. Non-binary people, asexual people, this is one for you!
Full review here>
Full review here>
July 16, 2015
Adorable romance is adorable. EXCELLENT WORLDBUILDING IS EXCELLENT.
#TadlaForDivine2k15
#TadlaForDivine2k15
August 12, 2025
I waffled a bit here - I think I'd actually like to give this one 4.5 stars, but alas, that's not an option, so I'm going with 4.
I will fully admit that I'm pretty sure I'm not this book's target audience. (*cough* Author, you know of which I speak.) I hate things that are neat and tidy. I am all about the complicated, messy, realisms of life, and I love the Pelted universe beyond reason because it allows me to delve into the depths and come up with new unknowns.
As a romance novel, this book is probably not going to give you too many new unknowns, except in one exceptional way, which is that it's a non-traditional non-binary romance novel with four sexes; male, female, "third," and "fourth." So it's a little less boy-meets-girl-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-orchestral-music, more boy-meets-third-sex-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-literal-orchestral music.
It's a perfect romance novel, and if you like romance novels, you will quite probably like this one. It's well-written and well thought out, with an excellent supporting cast for the protagonists. (Always Falling was a particular favorite.)
This book probably isn't going to make you reimagine your entire belief system (which, let's be honest, the Pelted universe occasionally does) and it won't turn your world on its head, but I think it's fundamentally important in a lot of ways. It's a normal romance novel, which is exceptional in that it makes almost no fuss about the "additional" sexes. It's doing something many romance novels out there right now aren't, which is pushing the boundaries of gender and sexuality and sexual fluidity.
If you liked Mindtouch and Mindline: you will probably like this, though reader beware, there is the appropriate amount of what I'd consider PG-13+ sexuality. (However, there are also asexual romantic relationships that play a huge role and are considered of equal value to sexual relationships, which is another way in which this book is great.) If you're an Eldritch girl (or guy) like me: you will probably like this very much, but don't expect hot sugared tea to be a double shot of espresso.
I think sometimes reviewing M. is a little challenging because it's hard to parse out one book from the canon of her work. (At least, there are enough shared themes and worldviews that I have trouble pulling out one thing from the rest and evaluating it critically and alone.) Compared to M.'s other work... there are other things I liked better. As a stand alone, or as best a review I can offer as a stand alone having admitted my biases? Really excellent. Would read again.
I will fully admit that I'm pretty sure I'm not this book's target audience. (*cough* Author, you know of which I speak.) I hate things that are neat and tidy. I am all about the complicated, messy, realisms of life, and I love the Pelted universe beyond reason because it allows me to delve into the depths and come up with new unknowns.
As a romance novel, this book is probably not going to give you too many new unknowns, except in one exceptional way, which is that it's a non-traditional non-binary romance novel with four sexes; male, female, "third," and "fourth." So it's a little less boy-meets-girl-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-orchestral-music, more boy-meets-third-sex-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-literal-orchestral music.
It's a perfect romance novel, and if you like romance novels, you will quite probably like this one. It's well-written and well thought out, with an excellent supporting cast for the protagonists. (Always Falling was a particular favorite.)
This book probably isn't going to make you reimagine your entire belief system (which, let's be honest, the Pelted universe occasionally does) and it won't turn your world on its head, but I think it's fundamentally important in a lot of ways. It's a normal romance novel, which is exceptional in that it makes almost no fuss about the "additional" sexes. It's doing something many romance novels out there right now aren't, which is pushing the boundaries of gender and sexuality and sexual fluidity.
If you liked Mindtouch and Mindline: you will probably like this, though reader beware, there is the appropriate amount of what I'd consider PG-13+ sexuality. (However, there are also asexual romantic relationships that play a huge role and are considered of equal value to sexual relationships, which is another way in which this book is great.) If you're an Eldritch girl (or guy) like me: you will probably like this very much, but don't expect hot sugared tea to be a double shot of espresso.
I think sometimes reviewing M. is a little challenging because it's hard to parse out one book from the canon of her work. (At least, there are enough shared themes and worldviews that I have trouble pulling out one thing from the rest and evaluating it critically and alone.) Compared to M.'s other work... there are other things I liked better. As a stand alone, or as best a review I can offer as a stand alone having admitted my biases? Really excellent. Would read again.
January 21, 2020
Hogarth’s ability to draw a reader in continues to delight me. No preamble, no bloated setup, instead she sprinkles the building of her world into the conversations and thoughts of her characters, which creates an organic flow of informative storytelling that is irresistible. It also lets you get right to the most important part of any book, the story.
I have fallen out of the habit of reading recently, and for the last three years had only enjoyed books in an audio format. But then the chance to read this book as part of a read along presented itself and I took it. I thought the accountability might help me finish a book in a month.
And then I finished it in five days.
Three years of finding books frustrating or tedious, after years of being a voracious reader, and then to devour this one in just a few days.
If you look at my book history on Goodreads you’ll see it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Hogarth’s, so settling into this low stakes romance just want I needed to read. The book is about a society where Magic has necessitated, among other things, a third and fourth sex in the Human race. Though this is a romance novel it’s not a hot and heavy one, and these additions to the Human sex spectrum are much more than just new conquests to tumble, as one might expect from other, more explicit entries from other authors in this genre. In the story we’re treated to a non-cishet romance, the normalization of polyam relationships, and what may be the beginning on an asexual romance.
If you like fantasy, interesting new worlds, and romance novels, I suggest you give this book a try!
I have fallen out of the habit of reading recently, and for the last three years had only enjoyed books in an audio format. But then the chance to read this book as part of a read along presented itself and I took it. I thought the accountability might help me finish a book in a month.
And then I finished it in five days.
Three years of finding books frustrating or tedious, after years of being a voracious reader, and then to devour this one in just a few days.
If you look at my book history on Goodreads you’ll see it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Hogarth’s, so settling into this low stakes romance just want I needed to read. The book is about a society where Magic has necessitated, among other things, a third and fourth sex in the Human race. Though this is a romance novel it’s not a hot and heavy one, and these additions to the Human sex spectrum are much more than just new conquests to tumble, as one might expect from other, more explicit entries from other authors in this genre. In the story we’re treated to a non-cishet romance, the normalization of polyam relationships, and what may be the beginning on an asexual romance.
If you like fantasy, interesting new worlds, and romance novels, I suggest you give this book a try!
January 12, 2023
A change of pace from the sci-fi settings I've mostly read from Hogarth, this shows that she does soft fantasy every bit as well. Her world-building is minimalist, but only in the sense that she doesn't spend vast swathes of text describing the world. Instead she lets you see it through the characters as it informs who and what they are, what they do, and why. Because it truly is all about the characters. Vibrant, unique, passionate, flawed, wonderful characters are this author's stock in trade, and she guides them with a masterful hand.
If you enjoy engaging romances that don't rely on all the tired old tropes, check out _Thief of Songs_. (Not that the tropes aren't fun, too, but they aren't needed here.) If the most plausible depictions of third and fourth sexes and their relationship is intriguing, come on in. If a use of magic that literally shapes world events yet isn't another iteration of "look what flashy spells I can cast" is of interest, be welcome. Music lovers, have a seat here by the dais. I'll save a pillow for you.
If you enjoy engaging romances that don't rely on all the tired old tropes, check out _Thief of Songs_. (Not that the tropes aren't fun, too, but they aren't needed here.) If the most plausible depictions of third and fourth sexes and their relationship is intriguing, come on in. If a use of magic that literally shapes world events yet isn't another iteration of "look what flashy spells I can cast" is of interest, be welcome. Music lovers, have a seat here by the dais. I'll save a pillow for you.
September 18, 2020
I am an avid fan of M.C.A. Hogarth, and this gem is entrancing from page 1. The author demonstrates that you don’t need explosions or lurid prose for a story to be gripping and compelling. The elegant prose, fascinating characters and unexpected world combine to create a stay-up-way-too-late, immersive experience.
August 13, 2018
Hogarth is so good at world building! I was pulled in immediately and found this story very hard to put down. The characters are layered and show growth over the course of the story. looking forward to the sequel.
January 12, 2021
Another World
What a beautiful use of lanhuage. This story is a gift for the senses. The characters are beautifully crafted & you care for them. The choice of personal pronouns is something I think we should start using in the real world. They felt right.
What a beautiful use of lanhuage. This story is a gift for the senses. The characters are beautifully crafted & you care for them. The choice of personal pronouns is something I think we should start using in the real world. They felt right.
December 26, 2022
Stunning performance
I'm very fond of M C A Hogarth. It's very meditative. The imagined relationships between individuals and multiples is treated with such affection. The manners are unique and so original.
I very much appreciate this offering
I'm very fond of M C A Hogarth. It's very meditative. The imagined relationships between individuals and multiples is treated with such affection. The manners are unique and so original.
I very much appreciate this offering
January 14, 2020
I loved this, and am eagerly looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
November 30, 2016
A unique, lyrical fantasy romance, focused on cultures & different forms of love
This is my first book by M.C.A. Hogarth, but it won't be my last. Part of why I enjoy reading sf/f is the way it opens my mind to what-ifs large and small. The world of the twin kingdoms is one where it is accepted that there are four sexes, the third (hermaphrodite) and fourth (neuter) having been created from and connected to the magic that flows and pools in the land -- especially in the east, where its powerful gifts have led to a complete conquest of the surrounding regions.
I've never before really thought about what it would be like to have a loving but physically utterly asexual relationship with a significant other, yet Dancer on the Brink of Twilight (a third, the artistically emotional composer to ens dear friend the Divine ruler) and Life is Autumn Leaves, Always Falling (a fourth, a calming influence on its beloved Dancer, and a skilled holistic/magical healer) have been together for a number of years, and their close bond is well-depicted. Then Amet Emendexte-ilye stormily arrives from the nationalistically rebellious and magic-poor mountainfolk of the west, and Dancer realizes that this man (composer to his own liege, and from a clan which Dancer comes to learn has its own influential history) could be more than simply one of his physical flings that bother Always Falling not a bit. The question is, can and should Amet change his ways of thinking enough to make it work with only the second eastern third he'd ever met — in both sides of ens nature and desires — and will Always Falling come to accept him too?
You may say that Amet's own change of heart re. easterners, and obviously re. other-than-M/F relationships, comes too easily, but I am far more able to respect a protagonist who acknowledges when their assumptions and prejudices, based on little first-hand experience, are proven wrong, than one who maintains a stubborn denial of the reality in front of them. (For example, a portal fantasy where the drop-in lead keeps insisting it has to be a dream because they don't believe in magic. *Sigh*)
I liked how the situation wasn't treated as simple, from Always Falling's wariness, and protectiveness of Dancer, to Amet's internal conflict over his necessary submission to the Divine's authority, yet they were all good people, however different. Amet makes friends with another important fourth, and with the southern-born imperial Armsmaster, as well as growing closer to his aunt, a fixture of the eastern court even years after the eastern lord she married passed away. Little princess Tadla, a beloved student of Dancer's, is a delight, and shows promise of being a leader as wise and skilled as her father one day.
This isn't a book with action. The biggest suspense for much of it is whether Amet will be punished for having given some of his songs away, which he did in vengeful pain after the powerful western betrothed he wrote them about broke it off to marry an eastern third for the sake of political ambition. Then when Haizea (who took the eastern poem name Songbird Singing, Flying) unexpectedly follows Amet to the imperial city Where Magic Lives, with new plans for him that he has no intention of agreeing to, all who care about Amet and/or Dancer fear that she will ruin everything in cruel humiliation upon facing the unaccustomed experience of being thwarted.
The idea of such strict ethics and laws re. a living creator's intellectual property (source of the intitial conflict between Amet and Dancer, who mistook his songs for traditional folk pieces) was a bit surprising, but had interesting implications. An afterword from the author mentions that the inspiration was a true bit of music history trivia.
The thing that took a bit more getting used to for me was the fourth's pronoun being "it", which I don't like for any sentient being, though I do use it for animals of undetermined gender. If MCAH was going to create an original pronoun for thirds ("en"), why not make one for fourths, too?
Also, Dancer looks more female on the cover than I think is quite accurate -- isn't en supposed to be more androgynous? Though I personally try to never judge a book too much by its cover, I feel that stories featuring romance other than the standard M/F should try to show that plainly.
The ending has a happy resolution re. Amet's ex, and Amet and Always Falling are growing closer bit by bit, but I'm looking forward to reading more, including seeing how they come to fulfill the desire they all have for a family. Thirds are unable to bear children, so will a woman become a part of this relationship, or just a temporary necessity?
Oh, I forgot to mention, it's well-edited, which is NOT something you can count on when reading indie books.
I also neglected to specify that it's not exactly closed-door, but neither is it explicit.
This is my first book by M.C.A. Hogarth, but it won't be my last. Part of why I enjoy reading sf/f is the way it opens my mind to what-ifs large and small. The world of the twin kingdoms is one where it is accepted that there are four sexes, the third (hermaphrodite) and fourth (neuter) having been created from and connected to the magic that flows and pools in the land -- especially in the east, where its powerful gifts have led to a complete conquest of the surrounding regions.
I've never before really thought about what it would be like to have a loving but physically utterly asexual relationship with a significant other, yet Dancer on the Brink of Twilight (a third, the artistically emotional composer to ens dear friend the Divine ruler) and Life is Autumn Leaves, Always Falling (a fourth, a calming influence on its beloved Dancer, and a skilled holistic/magical healer) have been together for a number of years, and their close bond is well-depicted. Then Amet Emendexte-ilye stormily arrives from the nationalistically rebellious and magic-poor mountainfolk of the west, and Dancer realizes that this man (composer to his own liege, and from a clan which Dancer comes to learn has its own influential history) could be more than simply one of his physical flings that bother Always Falling not a bit. The question is, can and should Amet change his ways of thinking enough to make it work with only the second eastern third he'd ever met — in both sides of ens nature and desires — and will Always Falling come to accept him too?
You may say that Amet's own change of heart re. easterners, and obviously re. other-than-M/F relationships, comes too easily, but I am far more able to respect a protagonist who acknowledges when their assumptions and prejudices, based on little first-hand experience, are proven wrong, than one who maintains a stubborn denial of the reality in front of them. (For example, a portal fantasy where the drop-in lead keeps insisting it has to be a dream because they don't believe in magic. *Sigh*)
I liked how the situation wasn't treated as simple, from Always Falling's wariness, and protectiveness of Dancer, to Amet's internal conflict over his necessary submission to the Divine's authority, yet they were all good people, however different. Amet makes friends with another important fourth, and with the southern-born imperial Armsmaster, as well as growing closer to his aunt, a fixture of the eastern court even years after the eastern lord she married passed away. Little princess Tadla, a beloved student of Dancer's, is a delight, and shows promise of being a leader as wise and skilled as her father one day.
This isn't a book with action. The biggest suspense for much of it is whether Amet will be punished for having given some of his songs away, which he did in vengeful pain after the powerful western betrothed he wrote them about broke it off to marry an eastern third for the sake of political ambition. Then when Haizea (who took the eastern poem name Songbird Singing, Flying) unexpectedly follows Amet to the imperial city Where Magic Lives, with new plans for him that he has no intention of agreeing to, all who care about Amet and/or Dancer fear that she will ruin everything in cruel humiliation upon facing the unaccustomed experience of being thwarted.
The idea of such strict ethics and laws re. a living creator's intellectual property (source of the intitial conflict between Amet and Dancer, who mistook his songs for traditional folk pieces) was a bit surprising, but had interesting implications. An afterword from the author mentions that the inspiration was a true bit of music history trivia.
The thing that took a bit more getting used to for me was the fourth's pronoun being "it", which I don't like for any sentient being, though I do use it for animals of undetermined gender. If MCAH was going to create an original pronoun for thirds ("en"), why not make one for fourths, too?
Also, Dancer looks more female on the cover than I think is quite accurate -- isn't en supposed to be more androgynous? Though I personally try to never judge a book too much by its cover, I feel that stories featuring romance other than the standard M/F should try to show that plainly.
The ending has a happy resolution re. Amet's ex, and Amet and Always Falling are growing closer bit by bit, but I'm looking forward to reading more, including seeing how they come to fulfill the desire they all have for a family. Thirds are unable to bear children, so will a woman become a part of this relationship, or just a temporary necessity?
Oh, I forgot to mention, it's well-edited, which is NOT something you can count on when reading indie books.
I also neglected to specify that it's not exactly closed-door, but neither is it explicit.
April 9, 2018
I liked visiting Hogarth in yet another of her worlds, and I would have liked it if she'd written more in this setting. I loved the way her characters appreciated each others talents and skills, but I felt like there was more story than what she wrote. I'd have liked to find out how Dancer and Always Falling met, for instance.
I was made uncomfortable by the fact that Always Falling identified as an it. Maybe that's how other genders would develop, I have no idea, but it felt dehumanizing, and when I talked about this book aloud, I couldn't make myself use that particular pronoun. I am a cis woman, though, so what do I know? It's just a thing people should be aware of.
I did appreciate a queer take on a poly romance, and I'm still interested in reading the sequel once I've had a break from this particular reading binge.
I was made uncomfortable by the fact that Always Falling identified as an it. Maybe that's how other genders would develop, I have no idea, but it felt dehumanizing, and when I talked about this book aloud, I couldn't make myself use that particular pronoun. I am a cis woman, though, so what do I know? It's just a thing people should be aware of.
I did appreciate a queer take on a poly romance, and I'm still interested in reading the sequel once I've had a break from this particular reading binge.
December 2, 2016
This book is a lyrical gift for the senses. It is sumptuous, beautiful, musical and enjoyable, with romance and history, friendships and challenges all thrown in to help it flow. It’s not your typical romance, or fantasy tale, since it involves non-binary gender, poly and asexual romance as well as rebellious tendencies and friction between conquered kingdom and conquerers, all with magic and music, which all combined into a real feast for the senses.
Into all of this walks Amet, a proud highlander who was raised to despise the decadent lowlands who seem determined to erode everything that was once good and great about his mountain people. Yet despite his seeming sternness, Amet is fair and far more open-minded than I think even he would give himself credit for. He has honour and pride, plus a musical talent that helps seduce him into a new understanding.
This is largely helped along by Dancer, the inadvertent thief, who has plenty of talents of ems own. Dancer is a third, a hermaphrodite, who is light and culture and music and instantly attracted to Amet. Along with Dancer there is Always Falling, a fourth or neuter, who is Dancer’s lifelong asexual companion. I loved how naturally their relationship worked, but also how easily it could accept a third partner – but only if that partner was willing to accept them both as individuals as well as a pair.
And that’s where this book shone for me, in the connections between the characters. I loved Amet and the way he navigates the unfamiliar ways of the palace. The way he learns to accept everyone by their individual merits over and above any of the prejudices he might have grown up with was wonderful to read about. I loved his friendships with Lord of Eagles and Beautiful, but it was the way he and Always Falling tentatively formed a bond that I loved most.
The romance with Dancer was a bit too instant for me. Yes, I could see how much they had in common and how the music connected them on extra levels, but the initial attraction and the swiftness with which it developed into love felt a little too convenient for me. I also felt that a few certain obstacles were resolved a little too abruptly. I expected a little more from it.
On the whole, though, this was delightful. If you love music, atypical romance or sumptuous prose, then you should find plenty to enjoy here. Come to it with an open mind and allow it to sweep you away. I will definitely have to check out Always Falling’s book (Cantor for Pearls) sometime soon.
(Review copy provided via NetGalley.)
Into all of this walks Amet, a proud highlander who was raised to despise the decadent lowlands who seem determined to erode everything that was once good and great about his mountain people. Yet despite his seeming sternness, Amet is fair and far more open-minded than I think even he would give himself credit for. He has honour and pride, plus a musical talent that helps seduce him into a new understanding.
This is largely helped along by Dancer, the inadvertent thief, who has plenty of talents of ems own. Dancer is a third, a hermaphrodite, who is light and culture and music and instantly attracted to Amet. Along with Dancer there is Always Falling, a fourth or neuter, who is Dancer’s lifelong asexual companion. I loved how naturally their relationship worked, but also how easily it could accept a third partner – but only if that partner was willing to accept them both as individuals as well as a pair.
And that’s where this book shone for me, in the connections between the characters. I loved Amet and the way he navigates the unfamiliar ways of the palace. The way he learns to accept everyone by their individual merits over and above any of the prejudices he might have grown up with was wonderful to read about. I loved his friendships with Lord of Eagles and Beautiful, but it was the way he and Always Falling tentatively formed a bond that I loved most.
The romance with Dancer was a bit too instant for me. Yes, I could see how much they had in common and how the music connected them on extra levels, but the initial attraction and the swiftness with which it developed into love felt a little too convenient for me. I also felt that a few certain obstacles were resolved a little too abruptly. I expected a little more from it.
On the whole, though, this was delightful. If you love music, atypical romance or sumptuous prose, then you should find plenty to enjoy here. Come to it with an open mind and allow it to sweep you away. I will definitely have to check out Always Falling’s book (Cantor for Pearls) sometime soon.
(Review copy provided via NetGalley.)
December 2, 2015
I waffled a bit here - I think I'd actually like to give this one 4.5 stars, but alas, that's not an option, so I'm going with 4.
I will fully admit that I'm pretty sure I'm not this book's target audience. (*cough* Author, you know of which I speak.) I hate things that are neat and tidy. I am all about the complicated, messy, realisms of life, and I love the Pelted universe beyond reason because it allows me to delve into the depths and come up with new unknowns.
As a romance novel, this book is probably not going to give you too many new unknowns, except in one exceptional way, which is that it's a non-traditional non-binary romance novel with four sexes; male, female, "third," and "fourth." So it's a little less boy-meets-girl-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-orchestral-music, more boy-meets-third-sex-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-literal-orchestral music.
It's a perfect romance novel, and if you like romance novels, you will quite probably like this one. It's well-written and well thought out, with an excellent supporting cast for the protagonists. (Always Falling was a particular favorite.)
This book probably isn't going to make you reimagine your entire belief system (which, let's be honest, the Pelted universe occasionally does) and it won't turn your world on its head, but I think it's fundamentally important in a lot of ways. It's a normal romance novel, which is exceptional in that it makes almost no fuss about the "additional" sexes. It's doing something many romance novels out there right now aren't, which is pushing the boundaries of gender and sexuality and sexual fluidity.
If you liked Mindtouch and Mindline: you will probably like this, though reader beware, there is the appropriate amount of what I'd consider PG-13+ sexuality. (However, there are also asexual romantic relationships that play a huge role and are considered of equal value to sexual relationships, which is another way in which this book is great.) If you're an Eldritch girl (or guy) like me: you will probably like this very much, but don't expect hot sugared tea to be a double shot of espresso.
I think sometimes reviewing M. is a little challenging because it's hard to parse out one book from the canon of her work. (At least, there are enough shared themes and worldviews that I have trouble pulling out one thing from the rest and evaluating it critically and alone.) Compared to M.'s other work... there are other things I liked better. As a stand alone, or as best a review I can offer as a stand alone having admitted my biases? Really excellent. Would read again.
I will fully admit that I'm pretty sure I'm not this book's target audience. (*cough* Author, you know of which I speak.) I hate things that are neat and tidy. I am all about the complicated, messy, realisms of life, and I love the Pelted universe beyond reason because it allows me to delve into the depths and come up with new unknowns.
As a romance novel, this book is probably not going to give you too many new unknowns, except in one exceptional way, which is that it's a non-traditional non-binary romance novel with four sexes; male, female, "third," and "fourth." So it's a little less boy-meets-girl-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-orchestral-music, more boy-meets-third-sex-they-fall-instantly-in-love-to-literal-orchestral music.
It's a perfect romance novel, and if you like romance novels, you will quite probably like this one. It's well-written and well thought out, with an excellent supporting cast for the protagonists. (Always Falling was a particular favorite.)
This book probably isn't going to make you reimagine your entire belief system (which, let's be honest, the Pelted universe occasionally does) and it won't turn your world on its head, but I think it's fundamentally important in a lot of ways. It's a normal romance novel, which is exceptional in that it makes almost no fuss about the "additional" sexes. It's doing something many romance novels out there right now aren't, which is pushing the boundaries of gender and sexuality and sexual fluidity.
If you liked Mindtouch and Mindline: you will probably like this, though reader beware, there is the appropriate amount of what I'd consider PG-13+ sexuality. (However, there are also asexual romantic relationships that play a huge role and are considered of equal value to sexual relationships, which is another way in which this book is great.) If you're an Eldritch girl (or guy) like me: you will probably like this very much, but don't expect hot sugared tea to be a double shot of espresso.
I think sometimes reviewing M. is a little challenging because it's hard to parse out one book from the canon of her work. (At least, there are enough shared themes and worldviews that I have trouble pulling out one thing from the rest and evaluating it critically and alone.) Compared to M.'s other work... there are other things I liked better. As a stand alone, or as best a review I can offer as a stand alone having admitted my biases? Really excellent. Would read again.
ugh
December 29, 2020DNF - PG 8
Why?
Oh my. Okay. I originally attempted this book about three years ago. I wrote a very brief DNF review (which follows) and basically only said that it wasn't what I wanted to read right now and would try again next time I looked at my DNF books. That time this year. (And last year. But mostly this year.)
I would list Hogarth as a favorite author of mine due to her Earthrise and Dreamhealers series'. I bought this book un-previewed on that basis. (And also because I am only now learning that previewing books before I buy them can save me lots of money.) I could tell within two pages of this attempt that it wasn't working for me.
[...]I turned to face my beloveds, my musicians, the actors who gave voice to the manifestations of magic that filled my head. They reflected my joy back to me: did we need to smile? We knew one another too well to need it, but I saw among them the scattered curving of mouths and, dearer still, the lifting of bow and bending of head.
...That is too wordy and purple for me. It just is. I was plugging along, going to give a real attempt to this when:
I could just see the back of his neck beneath the hair he'd gathered into a tail with a gray ribbon...such light skin, as if he'd powdered it. I wanted to kiss it, to know what the sweat there would taste like.
Put in perspective, the main character hasn't met this man yet, hasn't talked to him, hasn't learnt his name, has merely seen him across a crowded room while they sang and now wants to lick him. I know romance novels, okay. They already move too fast for me like 95% of the time. I don't need this.
I love the idea's that are here, but this book is just not for me.
Original Review
I'm not going to mark how much I've read so far, because when I do another look through of the DNF books - this time the ones on my kindle, probably sometime next year - I will give the book another shot. Right now, if I don't mark it as DNF, I'm afraid I'll force myself through it at a time when this isn't at all what I want to read.
Because, honestly, the book was complicated enough and I had an extremely steep learning curve to figure out what was going on and who these people were, and that was even before discovering that it is told in alternating first person - which complicates everything even more. So, for now, I'm going to shelve it with the intention of going again at a later date.
Why?
Oh my. Okay. I originally attempted this book about three years ago. I wrote a very brief DNF review (which follows) and basically only said that it wasn't what I wanted to read right now and would try again next time I looked at my DNF books. That time this year. (And last year. But mostly this year.)
I would list Hogarth as a favorite author of mine due to her Earthrise and Dreamhealers series'. I bought this book un-previewed on that basis. (And also because I am only now learning that previewing books before I buy them can save me lots of money.) I could tell within two pages of this attempt that it wasn't working for me.
[...]I turned to face my beloveds, my musicians, the actors who gave voice to the manifestations of magic that filled my head. They reflected my joy back to me: did we need to smile? We knew one another too well to need it, but I saw among them the scattered curving of mouths and, dearer still, the lifting of bow and bending of head.
...That is too wordy and purple for me. It just is. I was plugging along, going to give a real attempt to this when:
I could just see the back of his neck beneath the hair he'd gathered into a tail with a gray ribbon...such light skin, as if he'd powdered it. I wanted to kiss it, to know what the sweat there would taste like.
Put in perspective, the main character hasn't met this man yet, hasn't talked to him, hasn't learnt his name, has merely seen him across a crowded room while they sang and now wants to lick him. I know romance novels, okay. They already move too fast for me like 95% of the time. I don't need this.
I love the idea's that are here, but this book is just not for me.
Original Review
I'm not going to mark how much I've read so far, because when I do another look through of the DNF books - this time the ones on my kindle, probably sometime next year - I will give the book another shot. Right now, if I don't mark it as DNF, I'm afraid I'll force myself through it at a time when this isn't at all what I want to read.
Because, honestly, the book was complicated enough and I had an extremely steep learning curve to figure out what was going on and who these people were, and that was even before discovering that it is told in alternating first person - which complicates everything even more. So, for now, I'm going to shelve it with the intention of going again at a later date.
February 10, 2015
"Thief of Songs" is genre-busting in ways that I predictably loved... it's a book about art, where the spark of connection between the lovers is based in their shared creative dynamic and deep love of creating music. It's a book about the baggage of history, and how that can inform your view of yourself even when many people around you don't see it similarly. (I was super sympathetic to the hero on that one... I know what it's like to have a cultural identity that you're very attached to, and for most of the people around you to find your political views dismayingly bafflingly archaic. But without growing up in the political context you did, they'll find it harder to understand.) It's a poly romance -- one of our leads is already in a happy relationship as the story starts, and that is not threatened, undermined, or displaced by the arrival of the other lead. Hooray for a writer who can find her dramatic tension *somewhere else*. [grin] And it's a multigender book set in an interesting world with a lot of possibility for development. There are four genders in the book, and no systemic oppression of any of them, and relationships between people are encouraged regardless of your gender or the gender of the person or people you fall in love with. So there are a lot of different kinds of relationships shown, both deeply and in passing, and sometimes the most interesting things about them aren't the gender combinations of the partners. I appreciated that. I had a lot of fun with some of the worldbuilding features (asking my friends what their poem name would be, if they had to pick one), and winced sympathetically at the geographic unfairness of how magic works in the world there (it flows downhill, so highland people are magic-starved and lowland people are magic-rich, and that informs economic and military geopolitics a lot). I'd love to read more in this setting!
July 14, 2015
I may take some heat for this review. I liked the book but it would be a select group of people I could recommend it to and not because of the content.
Let me start off be saying all the things I liked about the book. I like that it challenges Genre stereotypes. I love that the characters are NOT cookie cutter. I love the underlying story of the musicians, I really do.
The language was obviously crafted with love by an expert wordsmith. Hogarth has an amazing talent for stringing along words in a lyrical manner and I understand why that was important to this story. The thing is, I just didn't like that about it. I've thought about this for a while trying to decide if I wanted to just rate it or leave a review.
While I feel like the author does an amazing job at making the story sound pretty, it falls short in regards to characters and world development. Flowery and flowing descriptions are nice but they lacked the depth and insight into the characters I had hoped for. Yes, there is some but not what I had expected.
I hope M.C.A. Hogarth continues to write stories that challenge the way we look at the world and literature. I just hope it's done in such a way I'm not left leaving vague nondescript reviews in the way the story left me feeling. Informational and not all at the same time. (Like this)
Let me start off be saying all the things I liked about the book. I like that it challenges Genre stereotypes. I love that the characters are NOT cookie cutter. I love the underlying story of the musicians, I really do.
The language was obviously crafted with love by an expert wordsmith. Hogarth has an amazing talent for stringing along words in a lyrical manner and I understand why that was important to this story. The thing is, I just didn't like that about it. I've thought about this for a while trying to decide if I wanted to just rate it or leave a review.
While I feel like the author does an amazing job at making the story sound pretty, it falls short in regards to characters and world development. Flowery and flowing descriptions are nice but they lacked the depth and insight into the characters I had hoped for. Yes, there is some but not what I had expected.
I hope M.C.A. Hogarth continues to write stories that challenge the way we look at the world and literature. I just hope it's done in such a way I'm not left leaving vague nondescript reviews in the way the story left me feeling. Informational and not all at the same time. (Like this)
July 29, 2015
I am most decidedly not a regular romance reader, but M.C.A. Hogarth is now officially on my automatic-buy list, and I have enjoyed so many of her books that I am willing to venture into the most unusual of territories.
I loved Thief of Songs. It's written with the understated grace and loveliness that I've come to expect, and strikes the perfect balance (for me, as someone not so much into the hot-and-heavy) of sensuality and restraint. And I love that the characters face challenges to their relationship that feel organic -- so often romantic plots or sub-plots are derailed by idiotic communications and (seemingly) willful misunderstandings. It's refreshing to find a book without those tropes.
Instead what we see is a gradually developing relationship that feels real, a relationship that has to overcome the challenges of culture and history and human nature, and the romance is all the better for it.
Then, too, I have a soft spot for any book that features the arts. I'm not a musician myself (and I've yet to find a really good ballet-book), but the passages describing music and the creative process seemed so lovingly written.
It's a wonderful book. You should read it.
I loved Thief of Songs. It's written with the understated grace and loveliness that I've come to expect, and strikes the perfect balance (for me, as someone not so much into the hot-and-heavy) of sensuality and restraint. And I love that the characters face challenges to their relationship that feel organic -- so often romantic plots or sub-plots are derailed by idiotic communications and (seemingly) willful misunderstandings. It's refreshing to find a book without those tropes.
Instead what we see is a gradually developing relationship that feels real, a relationship that has to overcome the challenges of culture and history and human nature, and the romance is all the better for it.
Then, too, I have a soft spot for any book that features the arts. I'm not a musician myself (and I've yet to find a really good ballet-book), but the passages describing music and the creative process seemed so lovingly written.
It's a wonderful book. You should read it.
May 1, 2015
Beautiful
Beautifully written, filled with nuggets of wisdom, this is a work of art. Two very different composers meet under the worst of conditions, and find love. The man from the western highlands opens up, dropping erroneous beliefs, and discovering what is love as opposed to what is not love.
This fantasy world is different containing four sexes: male, female, hermaphrodite and neuter. Each has a special role to play for harmony. And seeing as the story is about music, harmony is what must be achieved by the end. A very different, enjoyable, worthwhile read. It will make you think and stay with you a while.
Beautifully written, filled with nuggets of wisdom, this is a work of art. Two very different composers meet under the worst of conditions, and find love. The man from the western highlands opens up, dropping erroneous beliefs, and discovering what is love as opposed to what is not love.
This fantasy world is different containing four sexes: male, female, hermaphrodite and neuter. Each has a special role to play for harmony. And seeing as the story is about music, harmony is what must be achieved by the end. A very different, enjoyable, worthwhile read. It will make you think and stay with you a while.
June 7, 2016
I don't normally read romance novels, but I enjoy Hogarth's work, so I gave this one a try and I'm glad I did. Aside from the 3-way partly-ace romance that I expected, I was surprised and delighted by the cultural differences, treatment of the third and fourth genders, and the ramifications of an uneven distribution of magic. The copyright/right-to-play-music that the title references was also neat. The hints of the world beyond Where Magic Lives left me looking forward to more books in this universe.
June 1, 2015
I read this one twice. It's about musicians in a 4-gendered society, and the first time I had trouble following the "en" and "ens" the author used in place of "he" and "she." The second time it made perfect sense and proved to be an absolutely delighful romance between Dancer, a court musician/composer, and Amet, a disgruntled rebel composer who accused her of stealing his work, and her Fourth, Always Falling. I plan to read more of M.C.A. Hogarth's works.
June 28, 2015
A poly asexual primary relationship anchors a worldview-shifting romance.
Four genders, cultural conflict, and non-explicit romance - I'm so glad hogarth is prolific, because I want more of these characters & their world.
Four genders, cultural conflict, and non-explicit romance - I'm so glad hogarth is prolific, because I want more of these characters & their world.
September 9, 2024
Fun read, not your typical romance? (Of course, I don't tend to read romances, though between these and T. Kingfisher's stuff, maybe I should?)
I like how Mrs. Hogarth describes the third and fourth sexes, and the magic.
I like how Mrs. Hogarth describes the third and fourth sexes, and the magic.
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