Posted in
|
Fiona McIntosh
|
|
||
|
Genre
|
|||
|
Media
|
Book
|
||
Publisher | Orbit | ||
ISBN | 9781841494616 | ||
|
Reviewer
|
Vicky
|
Synopsis
Odalisque Ana is resigned to life in Percheron's famed harem and has little more than a blood-soaked veil to remind her that Spur Lazar, the man she loves, is dead. What's more, she is closely watched by the scheming Grand Master Eunuch, Salmeo, and the cunning and cruel Valide Herezah. The Valide, unhappy at Ana's influence over the young Zar, contrives a shrewd plan to bring about the beautiful young woman's demise. But greater forces are at work ...The demon Maliz has taken the guise of Percheron's Grand Vizier in order to stalk Iridor, the traditional accomplice of the Goddess. And a war is brewing. A long-time enemy, Galinsea, intends to exact a vicious blood price for the death of its crown prince, Lucien, at the hands of the Percherese. And the only person in the Stone Palace who can undertake the dangerous journey to Galinsea and negotiate for peace is about to die ...
Review
Emissary is absolutely fantastic - Fiona McIntosh is a very skillful writer in weaving the complexities of the archetypal template as in Greek and Egyption mythology. We see Pez as Iridor, Tariq as Maliz on the eternal journey of good over evil as surely as day follows night follows day. But is Ana Lyana - on this eternal treadmill, because when Maliz discovers Lyana he then comes into his full power and always kills her?
In Emissary I am enjoying the luxury of her indepth exploration into each of the main characters and the human psyche taking many paragraphs and pages as she describes their emotions and feelings leading the reader to care about what is going on. Both Ana and Kett were drowned after being set up by both Hezerah and Salmeo but Ana is saved by Lazar to become the emissary to Galinsea to stop a war between it and Percheron. Why - because Ana speaks colloquial and courtly Galinsean and can save the day from both cities going to war!
Can you imagine how it feels to drown and be resurrected just for this, and not only that but to be married to the young Zar Boaz to elevate her status so she can mediate for Percheron in the Galinsean language.
It's not surprising she is feeling angry and to see her stand up for herself in a wonderful fiesty manner is a joy to read, but there is now the added horror of her kidnap and the death of Juma in the desert but not before she and Lazar consummated their love.
Fiona McIntosh has the interaction between all parties down to perfection - I find it very realistic and am enjoying seeing the archtypal eternal story that in ancient times would have taught us humans the meaning of life death and the universe. Had Fiona McIntosh lived several thousand years ago I'm sure she would have been a story teller then, helping people to understand the missing eternal spiritual link.
Having enjoyed Emissary even more than Odalisque I am looking forward to Goddess - book 3 to find out what happens in the end and to see if Ana is actually Lyana or could it be someone els! I find this series a very satisfying read and ticks all the right boxes.
If you enjoy what we provide, please consider making a donation.
