I Read Books: Naamah's Kiss
Naamah’s Kiss
Moirin mac Fainche is brought up by her mother in Alba (Fantasy England); she’s one of the Maghuin Dhonn. (see Kushiel’s Justice for more of them). Her father was a D’Angeline priest. She learns a little about the world and magic, then her first love, a prince, dies in a cattle raid. She’s initiated into her people and learns that the bear god they follow has plans for her across the sea. With no better ideas she heads for Terre D’Ange (Fantasy France) to look for her father.
A series of events has her fall in with Raphael de Mereliot, the queen’s lover, and one who wants to use magic. Moirin has the ability to step into the half-world, she can make his circle’s summonings work, to speak to various powers and demons. Meanwhile she is also a descendant of D’Angeline royalty and gets caught up in events at court. Also also she meets Master Lo Feng from Fantasy China who teaches her breathing and meditation, and he has an apprentice Bao.
Things get out of control; the demons are playing with the people summoning them, deliberately misunderstanding the requests to toy with them. Moirin becomes the Queen’s lover, falling out with Raphael. The Queen, the second wife of the king, calms down and stops taking out her temper on servants, mends her differences with the Dauphin (heir to the throne). The last summoning, made as a bargain for Raphael to heal someone, goes wrong, one of the circle dying.
A ship comes from Chin, asking for Master Lo Feng to return; the daughter of the emperor has fallen ill. This turns out to be terrible magic; she is possessed by a dragon, and she murdered her husband on their wedding night; the husband's father is now in rebellion demanding she be brought to justice. This is the fault of Black Sleeve, a magician who is opposed to Master Lo Feng.
Moirin has been brought up in a cave, sometimes not seeing anyone but her mother from season to season. Then when she gets out in the world she’s able to converse, learn languages, bed hop etc. It feels a little convenient for her to have the desire to jump into society and not be too awkward with it. Also she gets given a destiny by her goddess to send her off on her adventures but no details. She’s often just sort of meandering about as events happen around her. I realise this is probably a side effect of her having lived in a cave etc but still. Anyway some solid fantasy fun with one or two moments where it manages to intrigue.
Read This: More fantastical wanderings, more shagging
Don’t Read This: You already tapped out on these books
