I was initially inclined to give this book more of a chance. However, based on what I've gathered so far, it doesn't seem to be worth it.
To start with, the original premise of Mara devising plans to deal with the Minwanabi clan is quite good. It makes perfect sense that a rising clan led by a clever yet largely untested young widow would be targeted by a rival clan with unpredictable tendencies due to a recent succession. Other clans will stand by and observe, and allegiances may change. So far, so good.
The portrayal of the Midkemians, though, is something I simply cannot tolerate. They are depicted as physically superior beings with no respect for Tsurani culture. They are hypermasculine, tall, and muscular Caucasian stand-ins who bring enlightenment to the short-statured, rigid, and honor-obsessed East Asian stand-ins.
It is hypocritical when Kevin (such a creative name!), a Midkemian war prisoner, begins to lecture on dignity and the meaning of life while simultaneously shitting on his interlocutor's culture and slut-shaming her for wearing a liberal dress code, implying unwanted sexual advances.
And this doesn't even take into account the Midkemians' own form of slavery. It's just putrid, vile sanctimony.
After just around 50 pages, it's already featuring a cocktail of tropes that I absolutely detest: cultural posturing, Orientalism, toxic masculinity, and slut shaming. And from what I've learned, this won't be subverted or averted for the next 650 pages or so. It's just a White dude disrespecting, gaslighting, and insulting his Asian love interest.
It's a great shame because I really wanted to read Janny Wurts' works. I suppose I'll have to look into her other personal works instead.
