Review: Not my favorite, and a new annoying character
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2013
In this 3rd book of the Norothian cycle was not my favorite.  The first 10 chapters dealt only with John Deskata and new characters.  John has returned to Miilark, too late to stop the dissolution of his family's Trade House.  He was exiled because he was sleeping with his "law sister" Rhianne.  She was  basically adopted by his family, he slept with her and was exiled and she continued to live in luxury, and was beautiful and all the statues on the island were modeled after her "almost indescribable beauty".  Barf.  Rhianne only seems to care that she's lost her lifestyle and spends the first 10 chapters of the book complaining that she's doing/wearing things that "a lady of her status" would never do.  I just found her character to be such a distraction from all of the characters I've come to love in this series. I found the relationship to be creepy - I know they're not blood relatives, but raised as brother and sister, so...yeah.  I quit watching Dexter when Deb decided she was "in love" with him, and this is the same skeezy relationship.Anyhow, John declares a blood feud against the house that pushed to see his family's house disbanded.  Along the way, he's sent off in another direction thanks to interfering with the plans of a dragon.  Rhianne doesn't like that he's a soldier, doesn't like that his hair is short, doesn't like being on a boat, blah blah blah.  John wasn't my favorite character, but still, it was so tiring.Fortunately, there was a brief appearance by my favorites, Tilda and Zed, and Phin came along for the rest of the journey.There was a twist at the end that was good, and I hoped it meant Rhianne wouldn't be in anymore books - alas, it seems like she will be.  Hopefully we'll shift back to characters I care about - particularly women who are strong on their own, not because they're beautiful and a man protects them.