Ombria in Shadow - Patricia McKillip
Lydea, the prince's mistress, thrown out of the palace minutes after his death. Ducon, the bastard of the royal family - to courtiers he is a fascinating unknown quantity in politics but he just wants to make art and see his child-cousin, the new prince, alive. And Mag the waxling, servant to the sorceress of the undercity, who wonders if she is human as she observes the inhabitants of the palace. When the dreaded Domina Pearl becomes regent, these three are drawn closer together as they work to save each other and Kyel, the child-prince.
As phoenixfalls says, McKillip's elegant writing style makes all her novels beautiful. Her early novels have a plainer style, then start with a more ornate and denser style in The Sorceress and the Cygnet, but her prose is always poetic and beautiful. Ombria is a bit earthier than usual (I actually caught a double entendre at the end of the first chapter), I suppose because it's set in one of the city of Ombria's more perilous times and one of its threads is about becoming human. Mag is choosing how she wants to be human while Faey, her mistress, is in danger of losing her humanity, & becoming more like Domina Pearl. Ducon and Mag both want to find the secret of their births, while Camas Erl wants the secret of Ombria's birth. Lydea and Ducon are both motivated by love, wanting to keep a child alive, while Mag is motivated by the whim of compassion and a developing conscience.
On first reading I wasn't thrilled with this book. I think I was expecting and wanted something more typically McKillip, to my mind, and didn't appreciate it for itself. (It also starts out with a very likeable character in chapter 1, then switches to other characters for ages while leaving Lydea where she is.) On second reading, I like the city of Ombria, full of food and servants and conspiracy and mistresses - rich colours, but a little darker and more rowdy than other McKillip novels. One character proves to be sort of an honest sociopath, & none of the other characters quite know what to do with him (except Domina Pearl, who uses him).
It's also interesting (& somewhat refreshing) that there is no romance - other novels would have thrown Lydea & Ducon together, or Ducon & Mag if Lydea sleeping with her dead lover's nephew is too racy. But Lydea is grieving & Mag is too young; all 3 main characters are motivated by different forms of humanity than sexual or romantic love. (I get tired of love being the only thing around sometimes. Isn't friendship great and honourable enough?)
The ending was - different. In some ways I find it unsatisfying, but in other ways it works. I do feel we missed a few scenes between chapter 27 & chapter 28. 28 does pick up the pieces though. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
I'm glad to have had a chance to read this book again & appreciate it better.
As phoenixfalls says, McKillip's elegant writing style makes all her novels beautiful. Her early novels have a plainer style, then start with a more ornate and denser style in The Sorceress and the Cygnet, but her prose is always poetic and beautiful. Ombria is a bit earthier than usual (I actually caught a double entendre at the end of the first chapter), I suppose because it's set in one of the city of Ombria's more perilous times and one of its threads is about becoming human. Mag is choosing how she wants to be human while Faey, her mistress, is in danger of losing her humanity, & becoming more like Domina Pearl. Ducon and Mag both want to find the secret of their births, while Camas Erl wants the secret of Ombria's birth. Lydea and Ducon are both motivated by love, wanting to keep a child alive, while Mag is motivated by the whim of compassion and a developing conscience.
On first reading I wasn't thrilled with this book. I think I was expecting and wanted something more typically McKillip, to my mind, and didn't appreciate it for itself. (It also starts out with a very likeable character in chapter 1, then switches to other characters for ages while leaving Lydea where she is.) On second reading, I like the city of Ombria, full of food and servants and conspiracy and mistresses - rich colours, but a little darker and more rowdy than other McKillip novels. One character proves to be sort of an honest sociopath, & none of the other characters quite know what to do with him (except Domina Pearl, who uses him).
It's also interesting (& somewhat refreshing) that there is no romance - other novels would have thrown Lydea & Ducon together, or Ducon & Mag if Lydea sleeping with her dead lover's nephew is too racy. But Lydea is grieving & Mag is too young; all 3 main characters are motivated by different forms of humanity than sexual or romantic love. (I get tired of love being the only thing around sometimes. Isn't friendship great and honourable enough?)
The ending was - different. In some ways I find it unsatisfying, but in other ways it works. I do feel we missed a few scenes between chapter 27 & chapter 28. 28 does pick up the pieces though. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
I'm glad to have had a chance to read this book again & appreciate it better.