Review: New Dimensions To An Already Great Series
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 17, 2013
I just love this series.  I love Caina and all her exploits.  This book, however, veers off into new territory.  Caina falls in love, and this relationship brings a new dimension to the work, and also adds an element of danger.Although there is the exciting adventure story, as usual, in this book, the love relationship between Caina and Corvalis brings a different sort of tension that is missing in the earlier ones.  (Her affair with Alistair can hardly be considered a relationship.)  She and Corvalis are both complicated characters, she being who we already know she is, and he being an assassin of the Kindred, who is conflicted over just about everything in his life -- his father, his sister, his Kindred association, his association with the ghosts . . . you name it, he can't understand or deal with it on any effective basis.  And, these problems cause difficulties between he and Caina and result in her almost losing her life in this book.There is also another relationship thrown in.  Kylon Shipbreaker, the stormdancer from the previous book has a prominent role in this one.  We already know that he is interested in Caina, mostly just from a standpoint of being fascinated, but in this book, he moves along that trajectory towards infatuation.  He is a serious man, though, like Corvalis, and doesn't pursue this in the face of her love for the other man.  He is also aware of the difficulty inherent in this situation.  They are enemies.  He is Kyracian and she is a Ghost working for the Emperor.  They are at war.  This doesn't dissuade him from associating with her.He is a much deeper man than Corvalis, and has heavy responsibilites to his government, and as the Lord High Seat of his House.  Nevertheless, he is intrigued by her, and has been thinking of her since they last met (by chasing each other through the streets and trying to kill each other, evenly matched.)  He is captivated by the fact that she is a match for him, although he keeps falling back on the idea that she is beautiful when she is in "proper women's clothing", but not appropriate when she is fierce and deadly.  That is, however, apparently not an obstacle to his curiosity about her.  He experiences jealousy when he finds out about Corvalis, but is honorable, and doesn't try to approach her as a suitor.He spends the book fighting by her side, as an equal, not as an enemy, this time.  He also shows himself to be a better person than Corvalis, by standing up to the Sages and other various powerful figures, based on what Caina has told him and the fact that he trusts her, unlike Corvalis, who betrays her at this point, which leads to her "death". (She doesn't miss this fact, but still can't seem to not be stupidly in love with the lesser man.)  At the end of the book, we are treated to a scene between the two of them, Kylon and Caina, in which he makes it clear, in a measured way, how he feels, while also making it clear that he won't be following it up while she is entangled.This is a love triangle in the making.  It is a difficult one, because, with their countries at war, there will be very few opportunities for them to explore their feelings.  It's pretty clear that the author has plans for him in the upcoming book (or maybe further on down the line).  Kylon is a match for Caina.  Corvalis is not.  He simply is not the man that Kylon is.  Despite the ruthless and deliberate nature Kylon exhibits during battle, he shows none of this personally, with Caina.  He is clearly fascinated, and clearly has had no experience with a woman who equals him.  The thought is actually incomprehensible to him, even while he allows himself to embrace it.  He's obviously heading for love, and I hope that Moeller follows this up, rather than the relationship with Corvalis.  Caina deserves a man like Kylon.Moeller says he'll be starting the next book in July or August.  I hope he keeps to schedule.  I'm in love with this series, and can't wait for the next book, especially now that it looks like he's bringing love into the picture.  (Of course, don't expect any loves scenes from Moeller.  His idea of a steamy scene is to say "when they were finished" they went to sleep, or something like that. That appears to cover the detail, to his mind.)Another great addition to this series.  5 Stars.  Buy it.