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Kencyrath #4
To Ride a Rathorn
To Ride a Rathorn the fourth book of the Kencyrath, P. C. Hodgell,'s latest high fantasy novel, is the sequel to Seeker's Mask (3rd), which in turn follows God Stalk (1st) and Dark of the Moon (2nd) collected in the Meisha Merlin omnibus, Dark of the Gods. These are the chronicles of Jamethiel Priest's-bane, otherwise known as Jame, as she struggles to find a place in a universe full of danger, intrigue, and more than a bit of downright lunacy. The current novel's title To Ride a Rathorn, comes from the Kencyr phrase that refers to someone attempting something insane, but it is too dangerous for them to stop. The reference is also to a certain young rathorn (think of an armor-plated, carnivorous unicorn with a nasty temper) who is after Jame for killing his mother and about to catch up with her. At Tentir, Jame faces cut-throat competition and finds even more buried, poisonous family secrets. Not only is the Caineron heir sent to humiliate her but a charming Ardeth Highborn arrives hell-bent on seducing her. Then too, what is she to make of the mysterious White Lady who haunts her dreams or of the growling monster and prowls Tentir's hallways and is said to eat young cadets for breakfast? For she is learning Tentir has secrets of its own. And it is fighting for its soul. Under political pressure that threatens to compromise its independence, it looks to its Commandant, an honorable man; but also a Caineron. As the college tests Jame, so she tests it. "Some things need to be broken."
452 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2006
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August 29, 2023
Hodgell continues her epic Kencyrath series with this fourth installment and I can finally see why this has become a cult classic. After her adventures in the last novel, To Ride a Rathorn takes a very different direction, with Jame being enrolled in (basically) a military academy, one that trains all the warriors of the great houses of the Kencyrath. Yet, she is even here an anomaly, being 'high born', female and recently promoted to 'Lordan', in effect the 'crown princess' of her house Knorth.
While Hodgell takes us occasionally to Tori, Jame's twin brother (who is 10 years older due to time dilation effects within the Perimal Darkling where she spend most of her childhood), To Ride a Rathorn concentrates on developing Jame more. The military academy enrolled over 1200 students this spring, and needs to 'cull' the numbers down to 800 by winter, so besides training, there are many 'tests' to winnow out the student body. Jame is helpless with a sword and many other military skills, but she excels in others, like unarmed combat. At first she is treated as a pariah and many expect (or even hope) she will fail, but as we know by now, Jame is full of surprises, as is this series as a whole.
Each installment of the series digs a little deeper into the past, typically via 'dreams', and we quickly learn that something nasty happened at Tentir (the academy) when her father and uncle attended 30 years prior, but the subject is definitely on the QT for sure. A few volumes back, Jame put a Rathorn, some type of nasty equine carnivore with ivory tusks and plating, out of her misery; it seems that the ivory armor has grown so much the Rathorn could not breath or eat properly. Nonetheless, her colt saw this and was pissed, and now seems to be tracking Jame down for some revenge.
To Ride a Rathorn exists as an expression here, something like 'riding the tiger' or walking on a razor's edge, and that basically sums up Jame's life. She has many strong and unexplored 'talents' (like blood bonding, the ability to walk in 'soulscapes', animal bonding, etc.) and she also carries a seed of darkness within her. Further, 'bad things' seem to happen when she is around, from gods walking the streets to strange visits with the Earth Mother Ragga, one of the four gods of the world. So what could go wrong here?
The rivalry among the houses is supposed to be suppressed at Tentir, but of course it is not. At least one 'house' wants Jame dead, and Jame has already had several 'contacts' with its matriarch. Knorth as a house has fallen quite a bit, but Tori still is king, but other, more prosperous houses would love to see Jame fail, and in fact, do more than a subtle push here! Hodgell's imagination is on full display here with her amazing world building and deep historical mysteries. I thought this was one of the strongest in the series so far and was surprised it came out more then a decade after the previous installment. 4 strange and wonderful stars!!
While Hodgell takes us occasionally to Tori, Jame's twin brother (who is 10 years older due to time dilation effects within the Perimal Darkling where she spend most of her childhood), To Ride a Rathorn concentrates on developing Jame more. The military academy enrolled over 1200 students this spring, and needs to 'cull' the numbers down to 800 by winter, so besides training, there are many 'tests' to winnow out the student body. Jame is helpless with a sword and many other military skills, but she excels in others, like unarmed combat. At first she is treated as a pariah and many expect (or even hope) she will fail, but as we know by now, Jame is full of surprises, as is this series as a whole.
Each installment of the series digs a little deeper into the past, typically via 'dreams', and we quickly learn that something nasty happened at Tentir (the academy) when her father and uncle attended 30 years prior, but the subject is definitely on the QT for sure. A few volumes back, Jame put a Rathorn, some type of nasty equine carnivore with ivory tusks and plating, out of her misery; it seems that the ivory armor has grown so much the Rathorn could not breath or eat properly. Nonetheless, her colt saw this and was pissed, and now seems to be tracking Jame down for some revenge.
To Ride a Rathorn exists as an expression here, something like 'riding the tiger' or walking on a razor's edge, and that basically sums up Jame's life. She has many strong and unexplored 'talents' (like blood bonding, the ability to walk in 'soulscapes', animal bonding, etc.) and she also carries a seed of darkness within her. Further, 'bad things' seem to happen when she is around, from gods walking the streets to strange visits with the Earth Mother Ragga, one of the four gods of the world. So what could go wrong here?
The rivalry among the houses is supposed to be suppressed at Tentir, but of course it is not. At least one 'house' wants Jame dead, and Jame has already had several 'contacts' with its matriarch. Knorth as a house has fallen quite a bit, but Tori still is king, but other, more prosperous houses would love to see Jame fail, and in fact, do more than a subtle push here! Hodgell's imagination is on full display here with her amazing world building and deep historical mysteries. I thought this was one of the strongest in the series so far and was surprised it came out more then a decade after the previous installment. 4 strange and wonderful stars!!
April 9, 2023
Stars: 5 out of 5
I continue to be impressed with this series. The complexity of the worldbuilding is staggering. Every book adds a new piece of the puzzle to the bigger picture of creation. I am fascinated and I want to know more.
I also really like Jame as a character, and I think that she grew and evolved a lot since the first book where we saw her emerge out of the Haunted Lands. She is finding her stride and her own worth in this world. She is finally making peace with her powers and her destiny, even though, in true Jame fashion, she will follow that destiny on her own terms.
I think she is beginning to realize that family isn't only blood. That it's also the connections you create or the creatures you bind to yourself (either intentionally or not). And that you are responsible for that family. Speaking of that, I am not happy with how she treats Graykin in this book. Hopefully, she realizes that and course corrects in the next book.
It's also interesting to see that Jame is already performing her function as Nemesis, albeit in a small way. She is like a hot knife puncturing old abscesses everywhere she goes. Things hidden for decades come to light, horrible crimes committed in the past have repercussions in the present. And Jame is in the middle of it, whether she wants it or not.
Speaking of old crimes. The more we find out about what happened 60 years ago with Jame's family, the more I feel for both Jame and Torisen. No wonder they are so broken, coming from so much pain, misery and death. No wonder their father went mad. Sounds like his life had been horrific. As I said, I think Jame had a lot of character growth in this story and became a better, and more stable, person. My complaint is that Torisen didn't get that chance. He seems stuck in his soulscape, constantly listening to the poisonous words of his dead father, doubting himself and his sister. He needs to open that door and face what's behind it, the sooner the better. He can't afford not to, if he wants to remain the Highlord and save his people from the moral corruption that seems to have infected the Kencyrath.
I also loved Jame's dreamlike travels through Rathillien's countryside and her interactions with the local Gods, Mother Raga especially. And I'm glad that her and the rathorn colt didn't kill each other.
I will definitely continue with this series because I want to know more about this complex world and I want Jame and Tori to finally vanquish their demons and become the twins they were destined to be.
I continue to be impressed with this series. The complexity of the worldbuilding is staggering. Every book adds a new piece of the puzzle to the bigger picture of creation. I am fascinated and I want to know more.
I also really like Jame as a character, and I think that she grew and evolved a lot since the first book where we saw her emerge out of the Haunted Lands. She is finding her stride and her own worth in this world. She is finally making peace with her powers and her destiny, even though, in true Jame fashion, she will follow that destiny on her own terms.
I think she is beginning to realize that family isn't only blood. That it's also the connections you create or the creatures you bind to yourself (either intentionally or not). And that you are responsible for that family. Speaking of that, I am not happy with how she treats Graykin in this book. Hopefully, she realizes that and course corrects in the next book.
It's also interesting to see that Jame is already performing her function as Nemesis, albeit in a small way. She is like a hot knife puncturing old abscesses everywhere she goes. Things hidden for decades come to light, horrible crimes committed in the past have repercussions in the present. And Jame is in the middle of it, whether she wants it or not.
Speaking of old crimes. The more we find out about what happened 60 years ago with Jame's family, the more I feel for both Jame and Torisen. No wonder they are so broken, coming from so much pain, misery and death. No wonder their father went mad. Sounds like his life had been horrific. As I said, I think Jame had a lot of character growth in this story and became a better, and more stable, person. My complaint is that Torisen didn't get that chance. He seems stuck in his soulscape, constantly listening to the poisonous words of his dead father, doubting himself and his sister. He needs to open that door and face what's behind it, the sooner the better. He can't afford not to, if he wants to remain the Highlord and save his people from the moral corruption that seems to have infected the Kencyrath.
I also loved Jame's dreamlike travels through Rathillien's countryside and her interactions with the local Gods, Mother Raga especially. And I'm glad that her and the rathorn colt didn't kill each other.
I will definitely continue with this series because I want to know more about this complex world and I want Jame and Tori to finally vanquish their demons and become the twins they were destined to be.
September 14, 2018
I've recently decided to re-read this excellent epic fantasy cycle, and review as I go.
What to Expect
This volume continues where Seeker's Mask left off. Jame is thrown into another impossible situation at the military college of Tentir. We get to see this aspect of Kencyrath culture, enjoy her sojourns into the dream-like under-layers of reality, get a bit more of Torisen, and generally marvel at the mayhem Jame spreads. More of the past is revealed, some questions are answered, and events are inexorably -- albeit slowly -- advance towards to the inevitable end of days. All in all, Hodgell keeps up her excellent writing, with rich language, engaging characters, and a truly magical fantasy world.
What I liked
Hodgell's story-telling and world-building are top-notch, her story pacing is excellent, and she balances light and dark themes perfectly. I love the tantalising glimpses into Jame's past, and the slowly-building tension around her. One can't help but feel immersed in the story, love Jame's vibrancy, and wish to learn more.
What to be aware of
This is book 4 of a long running series (over 35 years, so far). You really need to start at God Stalk if you're to have any chance of understanding what is going on. The series, as I understand it, is still not complete (though I imagine that wouldn't stop any GRRM fans).
Summary
A highly recommended series. This is epic fantasy done right, with perfect balance of light and dark, and excellent, slowly-building pacing. If you love fantasy, I strongly suggest you add God Stalk to your TBR pile.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
This volume continues where Seeker's Mask left off. Jame is thrown into another impossible situation at the military college of Tentir. We get to see this aspect of Kencyrath culture, enjoy her sojourns into the dream-like under-layers of reality, get a bit more of Torisen, and generally marvel at the mayhem Jame spreads. More of the past is revealed, some questions are answered, and events are inexorably -- albeit slowly -- advance towards to the inevitable end of days. All in all, Hodgell keeps up her excellent writing, with rich language, engaging characters, and a truly magical fantasy world.
What I liked
Hodgell's story-telling and world-building are top-notch, her story pacing is excellent, and she balances light and dark themes perfectly. I love the tantalising glimpses into Jame's past, and the slowly-building tension around her. One can't help but feel immersed in the story, love Jame's vibrancy, and wish to learn more.
What to be aware of
This is book 4 of a long running series (over 35 years, so far). You really need to start at God Stalk if you're to have any chance of understanding what is going on. The series, as I understand it, is still not complete (though I imagine that wouldn't stop any GRRM fans).
Summary
A highly recommended series. This is epic fantasy done right, with perfect balance of light and dark, and excellent, slowly-building pacing. If you love fantasy, I strongly suggest you add God Stalk to your TBR pile.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
February 19, 2013
4.5/5; 5 stars A
Despite all the dark events that weave through the Kencyrath tales, this one,in particular, has some pretty funny moments. Jame's single handed destruction of part of the Tentir college cracked me up. Her trials with the equine members of the story were pretty entertaining.
The Kencyrath series is not a simple story. There are a lot of threads woven together, masterfully I would say, to make a rich and satisfying tale. I can't wait to see where it goes or how Jame continues to grow.
Despite all the dark events that weave through the Kencyrath tales, this one,in particular, has some pretty funny moments. Jame's single handed destruction of part of the Tentir college cracked me up. Her trials with the equine members of the story were pretty entertaining.
The Kencyrath series is not a simple story. There are a lot of threads woven together, masterfully I would say, to make a rich and satisfying tale. I can't wait to see where it goes or how Jame continues to grow.
January 12, 2018
The Kencyrath themselves invite comparison more to the elves of Tolkien or the Melnibonéans of Moorcock, not just in terms of superhuman abilities but their very familiarity with strange things and having strange attitudes. That and, of course, the decadence and corruption which has seeped into their society and rots from within.
The book starts with more of what started the previous in the series: Jame has been inserted into a closed society with its own rules and secrets, and blunders about trying to make her way while near-accidentally uncovering and demolishing the hidden rot. More of the same feeling that things are either barely under control or about to spin out of control. I'm not sure if actual forward progress has been made in either the grand arc of the series or in terms of personal development by the major characters.
Rathillien itself continues to impress as an explicitly magical fantasy setting, at a time when settings seem to be mundane affairs with magic bolted on. You never forget that Rathillien and the gods of Rathillien resent the presence of the Kencyrath.
The book starts with more of what started the previous in the series: Jame has been inserted into a closed society with its own rules and secrets, and blunders about trying to make her way while near-accidentally uncovering and demolishing the hidden rot. More of the same feeling that things are either barely under control or about to spin out of control. I'm not sure if actual forward progress has been made in either the grand arc of the series or in terms of personal development by the major characters.
Rathillien itself continues to impress as an explicitly magical fantasy setting, at a time when settings seem to be mundane affairs with magic bolted on. You never forget that Rathillien and the gods of Rathillien resent the presence of the Kencyrath.
September 27, 2008
The adventures of Jame continue! Let me just say upfront that I'm a P.C. Hodgell fangirl and I've loved the other three books in this series. This one, not so much, alas. Too many loose ends left unresolved and lots of confusing plot points (is this a dream sequence or not a dream sequence or a flashback or...?) made this a less great novel than the previous ones. It seemed rushed and there were the usual copyediting issues that made so many Meisha Merlin books kind of cringe worthy, even when the books themselves were excellent. That said, I'll take a less great Hodgell over a number of other fantasy authors on their best days. In my opinion, she is one of the best writers in the genre. So check this one out, but only after you read the others books. It will make little sense out of sequence.
April 26, 2023
I reread this book for the third or so time and I have reread earlier volumes of this series in the past so their were few gaps in my knowledge of the story. I think these dark fantasy stories are excellent and that Jame is a great character. However, there is some rambling parts in the mid latter half of the book. I understand from reading on the web, that Hodgell intended to write about Jame's total stay at the School but due to vagaries like publishing dates had to content herself with publishing half of the story. Hopefully in the second half, Torisen finally comes to grips with Jame. We do learn more about how Ganth Grey Lord became who he is and James's role in life
Rereading again
Rereading again
October 19, 2017
Hodgell's gothic fantasy epic continues in this, the fourth volume of the series. (As of this writing -- October, 2017 -- there are 8 volumes) The multiple storylines continue, as some mysteries are cleared up and new mysteries are added.
This book is, in many ways, much more accessible than the previous volumes, but I would in no way, shape, or form recommend this as the place to start the series. With that said, there are some laugh-out-loud funny moments, and Jame's character continues to grow and develop, making her one of the finest female protagonists in contemporary fantasy literature.
What I really like about what Hodgell is doing with the series is that she's not trying to mimic Tolkein or any of the other fantasy writers that have become tired tropes. If anything, she's closer to Fritz Leiber, but even that's not a great comparison. She's writing fantasy her way, and telling a complicated story with dashes of horror, science fiction, and mythical fantasy.
These books are DENSE, and they require that you pay attention and make connections. But they are very worthwhile and worth the effort to seek them out and spend the time.
This book is, in many ways, much more accessible than the previous volumes, but I would in no way, shape, or form recommend this as the place to start the series. With that said, there are some laugh-out-loud funny moments, and Jame's character continues to grow and develop, making her one of the finest female protagonists in contemporary fantasy literature.
What I really like about what Hodgell is doing with the series is that she's not trying to mimic Tolkein or any of the other fantasy writers that have become tired tropes. If anything, she's closer to Fritz Leiber, but even that's not a great comparison. She's writing fantasy her way, and telling a complicated story with dashes of horror, science fiction, and mythical fantasy.
These books are DENSE, and they require that you pay attention and make connections. But they are very worthwhile and worth the effort to seek them out and spend the time.
December 17, 2025
I can't quite tell if this series is finding its footing or spinning its wheels, but I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than the previous entry. Part of that might just be acclimating to what this series is now, and part is that Hodgell has found a better balance between dream logic and logic-logic. Before we start:
Best "Jame has no breasts" joke:
Anyway, where Seeker's Mask threw logic to the wind, To Ride a Rathorn paradoxically manages to keep closer to normality while also being more dreamlike. There are so many times where it isn't immediately clear what level of reality we're on, identity slides and switches around. What seems to be a dream turns out to be real. What seems real is a vision. The past intrudes into the present and the present twists the past into something new. Despite all this, the (for epic fantasy, anyway) quotidian concerns and mostly constant setting keep the story grounded. We're usually focused on the immediate mysteries of Tentir, not the high-flying concerns of the epic backstory.
It's a bit of an odd direction for a series that seemed like it was about to end at the second book, but whatever, Hodgell's passion is clear. If she wants to spend three books at Tentir, who am I to stop her? The real problem would be if there were no progress emotionally. I have to admit I was getting a bit annoyed that Jame wouldn't just like, write Torisen a letter to fucking accept the dead woman's bride-price and resolve the Brenwyr/Aerulan subplot already. But for the most part, there was real progress. Jame is accepting that yeah, she's probably the Nemesis, but that just means she has to control herself. Torisen is getting closer to having his love of Jame overcome his fear. Most of the Tentir-specific subplots got resolved within this book, to the point that I'm not sure what exactly the next couple books could even be about.
Seeing Jame interact in an actual semi-functional Kencyr society was gratifying. So many times in the previous books it seemed like they were irredeemably dysfunctional, one had to wonder why Jame and Torisen even wanted to try saving them. Tentir is a model of what they could be if they weren't lead by massive fuckups. Even the Caineron, and to a lesser extent the Randir are able to play nice with the others. If you could somehow export this culture, maybe the rest of them could get around to that saving the multiverse thing. Tentir's not perfect, the White Lady and Bear subplots demonstrate that, but as an institution it's a decent starting point. It's also nice that it avoids Harry Potter-esque cliches like deadly tests. The tests are just tests, if you fail, you go back home. When students try to join the rathorn hunt, the headmaster goes "no that's stupid", and that's it. Despite this it still manages to have dark secrets, just ones unrelated to running a school like an idiot.
Part of that optimism is how many positive Caineron characters there are at this point. If I count them, there might actually be more than the villainous ones. Lyra, Brier, Cattila, Sheth, Bear. That kid who died in Dark. Even the Malfoy-esque Gorbel ends up being a basically decent guy. I'm actually struggling to remember named antagonist Cainerons other than Caldane at this point. There's one new one in this book, and in any other series I would say he's not multi-arc villain material, but in this book Hodgell saw fit to bring up Pereden, a character so minor I didn't even properly introduce him in my summary of the book he appeared in, the vampire's pet slug from two books ago, and the walking tree from the previous. There was even a shoutout to the crossdressing tavernmaster from God Stalk. "No shit too minor" is Hodgell's proud motto, and I'm sure Corrudin will come up again in some capacity. If she mentions it, it will be mentioned later.
I suppose the purpose of all these good Cainerons is to set up the house eventually switching around, or maybe having some crisis that splits it apart, but I have to ask why Caldane is even still a villain at this point. Jame has humiliated him multiple times and physically he's not even close to a threat. Rawneth is clearly more fitting mid-boss material. She's insanely scary both in terms of how she can travel around the dream/soul-world seemingly at will, and how fucking crazy she is. She might actually have To Your Eternity's Hayase beat for most romantically obsessed villainess. Doesn't just kill the granny who stopped her from getting with her man, she has every woman in the family assassinated, and then 30 years later when it turns out one survived, she makes it her mission to ruin that girl's life. I thought during the previous book she was supposed to be the Yubaba to Cattila's Zeniba, but it looks like she's only 60, which I think in Kencyr terms is more like...30? She's barely started her villainess career and could easily still be in the hot bitch phase of it. She actually hasn't appeared onscreen yet, and I can't wait to see how Jame eventually deals with her.
A big thing that stuck out to me in this book was INCEST. I was already getting some sus vibes in the first book during those Bane scenes, but this cranks the knob WAY up. Some of it's clearly meant to be bad, like Ganth being abused by his brother, and coming close to molesting Jame in her childhood. On the other hand, it definitely seems like Jame and Torisen are supposed to be genuinely attracted to each other and not entirely opposed to ending up with each other. Torisen in particular has some very "no way haha...unless???" moments. And they live in a society in which this would be, if not expected of them, generally accepted if it happened. But come on, the main villain married his sister and they ended up ruining everything. There's no way you can have the main character get with her brother, right? That'd be insane. (I somehow only just realized how weird it is for Gerridon to be a willing cuckold. Does it count if you intended to marry your sister-wife's daughter by another man? Not even getting into the wtf of the strong implication that he's also Kindrie's father.)
One of the minor elements I love is how villain-like a power like bloodbinding is. Jame treats it like fantasy HIV, warning people when she bleeds. If you were a villain, there's probably all kinds of crazy shit you could do with it. Blood-filled darts, some kind of misting machine, a specially designed sword to bleed you and channel your blood down the blade. The possibilities are endless.
Marc thankfully reappears again, even if only for one chapter. I might've actually gone crazy if he stayed absent for two entire books. Let Jame hang out with her surrogate dad.
Best "Jame has no breasts" joke:
"You," said Timmon, "are adorable. And more than a bit peculiar. I'd like to see you properly dressed or, better yet, undressed. We could have pleasant times together, you and I."I've got to be honest, I don't even get what the joke is. That she has a beautiful face so you're cheating yourself if you get put off by her flatness? There's a much funnier one where Graykin has to do her hair, and admonishes her for her ignorance of femininity, and even that one isn't that funny. Perhaps Hodgell feels this gag has already been run into the ground? Will the next volume even have one?
He wound a loose strand of her hair around his finger, using the excuse to trace the curve of her neck. Jame shivered and drew away.
"You'd only be disappointed," she said over her shoulder, turning to leave. "I've often been mistaken for a boy."
His voice, gay with laughter, followed her: "Now, where's the fun in that?"
Anyway, where Seeker's Mask threw logic to the wind, To Ride a Rathorn paradoxically manages to keep closer to normality while also being more dreamlike. There are so many times where it isn't immediately clear what level of reality we're on, identity slides and switches around. What seems to be a dream turns out to be real. What seems real is a vision. The past intrudes into the present and the present twists the past into something new. Despite all this, the (for epic fantasy, anyway) quotidian concerns and mostly constant setting keep the story grounded. We're usually focused on the immediate mysteries of Tentir, not the high-flying concerns of the epic backstory.
It's a bit of an odd direction for a series that seemed like it was about to end at the second book, but whatever, Hodgell's passion is clear. If she wants to spend three books at Tentir, who am I to stop her? The real problem would be if there were no progress emotionally. I have to admit I was getting a bit annoyed that Jame wouldn't just like, write Torisen a letter to fucking accept the dead woman's bride-price and resolve the Brenwyr/Aerulan subplot already. But for the most part, there was real progress. Jame is accepting that yeah, she's probably the Nemesis, but that just means she has to control herself. Torisen is getting closer to having his love of Jame overcome his fear. Most of the Tentir-specific subplots got resolved within this book, to the point that I'm not sure what exactly the next couple books could even be about.
Seeing Jame interact in an actual semi-functional Kencyr society was gratifying. So many times in the previous books it seemed like they were irredeemably dysfunctional, one had to wonder why Jame and Torisen even wanted to try saving them. Tentir is a model of what they could be if they weren't lead by massive fuckups. Even the Caineron, and to a lesser extent the Randir are able to play nice with the others. If you could somehow export this culture, maybe the rest of them could get around to that saving the multiverse thing. Tentir's not perfect, the White Lady and Bear subplots demonstrate that, but as an institution it's a decent starting point. It's also nice that it avoids Harry Potter-esque cliches like deadly tests. The tests are just tests, if you fail, you go back home. When students try to join the rathorn hunt, the headmaster goes "no that's stupid", and that's it. Despite this it still manages to have dark secrets, just ones unrelated to running a school like an idiot.
Part of that optimism is how many positive Caineron characters there are at this point. If I count them, there might actually be more than the villainous ones. Lyra, Brier, Cattila, Sheth, Bear. That kid who died in Dark. Even the Malfoy-esque Gorbel ends up being a basically decent guy. I'm actually struggling to remember named antagonist Cainerons other than Caldane at this point. There's one new one in this book, and in any other series I would say he's not multi-arc villain material, but in this book Hodgell saw fit to bring up Pereden, a character so minor I didn't even properly introduce him in my summary of the book he appeared in, the vampire's pet slug from two books ago, and the walking tree from the previous. There was even a shoutout to the crossdressing tavernmaster from God Stalk. "No shit too minor" is Hodgell's proud motto, and I'm sure Corrudin will come up again in some capacity. If she mentions it, it will be mentioned later.
I suppose the purpose of all these good Cainerons is to set up the house eventually switching around, or maybe having some crisis that splits it apart, but I have to ask why Caldane is even still a villain at this point. Jame has humiliated him multiple times and physically he's not even close to a threat. Rawneth is clearly more fitting mid-boss material. She's insanely scary both in terms of how she can travel around the dream/soul-world seemingly at will, and how fucking crazy she is. She might actually have To Your Eternity's Hayase beat for most romantically obsessed villainess. Doesn't just kill the granny who stopped her from getting with her man, she has every woman in the family assassinated, and then 30 years later when it turns out one survived, she makes it her mission to ruin that girl's life. I thought during the previous book she was supposed to be the Yubaba to Cattila's Zeniba, but it looks like she's only 60, which I think in Kencyr terms is more like...30? She's barely started her villainess career and could easily still be in the hot bitch phase of it. She actually hasn't appeared onscreen yet, and I can't wait to see how Jame eventually deals with her.
A big thing that stuck out to me in this book was INCEST. I was already getting some sus vibes in the first book during those Bane scenes, but this cranks the knob WAY up. Some of it's clearly meant to be bad, like Ganth being abused by his brother, and coming close to molesting Jame in her childhood. On the other hand, it definitely seems like Jame and Torisen are supposed to be genuinely attracted to each other and not entirely opposed to ending up with each other. Torisen in particular has some very "no way haha...unless???" moments. And they live in a society in which this would be, if not expected of them, generally accepted if it happened. But come on, the main villain married his sister and they ended up ruining everything. There's no way you can have the main character get with her brother, right? That'd be insane. (I somehow only just realized how weird it is for Gerridon to be a willing cuckold. Does it count if you intended to marry your sister-wife's daughter by another man? Not even getting into the wtf of the strong implication that he's also Kindrie's father.)
One of the minor elements I love is how villain-like a power like bloodbinding is. Jame treats it like fantasy HIV, warning people when she bleeds. If you were a villain, there's probably all kinds of crazy shit you could do with it. Blood-filled darts, some kind of misting machine, a specially designed sword to bleed you and channel your blood down the blade. The possibilities are endless.
Marc thankfully reappears again, even if only for one chapter. I might've actually gone crazy if he stayed absent for two entire books. Let Jame hang out with her surrogate dad.
March 25, 2014
Fourth in the series... got motivated to read this by picking up the seventh. But I'm still missing two...
In this segment of the tale, Jamethiel has been named by her brother, the Highlord Torisen, as his heir. She's also escaped the halls of highborn women, and enrolled in the demanding randon college of Tentir, to be trained in martial arts.
However, although she's achieved these goals, things are still hard for her. She has enemies at the school, and many do not take her unusual position seriously, mostly because she's a woman, but also because of who she is, and her family history.
In addition, she seems to be pursued by an enigmatic rathorn colt (a carnivorous, armored horse), and strange visions and supernatural visitations follow her...
I felt that this book has passages of true beauty and brilliance. However, as whole, it feels a bit unfocused. It does read more like a segment of a larger tale, rather than a self-contained story. And often, what was 'real' and what was supposed to be a vision or nightmare got a bit hazy and confusing - intentionally so, but I still felt that it detracted from my reading experience. The pacing was sometimes slow and uneven. However, when it honed in on Jamethiel's experiences at the school, I quite enjoyed it.
In this segment of the tale, Jamethiel has been named by her brother, the Highlord Torisen, as his heir. She's also escaped the halls of highborn women, and enrolled in the demanding randon college of Tentir, to be trained in martial arts.
However, although she's achieved these goals, things are still hard for her. She has enemies at the school, and many do not take her unusual position seriously, mostly because she's a woman, but also because of who she is, and her family history.
In addition, she seems to be pursued by an enigmatic rathorn colt (a carnivorous, armored horse), and strange visions and supernatural visitations follow her...
I felt that this book has passages of true beauty and brilliance. However, as whole, it feels a bit unfocused. It does read more like a segment of a larger tale, rather than a self-contained story. And often, what was 'real' and what was supposed to be a vision or nightmare got a bit hazy and confusing - intentionally so, but I still felt that it detracted from my reading experience. The pacing was sometimes slow and uneven. However, when it honed in on Jamethiel's experiences at the school, I quite enjoyed it.
June 21, 2025
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Jame, now named her brother Torisen's heir in order to protect her from suitors, is eligible for training at the Kencyrath's war college. She should be safe there, but there are those willing to ignore the college's rules. And now that she's fixed in one place, the angry rathorn colt whose mother she killed can catch up with her.
Review
I got this novel as part of one of the omnibus versions (combined with Seeker’s Mask) that confused me so and eventually led me to give up on the series for a while. That’s a shame, because the story stays good.
Hodgell in this sequel both leans into the vagueness of much of what has happened and acknowledges that weakness, with Jame pointedly trying to figure it out. I appreciated that recognition, but didn’t find the solution very effective. There’s a lot going on in metaphor here, and ordinarily I’m a big fan of that. But I also like to understand the story, and some of that gets lost here. Jame and crew venture into and out of soul images and vaguely specified locations like the Earth Wife’s lodge, and Jame herself continues to play a role in the world’s odd theological structure. But it’s never really clear how, or what it all means.
At the same time, Hodgell generates some new and interesting characters, and finally brings back the rathorn colt encountered long ago. Jame is settled at Tentir, the randon college, but takes some of the frustrating elements of the story with her – why evil and blatant corruption is so broadly tolerated, why she’s so reluctant to explore certain mysteries, including what triggered all the problems they have now.
It’s a fair continuation of the story, and certainly has positive points, but I do begin to long for a more straightforward and clearcut element to accompany the mysticism.
Summary
Jame, now named her brother Torisen's heir in order to protect her from suitors, is eligible for training at the Kencyrath's war college. She should be safe there, but there are those willing to ignore the college's rules. And now that she's fixed in one place, the angry rathorn colt whose mother she killed can catch up with her.
Review
I got this novel as part of one of the omnibus versions (combined with Seeker’s Mask) that confused me so and eventually led me to give up on the series for a while. That’s a shame, because the story stays good.
Hodgell in this sequel both leans into the vagueness of much of what has happened and acknowledges that weakness, with Jame pointedly trying to figure it out. I appreciated that recognition, but didn’t find the solution very effective. There’s a lot going on in metaphor here, and ordinarily I’m a big fan of that. But I also like to understand the story, and some of that gets lost here. Jame and crew venture into and out of soul images and vaguely specified locations like the Earth Wife’s lodge, and Jame herself continues to play a role in the world’s odd theological structure. But it’s never really clear how, or what it all means.
At the same time, Hodgell generates some new and interesting characters, and finally brings back the rathorn colt encountered long ago. Jame is settled at Tentir, the randon college, but takes some of the frustrating elements of the story with her – why evil and blatant corruption is so broadly tolerated, why she’s so reluctant to explore certain mysteries, including what triggered all the problems they have now.
It’s a fair continuation of the story, and certainly has positive points, but I do begin to long for a more straightforward and clearcut element to accompany the mysticism.
October 9, 2022
Seeker’s Maskin lopussa Kencyrien ylihallitsijan kaksoissisar Jame löysi itsensä Tentirin kadettikoulusta. Koulu on tarkoitettu sekä kendarien alempiluokkaisille kadeteille että korkeasukuisille, mutta korkeasukuisten naisten paikka se ei missään tapauksessa ole. Jame jatkaa siis ahkerasti soveliaisuuden rajojen rikkomista. Herää kaksi kysymystä: selviääkö Jame Tentiristä ja selviääkö Tentir Jamesta?
Tentir on sikäli mainio paikka Jamelle, että tätä vaivanneet sukusalaisuudet, muun muassa syy Knorthin suvun joukkoteurastukseen, tuntuvat kietoutuvan Tentiriin ja Jamen isän ja sedän historiaan koulussa. Salaisuuksien verho raottuu, mutta hinta on kova, sillä Tentir kuhisee vihollisia.
Jamen vauhdikkaat seikkailut jatkuvat entiseen tapaan. Pääosassa on selvästi Jame, veli Torisen on pienemmässä osassa. Kirjassa on runsaasti herkullista politikointia, juonittelua, magiaa ja huumoria. Kirjasarjan maailmasta avautuu uusia tasoja.
Synkkä tarina jää varsin kiperästi kesken, mutta onneksi seuraava osa, Bound in Blood, on jo ilmestynyt. Tätä osaa saatiin aikoinaan odottaa 12 vuotta. Nämä Kencyrath-kronikat ovat kyllä fantasiakirjallisuuden huippua. (26.1.2011)
Tentir on sikäli mainio paikka Jamelle, että tätä vaivanneet sukusalaisuudet, muun muassa syy Knorthin suvun joukkoteurastukseen, tuntuvat kietoutuvan Tentiriin ja Jamen isän ja sedän historiaan koulussa. Salaisuuksien verho raottuu, mutta hinta on kova, sillä Tentir kuhisee vihollisia.
Jamen vauhdikkaat seikkailut jatkuvat entiseen tapaan. Pääosassa on selvästi Jame, veli Torisen on pienemmässä osassa. Kirjassa on runsaasti herkullista politikointia, juonittelua, magiaa ja huumoria. Kirjasarjan maailmasta avautuu uusia tasoja.
Synkkä tarina jää varsin kiperästi kesken, mutta onneksi seuraava osa, Bound in Blood, on jo ilmestynyt. Tätä osaa saatiin aikoinaan odottaa 12 vuotta. Nämä Kencyrath-kronikat ovat kyllä fantasiakirjallisuuden huippua. (26.1.2011)
April 22, 2022
Fantastic Continuation of Jame's Story!
Jame enters Tentir, the military college of the Kencyrath as the Knorth Lordan (a Lordan is the named successor to the leader of each house). Her twin brother Torisen, who is 10 years older than her (you have to read the previous books to understand how), is the Knorth Lord and the Highlord of the Kencyrath. Jame has a lot of challenges to overcome this first year and in keeping with her usual mode of behavior, things happen around her; after all, she is a nemesis.
I read the first book in this series (Godstalk) about 40 years ago and patiently waited years for the next story to be written. There are now 10 books in the series and I'm currently reading book 8. The world building is great and the character development is some of the finest I've read. The maps in the book are very helpful in visually locating where the story takes place.
If you've never read this wonderful series, you really should try it. It's one of the best I've ever read! I'm just sorry that more people don't know about it.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Jame enters Tentir, the military college of the Kencyrath as the Knorth Lordan (a Lordan is the named successor to the leader of each house). Her twin brother Torisen, who is 10 years older than her (you have to read the previous books to understand how), is the Knorth Lord and the Highlord of the Kencyrath. Jame has a lot of challenges to overcome this first year and in keeping with her usual mode of behavior, things happen around her; after all, she is a nemesis.
I read the first book in this series (Godstalk) about 40 years ago and patiently waited years for the next story to be written. There are now 10 books in the series and I'm currently reading book 8. The world building is great and the character development is some of the finest I've read. The maps in the book are very helpful in visually locating where the story takes place.
If you've never read this wonderful series, you really should try it. It's one of the best I've ever read! I'm just sorry that more people don't know about it.
My Rating: 5 Stars
August 15, 2023
Me: oh finally some possible suitors / kissing moments for our beloved, luckless siblings
The book: yeah but what if we meant the siblings could be that for each other
Me: 👀 wait wh—
Very fun. The world-building is always great in this series, the recurring important motifs (honor’s paradox) is strong, and the reiteration of similar themes with different values (going from a woman’s college to a warrior’s one) is always clever and demonstrates a lot of how the world works.
Truly so much happened in just this one book. There was a literal volcano explosion, and the taming of a dragon/horse trying to seek revenge for its mother’s death, like, it’s hard to believe all that (plus the entire warrior campus plot) happened in just one book.
I’m glad I returned to the series, and I’m still looking fwd to the rest.
The book: yeah but what if we meant the siblings could be that for each other
Me: 👀 wait wh—
Very fun. The world-building is always great in this series, the recurring important motifs (honor’s paradox) is strong, and the reiteration of similar themes with different values (going from a woman’s college to a warrior’s one) is always clever and demonstrates a lot of how the world works.
Truly so much happened in just this one book. There was a literal volcano explosion, and the taming of a dragon/horse trying to seek revenge for its mother’s death, like, it’s hard to believe all that (plus the entire warrior campus plot) happened in just one book.
I’m glad I returned to the series, and I’m still looking fwd to the rest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2021
Hodgell has built a fantastic world with Rathillion and the Kencrayth. This part of the series is no exception. Her main character, Jame is honorable, and scary as she trips from crisis to crisis, leaving chaos in her wake.
I've already started the next book...
I've already started the next book...
August 28, 2017
Much better than the last one and almost as good as the Taitastigon arc. More mystery to come.
June 24, 2018
8- 5 stars to ensure it gets more recognition.
Like the setting at the randon place.
Complex story with very long common thread
Like the setting at the randon place.
Complex story with very long common thread
November 1, 2018
3.5 stars. OK, but series seems to be dragging. Not much plot advancement
April 26, 2019
Can be confusing because of all the intertwined dreams, flashbacks and the large cast of characters, but I enjoyed the ride.
August 10, 2020
This was good. Less to do with Perimal Darkling and more to do with all the ways the Kencyr are also deeply messed up.
May 25, 2025
I would really like a pronunciation guide . overall great.
September 28, 2015
I'd call this whole series dark fantasy, and I enjoy it immensely. It's got an old-time writing feel to it, and until this book, I'd have recomended it to anyone, however, this book had some triggers for those who are sensitive.
I'm doing these reviews ass backwards, since I haven't written up one for the others and ths is I believe book... four? five? Plus I'm writing this at midnight because I found a giant freaking spider and my adrenaline is still too pumped to possibly fall asleep. Anyway.
To summarize: you have a race of people jumping world to world running from a nasty evil that destroys things called Periminal Darkness. They have three sub-races in this one race of people. The judges, big cats called Arrin-Ker, the warriors and artisans called Kendar who aren't complete soul-wise unless they're bound to one of the ruling class, and the ruling class called Highlords. The Highlords have clans or houses with one ruling clan called the Knorth. They've been stuck on the current world for 3000 years and have lost the knowledge to jump thanks to one of the ruling clan betraying the lot of them with the help of his sister. So now they've gone all honour bound and Highborn women have been squirrelled away into these small little power-less roles of fulfilling contracts and doing what they're told. Guess they figured that was where all the power was. :P
Jump to "current day": Our heroine Jame, one of the last two known Knorth members, is in the middle of proving herself fit to be treated as something other than a dainty highborn woman kept locked up in the ladies halls (whose motto is to Silence, Obedience, Grace, etc. - very restrictive) and has been declared the heir to her house - personally I like to think that she's paving a way for any of them, kind of like a Kencyr feminist, but we'll see how that goes. She's now in a place called Tentir, a training hall for the warriors. She's hilariously bad at it in some rather marvel ways, and in others she's amazingly but she's quick to discover that there are secrets regarding her family that nearly destroyed them there as well. Secrets that involve suggested incest / rape; nothing is described, but what is said is enough for those who have imagination. To make matters more convoluted, her brother, the Highlord, is contemplating taking her as his consort to avoid being roped into a contract with another house since the moment there's the possibilty of a child with either his or his sister's blood mixed with another house, their lives become redundant...
I'm doing these reviews ass backwards, since I haven't written up one for the others and ths is I believe book... four? five? Plus I'm writing this at midnight because I found a giant freaking spider and my adrenaline is still too pumped to possibly fall asleep. Anyway.
To summarize: you have a race of people jumping world to world running from a nasty evil that destroys things called Periminal Darkness. They have three sub-races in this one race of people. The judges, big cats called Arrin-Ker, the warriors and artisans called Kendar who aren't complete soul-wise unless they're bound to one of the ruling class, and the ruling class called Highlords. The Highlords have clans or houses with one ruling clan called the Knorth. They've been stuck on the current world for 3000 years and have lost the knowledge to jump thanks to one of the ruling clan betraying the lot of them with the help of his sister. So now they've gone all honour bound and Highborn women have been squirrelled away into these small little power-less roles of fulfilling contracts and doing what they're told. Guess they figured that was where all the power was. :P
Jump to "current day": Our heroine Jame, one of the last two known Knorth members, is in the middle of proving herself fit to be treated as something other than a dainty highborn woman kept locked up in the ladies halls (whose motto is to Silence, Obedience, Grace, etc. - very restrictive) and has been declared the heir to her house - personally I like to think that she's paving a way for any of them, kind of like a Kencyr feminist, but we'll see how that goes. She's now in a place called Tentir, a training hall for the warriors. She's hilariously bad at it in some rather marvel ways, and in others she's amazingly but she's quick to discover that there are secrets regarding her family that nearly destroyed them there as well. Secrets that involve suggested incest / rape; nothing is described, but what is said is enough for those who have imagination. To make matters more convoluted, her brother, the Highlord, is contemplating taking her as his consort to avoid being roped into a contract with another house since the moment there's the possibilty of a child with either his or his sister's blood mixed with another house, their lives become redundant...
March 2, 2008
Jame is one of the last of her royal house. God-touched, cursed and out of place in a world where female royalty are cloistered, Jame must find her way in a military school rife with danger. Assassins lurk, enemies are around every turn and an evil past haunts the present in this dark training ground. Collapsing buildings and driving her instructors literally over the edge is just the beginning of Jame's wild ride. Can she survive being hunted by wild beasts, gods and rival houses? And will the school survive the chaos that surrounds her every move?
I adore this series; however, I would never advise someone to start with this book. There is entirely too much background, history and lingo to learn to try to jump in the middle. An excellent installment it is nonetheless filled with the same problems as the others in the series.
I am all for having a robust and complete world with its own creatures, gods, systems, etc. There is however a point at which you have to learn SO much that the story becomes obscured by the details. Take for example something called "Dwar" sleep. It is a deep, healing, recuperative sleep which allows the people of our heroine's species to recover from things which might kill a human. But why call it a special name? Why not just call it "The Healing Sleep" or something easier to remember? I wouldn't mind so much if there weren't about a hundred or so other vocabulary words to learn in order to fully comprehend this world.
Also, the main character is god-touched and as such often finds herself in dream-like or other worldly situations which are sometimes hard to follow. The language is well crafted and captures the surreality of her experiences beautifully; however, as in dreams it is easy to get lost.
I look forward to the next book in the series. I love the characters in all their complexity and can't wait to find out what Jame will do next!
I adore this series; however, I would never advise someone to start with this book. There is entirely too much background, history and lingo to learn to try to jump in the middle. An excellent installment it is nonetheless filled with the same problems as the others in the series.
I am all for having a robust and complete world with its own creatures, gods, systems, etc. There is however a point at which you have to learn SO much that the story becomes obscured by the details. Take for example something called "Dwar" sleep. It is a deep, healing, recuperative sleep which allows the people of our heroine's species to recover from things which might kill a human. But why call it a special name? Why not just call it "The Healing Sleep" or something easier to remember? I wouldn't mind so much if there weren't about a hundred or so other vocabulary words to learn in order to fully comprehend this world.
Also, the main character is god-touched and as such often finds herself in dream-like or other worldly situations which are sometimes hard to follow. The language is well crafted and captures the surreality of her experiences beautifully; however, as in dreams it is easy to get lost.
I look forward to the next book in the series. I love the characters in all their complexity and can't wait to find out what Jame will do next!
August 30, 2011
Because this book has less of a travelogue feel (because Jame is centered at Tentir and Torisen is mostly at Gothregor) this makes the surprising revelations and supernatural action more manageable and I'm getting more of a feel for various side characters - I really liked seeing Macarn again for a bit and the fact that this book finally goes into detail of why the Knorth women were assassinated and why the twin's father broke down as he dead (as well as the various things he did to Jame and to a lesser degree Tori when she still lived in the keep).
Jame also teeters even more of the edge of becoming the proper Nemesis that the Kencyrath are waiting for or being tempted into the dark side - Frodo style or Darth Vader style ^^. She sometimes stumbles into taking warnings and information not seriously enough, but manages to redeem herself again - by sheer good will and her attitude of taking things and people at face value, the way they present themselves to her - without the whole burden of common background (because she forgot a lot, because she was taught very little conventional wisdom when she grew up).
I like the way that the various facets of power in the Kencyrath get revealed, and the way that Rathillien comes in - or at least the viewpoint of the Earthwife on it. The fact that we now know how long dead ancestors can still influence the living by virtue of their rememberances... etc.
It's very much a interim book, but the conclusion of Jame surviving the second Tentir culling is satisfying as are the amount of new info we have and Jame's developing skills and judgement (I could read a whole series of books of Jame at Tentir, and the next two will still have Tentir as the main focus).
Jame also teeters even more of the edge of becoming the proper Nemesis that the Kencyrath are waiting for or being tempted into the dark side - Frodo style or Darth Vader style ^^. She sometimes stumbles into taking warnings and information not seriously enough, but manages to redeem herself again - by sheer good will and her attitude of taking things and people at face value, the way they present themselves to her - without the whole burden of common background (because she forgot a lot, because she was taught very little conventional wisdom when she grew up).
I like the way that the various facets of power in the Kencyrath get revealed, and the way that Rathillien comes in - or at least the viewpoint of the Earthwife on it. The fact that we now know how long dead ancestors can still influence the living by virtue of their rememberances... etc.
It's very much a interim book, but the conclusion of Jame surviving the second Tentir culling is satisfying as are the amount of new info we have and Jame's developing skills and judgement (I could read a whole series of books of Jame at Tentir, and the next two will still have Tentir as the main focus).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2008
What can I say about P.C. Hodgell's Jame books? I first encountered Jame when I was in college in the early 80s. She has grown and rounded with each new volume, and I have been infinitely entertained by her exploits. When To Ride a Rathorn came out, my daughter couldn't wait for me to finish it. She too is enamored of the Jame books.
To Ride a Rathorn finds Jame in the Randon college, messing up, as usual, and usually landing on her feet, although she does damage and is damaged along the way. We meet a few new characters in this book, including the college master, Sheth Sharptongue, who has his loyalties, but has honor as well--and it is just as important to him as it is to Jame.
Hodgell does her usual brilliant job of painting a world that is very unlike ours, with arboreal drift, dreams that mirror reality in surprising ways, and gods who just can't seem to figure out what to do about the darkling Jame.
If you haven't read the Jame books, start with God Stalk and make your way through the whole series. She's as engaging a character as you're likely to meet, and you never know what she's going to do next.
To Ride a Rathorn finds Jame in the Randon college, messing up, as usual, and usually landing on her feet, although she does damage and is damaged along the way. We meet a few new characters in this book, including the college master, Sheth Sharptongue, who has his loyalties, but has honor as well--and it is just as important to him as it is to Jame.
Hodgell does her usual brilliant job of painting a world that is very unlike ours, with arboreal drift, dreams that mirror reality in surprising ways, and gods who just can't seem to figure out what to do about the darkling Jame.
If you haven't read the Jame books, start with God Stalk and make your way through the whole series. She's as engaging a character as you're likely to meet, and you never know what she's going to do next.
May 7, 2011
The fourth in the God Stalk series, I'm getting a little tired of Hodgell's Mystical Crap. She's got an interesting mythology going on in her created world, with powerful, non-human beings. But it doesn't seem like she's worked out exactly how they interact yet, or maybe as though she's working it out as she goes along. That has a nasty tendency to send people into corners, and then she has to do a lot of *handwaving* to get out of those corners. Jame continues to be more powerful than she has any right to be, but it's sort of made up for by her total ignorance of various undercurrents - and her irritation at being ignorant of them. Unfortunately, we're ignorant right along with her, which makes these books more confusing than anything else. I'm addicted now, though, so I guess I'll be reading book five whenever Hodgell finishes writing it.
February 11, 2008
Better! Yea! After a disappointing Seekers Mask (and, honestly, if you make your fans wait 20 years, your next book needs to be scintillating, not merely good) but this time Hodgell got her next book out within two years. And it's good. Jame is now at Tentir, training to be a randon (soldier.) A much better fit for her. Of course, no one wants her there, for a multitude of reasons, so there are numerous attempts to get her kicked out...or just flat out killed. But she holds her own (as you might well imagine) and really begins to find her own place. Her lost childhood is almost completely remembered now and she begins to find her own peace with who and what she is. Plus, the death-head rathorn colt from book #2 is hunting her. Awesome!
April 9, 2013
I was worried when I read the synopsis that this book would turn out to be the standard "training/school" story. But this is P.C. Hodgell, so I should have known better. Lots of mysteries unfolding in this book, with more obviously to come. I must say that I'm really enjoying the chance to read the Kencyrath books one after another, instead of waiting years between. Of course, in few more books, I'll be stuck waiting again. But it's still nice to get the full flow of the story all at once.
One thing I must say about this edition (Meisha Merlin's hardcover): I'm appalled at the sloppiness of the copy-editing! And the pixellated maps are shameful (and illegible).
One thing I must say about this edition (Meisha Merlin's hardcover): I'm appalled at the sloppiness of the copy-editing! And the pixellated maps are shameful (and illegible).
May 16, 2008
NOOOOOOOO!
I thought this was a finished series, but this particular book copywrited in 2006 leaves things at more of a cliff-hanger than any of the books before. I'll have to keep an eye out to see if anything pops up in the future. sigh....
On the flip side (if you've read this one already), if you're curious about a couple of dream-incidents you can read of them (as well as some other interesting revelations) in Blood and Ivory. I'm already most of the way through it but gunshots keep distracting me (my husband is in the middle of John Woo Presents Stranglehold).
I thought this was a finished series, but this particular book copywrited in 2006 leaves things at more of a cliff-hanger than any of the books before. I'll have to keep an eye out to see if anything pops up in the future. sigh....
On the flip side (if you've read this one already), if you're curious about a couple of dream-incidents you can read of them (as well as some other interesting revelations) in Blood and Ivory. I'm already most of the way through it but gunshots keep distracting me (my husband is in the middle of John Woo Presents Stranglehold).
September 25, 2010
The long-awaited fourth book of the Kencyrath chronicles. Very interesting! Follows Jame's first few months at Tentir, the randon college, as she ends up trying to juggle too many things (as usual!) the mystery of Tentir's Shame, the follow-up from her becoming the Earth Wife's Favorite last book, and her struggles with the military life and the questions about who taught her the Senethar. A real page-turner, but I'd highly recommend reading it in sequence, or it would probably be very confusing. It's an extremely rich world.
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