Review: Nice addition to the series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 31, 2014
I began reading this series in the middle, with the second piece, You Are Mine. It was good, so good that I read the novella that preceded it (Mine To Tarnish) then this, the third in the series/book 2.In the first offering, Ms. Favor began world-building, though her world has room for growth. In this world, magic exists but it doesn't seem to be an equal opportunity gift: only men are able to use it. Women are carriers and decidedly second, or maybe third or fourth, class. They are chattel, they are owned, traded, sold. They may be beaten, even killed, with impunity--and they are--and those both without magic (males and females both) or too much spirit (females not willing to flow with the status quo) are marked so that all will recognize them as less-than-human.This is the world Falor has created. As each novel emerges, we learn more about the world. We learn that not all countries have the same laws, practices, nor beliefs. Each of Falor's offerings is centered around a different woman; all of these women are rebels, each in her own way. As each rebels, she becomes more empowered.In this novel, the protagonist, Cynthia, is that impossible thing, a female magic user. Of course, this makes her a threat to those in power as well as to those that feel empowered by the debasement of others. It is good addition to the series; the only thing I don't like is that it has a type of cliff hanger that the others lacked. None of the books have had a romantic resolution for the main character, which is fine. All have ended without the Big Issue being resolved, which is also fine --after all, governments and long standing policies are not overthrown in a day, nor even in decade--but I would have liked a few more things settled a bit more, leaving a bit more of an upbeat ending. As it is, it left me worried for Cynthia and her family. Well, as worried as one gets for a fictional character--and right there that should tell you this author is worth reading. Now hurry up with the next one!