Great review. I hadn't thought of the potential religious ramifications you described or if this was turning into a Christian fantasy with an agenda. I hope not, too.
I didn't like this one as much as the first -- I thought it was more disjointed and that the backstory was worked in really awkwardly, and there was less of that dry wit you mentioned that I liked so much in the first one -- but I'm still interested to read the third book, especially after that ending. Mephisto is still the character I am most interested in, but I also want to see if/how Miranda continues to crack her shell.
**spoilers**
I was pretty mad about the rape scene. On the one hand, it's an interesting game-changer in the story: Miranda's ability to get the Water of Life has kept the company functioning and her family alive, and without it everything will presumably break down. Her Lady has abandoned her (definitely something I had a problem with) -- will her family abandon her too? I think Miranda is just beginning to awaken emotionally, and a lot of her self-worth (and pride) was tied into being the only one who could get the Water of Life. When that's removed, what does she have left? It's an interesting question, especially when you consider (as you point out) that the only magic Miranda has left is the demonic flute -- will she slide further away from her Lady because she turns to the darker magics? Will the Lady return to her when Miranda realizes what's truly important?
On the other hand, no matter how well done, I'm tired of rape being used as a plot device, especially for the take-down of a powerful woman. Sure, it often fits the story, and it's often a realistic image of power and dominance we are (far too) used to, but sometimes I think there must be other ways to achieve the same ends. But that's a long, complicated discussion with no clear winner either way. (c:
Then again, with the whole notion that Miranda's power comes from the purity of virginity, it was sort of inevitable, too. A lot of my feelings about this hinge on what happens to her in the third book.
The fact that her power comes from the purity of virginity definitely made the rape (in hindsight) unavoidable. In truth, the only way to avoid rape in this instance as a serious plot device is to take away Miranda's power coming from the purity of virginity. Like you, I'm very interested to see how the third book wraps everything up, and according to a comment above from the Book Smugglers, we haven't seen the last of Eurynome, which is promising. I don't mind if this book did end up being a Christian Fantasy, so long as it's not one with an agenda. Of course, for some people the very nature of having something be a Christian Fantasy is to have an agenda, but I think there's a line between the two that's difficult to navigate. But it can be done.
I didn't like this one as much as the first -- I thought it was more disjointed and that the backstory was worked in really awkwardly, and there was less of that dry wit you mentioned that I liked so much in the first one -- but I'm still interested to read the third book, especially after that ending. Mephisto is still the character I am most interested in, but I also want to see if/how Miranda continues to crack her shell.
**spoilers**
I was pretty mad about the rape scene. On the one hand, it's an interesting game-changer in the story: Miranda's ability to get the Water of Life has kept the company functioning and her family alive, and without it everything will presumably break down. Her Lady has abandoned her (definitely something I had a problem with) -- will her family abandon her too? I think Miranda is just beginning to awaken emotionally, and a lot of her self-worth (and pride) was tied into being the only one who could get the Water of Life. When that's removed, what does she have left? It's an interesting question, especially when you consider (as you point out) that the only magic Miranda has left is the demonic flute -- will she slide further away from her Lady because she turns to the darker magics? Will the Lady return to her when Miranda realizes what's truly important?
On the other hand, no matter how well done, I'm tired of rape being used as a plot device, especially for the take-down of a powerful woman. Sure, it often fits the story, and it's often a realistic image of power and dominance we are (far too) used to, but sometimes I think there must be other ways to achieve the same ends. But that's a long, complicated discussion with no clear winner either way. (c:
Then again, with the whole notion that Miranda's power comes from the purity of virginity, it was sort of inevitable, too. A lot of my feelings about this hinge on what happens to her in the third book.
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We'll see what happens in the third book!
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