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A review by katyanaish
The Shining Court by Michelle West
4.0
There was a lot that was great in this book ... a LOT. I loved seeing Jewel and Avandar's relationship evolved, and I loved getting hints of who he is (or was). I loved meeting the Voyani Matriarchs, not just because of their personalities (which were great) bit also because of the feeling, the weight, of history and magic there. Like, these people have forgotten so much of who they are, and wisps of it drift up occasionally, and they are awesome.
I struggled with all the time spent with the Tors and Tyrs, because quite frankly, I hate those guys. I hate all the men of the Dominion, and I just don't have sympathy for any of them, even the ones that are a little conflicted (I'm looking at you, Sendari) or seem like they are good honorable men with other men of power, but their disdain for the rest of the world - and women - are unforgivable (that would be you, Sendari and Alesso... I see your bromance, but it just can't overcome my loathing for you).
And Diora's plot just felt like a whole lot of waiting. And I didn't understand why, honestly. She told Teresa that she couldn't leave yet because there was a woman who she wouldn't leave without, and wouldn't be ready for another week. And ... I have to assume So that, to me, just felt like a manufactured delay to make all the threads of the plot come together on the night of the Festival, and while I get that in terms of story structure, Diora's arch in this book - the endless waiting, and her feeling sad and lonely - was a yawn.
And I missed the den, and Kiriel and Valedan and Meralonne. They've become important characters, and it is hard to have a whole book without them.
Also, is it weird that I ship Kallandras and Jewel? I know that's probably weird - I think it's because they are the two characters I have come to care most about, and so of course I'm like "and now, KISS!" ... but it seems like the author is going more Kallandras / Evayne. Which ... I just can't like Evayne. I get that she's made sacrifices for this great war - horrific ones - but she treats everyone like pawns, where she is the only game player. Her condescension is appalling to me, her lack of compassion is irritating, and I just really really hope Jewel doesn't become her. I feel like this world already has an ice-cold bitch seer. What it needs is a compassionate one, who will TRY to save people, even if it seems futile. One who is driven by her heart. Because otherwise it is just two players at the game, who are ruthless and will sacrifice anyone ... and what are we cheering for? If I want that, you may as well let Sendari/Alesso/Cortano win, because that's exactly who they are.
So yeah. Fuck Evayne. She's a necessary evil, but she can't ever be the heart, the leader, of the good side... because she has long ago kicked her heart to the curb. She's an ally, yes. Never the core.
And Kallandras feels like he's got such a dark core - hidden underneath his pretty blond bard exterior - of self-loathing and death... someone like Jewel could help return light to his life, the same way she did with Duster and Kiriel. I guess I just want that for him.
I struggled with all the time spent with the Tors and Tyrs, because quite frankly, I hate those guys. I hate all the men of the Dominion, and I just don't have sympathy for any of them, even the ones that are a little conflicted (I'm looking at you, Sendari) or seem like they are good honorable men with other men of power, but their disdain for the rest of the world - and women - are unforgivable (that would be you, Sendari and Alesso... I see your bromance, but it just can't overcome my loathing for you).
And Diora's plot just felt like a whole lot of waiting. And I didn't understand why, honestly. She told Teresa that she couldn't leave yet because there was a woman who she wouldn't leave without, and wouldn't be ready for another week. And ... I have to assume
Spoiler
that she was talking about the Sun Sword she stole on Festival Night, but frankly, we'd already established that the Radann were too busy to even attend the Sun Sword - she'd visited, and it was filled with dust, with no lit fires in the braziers - so I disagree that she needed to wait on her hands another week to steal it and go with Teresa.And I missed the den, and Kiriel and Valedan and Meralonne. They've become important characters, and it is hard to have a whole book without them.
Also, is it weird that I ship Kallandras and Jewel? I know that's probably weird - I think it's because they are the two characters I have come to care most about, and so of course I'm like "and now, KISS!" ... but it seems like the author is going more Kallandras / Evayne. Which ... I just can't like Evayne. I get that she's made sacrifices for this great war - horrific ones - but she treats everyone like pawns, where she is the only game player. Her condescension is appalling to me, her lack of compassion is irritating, and I just really really hope Jewel doesn't become her. I feel like this world already has an ice-cold bitch seer. What it needs is a compassionate one, who will TRY to save people, even if it seems futile. One who is driven by her heart. Because otherwise it is just two players at the game, who are ruthless and will sacrifice anyone ... and what are we cheering for? If I want that, you may as well let Sendari/Alesso/Cortano win, because that's exactly who they are.
So yeah. Fuck Evayne. She's a necessary evil, but she can't ever be the heart, the leader, of the good side... because she has long ago kicked her heart to the curb. She's an ally, yes. Never the core.
And Kallandras feels like he's got such a dark core - hidden underneath his pretty blond bard exterior - of self-loathing and death... someone like Jewel could help return light to his life, the same way she did with Duster and Kiriel. I guess I just want that for him.