Naamah's Blessing on Me

Jacqueline Carey is one of my favorite authors. I've read most of her books, but my favorite series will always be the ones with Terre d'Ange in the story. It started with the controversial love affair of Phedre and Joscelin - polar opposites drawn to each other, then followed by the star-crossed royal relationship of Imriel and Sidonie. The Kushiel series was a masterpiece. It created a world where love reigns, no matter how hard or convoluted circumstances, people and relationships can get. Yes, it does sound quite sappy, doesn't it?

Trust me, it's not. The messier the love affair, the higher the stakes... the un-sappier it gets. Death, betrayal, misery, loneliness, greed, ambition..... pretty much all the ugly things were there. BUT, love always transcended when the battle was fought by people who truly believed in it. Very inspiring. When the series ended, I felt so sad because the characters felt so real and it was like saying good-bye to one of my closest friends. That's why when JC released the Naamah series, I was thrilled and excited to make new friends in her new story.

The 3rd part of the Naamah series, Naamah's Blessing, is scheduled to be released on June 29. Just a few short days from now... I suggest that you pre-order a copy already and give yourself a nice gift. Buy some comfort food too while you're at it. You're going to want to spend your undivided attention to reading Naamah's Blessing. To those who haven't read the first and second book of this series, you can go ahead and read this first because JC is awesome that way. She gives some background to the events that transpired in the past, so the reader isn't left floundering about in an ocean of details and information. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy from Net Galley (you guys rock!) and tell you guys what I think of it.

JC's women are always hot.

*spoiler alert*

Anyway, Naamah's Blessing begins with Moirin and her husband, Bao, sailing back to Terre d'Ange with hearts full of uncertainty and sadness. For one, Jehanne, the once-courtesan-turned-queen of Terre d'Ange was dead. She was also the first lady love, rival and unlikely rescuer turned friend of Moirin. See, I told you, love is ever complicated. She visits Moirin in her dreams and bode her to look after her daughter, Desiree. A beautiful child, picture of her mother. Vulnerable and surrounded by politics, intrigue and ambition.

Moirin arrives in Terre d'Ange with a welcome bordering on ostracization. King Daniel is grieving and can't bear to rule the throne nor take care of his daughter. Prince Thierry, gone to Terra Nova, along with Raphael de Meriliot on a foolhardy expedition to the West of the World. An ambitious noble, plotting to put his son on the throne by betrothing him to the Princess Desiree. Let me just say it was a royal mess. Literally.

I'm not going to tell the whole story here because it's worth reading, really so, what happens ultimately, Moirin and Bao set off for Terra Nova to rescue Prince Thierry and bring him back to his rightful place. What I liked about this installment is that Bao was given more of the limelight. He's one character I liked from the start but he didn't get much airtime on the previous two novels. Another character that made the story come to life was a kinsman of Melisande Shahrizai, Balthazar Shahrizai. His sharp sense of humor and involvement throughout the story, made it all the more enjoyable. Another Shahrizai that I fell in love with.

What stuck me as the most poignant thing in the Moirin Trilogy is the focus on different types of religions and how they are all the same but different. Even if what JC writes is fiction, there are some things in that story that I wish were true in the real world. We can all learn from books no matter how fanciful or fantastic they may be. Thank you, JC, for bringing such a world to life.

Your lovestruck lady,
Ladida Lola