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Fallowtide #6
Dragons' Fealty
A SPRING HOMECOMINGWhen he attended their wedding in summer, Lisinthir Lauvet Imthereli, Third of the Chatcaavan Empire, promised his cousins they would see him in spring for the birth of his heirs on Eldritch soil, and to attend the birth of theirs. He returns to a world and a people reviving from their long a new navy; the rescue of their suffering acreage; and the burgeoning of a tenant culture revolving around the new communications and travel networks.But a prince and a culture aren't the only things making their return. When a mistake made in the summer season comes back to haunt them, Lisinthir will discover himself torn between warring allegiances... and someone else will have to pay the price. Will their enemies succeed in blighting the promise of the season? Book 1 of 2 of Lisinthir's Heirs
- GenresScience Fiction
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2021
About the author
M.C.A. Hogarth
138 books382 followersDaughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 21, 2021
About the time I finished reading Dreamhearth, I happened on a giveaway for a couple of Hogarth's other books, and got them. It turned out that they're very late on in things, and there is a warning up front about other books to read first. I spent a couple days deciding if I was going to leap into things here, and eventually did.
I was a bit surprised to find Jahir and Vasiht'h here, and in much changed circumstances. I figure Dreamstorm would help explain a lot of that, but....
In fact, it's obvious the galaxy in general has been a fairly busy place over the last several years. It takes some digging to find out that it's been about a dozen years since the last I've seen the duo, and while Jahir is fairly important, there's plenty of other characters that are more central to the plot, including some obviously returning villains.
So, I had a fair amount of figuring out to do, and I certainly don't recommend starting here. Hogarth recommends Healer's Wedding as the start point in the note at the beginning of the book, though that one mentions it's bringing together characters from Her Instruments and Princes' Game as well as the Dreamhealers series, so getting into everything could be quite an undertaking, and cutting the Gordian Knot here might not be an entirely bad answer (...though I think I'd probably still recommend cutting it a bit earlier than this).
At any rate, here is where I did start, and things did largely make sense, though with a lot of backfill to be done, and in many cases only a sketchy idea of the large cast of characters. So if you want to start here as I did, go ahead, it will work out.
Overall, the flow was good, and I picked up momentum after a rocky start to a nicely dramatic ending. I've gotten very used to trilogies over the decades, and it is very nice to see Hogarth do duologies that split very well, with a very natural stopping point for the first book.
I was a bit surprised to find Jahir and Vasiht'h here, and in much changed circumstances. I figure Dreamstorm would help explain a lot of that, but....
In fact, it's obvious the galaxy in general has been a fairly busy place over the last several years. It takes some digging to find out that it's been about a dozen years since the last I've seen the duo, and while Jahir is fairly important, there's plenty of other characters that are more central to the plot, including some obviously returning villains.
So, I had a fair amount of figuring out to do, and I certainly don't recommend starting here. Hogarth recommends Healer's Wedding as the start point in the note at the beginning of the book, though that one mentions it's bringing together characters from Her Instruments and Princes' Game as well as the Dreamhealers series, so getting into everything could be quite an undertaking, and cutting the Gordian Knot here might not be an entirely bad answer (...though I think I'd probably still recommend cutting it a bit earlier than this).
At any rate, here is where I did start, and things did largely make sense, though with a lot of backfill to be done, and in many cases only a sketchy idea of the large cast of characters. So if you want to start here as I did, go ahead, it will work out.
Overall, the flow was good, and I picked up momentum after a rocky start to a nicely dramatic ending. I've gotten very used to trilogies over the decades, and it is very nice to see Hogarth do duologies that split very well, with a very natural stopping point for the first book.
September 28, 2021
[Review for both books of this duology, which is functionally 1 book split in 2]
Sometimes I wonder if there will come a time where I, atheist, am put off Hogarth's work by its overt religiosity. Then I notice that her christ figures thus far have included a poly, demisexual masochist space elf (Jahir, in Prince's Game) and here an and I say no, we're good. The compassion and grace she writes with, combined with a hard-edged militarism - that ALSO rubs me the wrong way at times - is somehow, oddly, like catnip.
Here we get the resolution of the Fallowtide period, with the immediate plotlines of Eldritch and Chatcaavan characters wrapped up. Some high stakes here (finally Beth's plotline is resolved), but also plenty of page space spent catching up with old friends and new. Particularly hope we see more of Tolden, and the Attendant has shown, in his own implacably gentle way, that he's deserving of some more of the narrative spotlight. Looking forward to what I expect is a timeskip and the arrival of a looming threat when we return to these characters.
Sometimes I wonder if there will come a time where I, atheist, am put off Hogarth's work by its overt religiosity. Then I notice that her christ figures thus far have included a poly, demisexual masochist space elf (Jahir, in Prince's Game) and here an and I say no, we're good. The compassion and grace she writes with, combined with a hard-edged militarism - that ALSO rubs me the wrong way at times - is somehow, oddly, like catnip.
Here we get the resolution of the Fallowtide period, with the immediate plotlines of Eldritch and Chatcaavan characters wrapped up. Some high stakes here (finally Beth's plotline is resolved), but also plenty of page space spent catching up with old friends and new. Particularly hope we see more of Tolden, and the Attendant has shown, in his own implacably gentle way, that he's deserving of some more of the narrative spotlight. Looking forward to what I expect is a timeskip and the arrival of a looming threat when we return to these characters.
November 19, 2021
I have learned to expect certain things from the Jaguar: excellent character development, a richly realized world, and (many) moments that leave me reaching for tissues. This book delivers all of that and more, turned up to eleven.
Not a stand-alone story, by any means, and it doesn't claim to be. At bare minimum the Prince's Game summary is required background. Familiarity with, well, most of the Peltedverse series is very helpful. So you should absolutely go read them first. Grab Earthrise or Mindtouch and start reading. Go on. It's well worth the journey. We'll be here with cookies and a big bowl of "I know, right?" when you get back.
Not a stand-alone story, by any means, and it doesn't claim to be. At bare minimum the Prince's Game summary is required background. Familiarity with, well, most of the Peltedverse series is very helpful. So you should absolutely go read them first. Grab Earthrise or Mindtouch and start reading. Go on. It's well worth the journey. We'll be here with cookies and a big bowl of "I know, right?" when you get back.
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February 17, 2023Excellent sci fi adventure
But the grim parts overshadow the happy parts. I love Ran and Juzie, Tolden, and the Guardkin, but the Beth and Amber arc has become tiresome. Amber just can't be that blind and stupid. Reading the previous books is absolutely necessary, although I read the Princes' Game summary.
But the grim parts overshadow the happy parts. I love Ran and Juzie, Tolden, and the Guardkin, but the Beth and Amber arc has become tiresome. Amber just can't be that blind and stupid. Reading the previous books is absolutely necessary, although I read the Princes' Game summary.
September 13, 2021
Yet another excellent book in Ms. Hogarth's epic saga(s)
M.C.A. Hogarth never fails to deliver top-of-the-line plotting, action, and character development in all her series. I know I will be rereading this book and its sequel many times.
M.C.A. Hogarth never fails to deliver top-of-the-line plotting, action, and character development in all her series. I know I will be rereading this book and its sequel many times.
September 14, 2021
Yaaaaay! So glad there is more of this universe to explore!
I. Love. These. Characters! I danced when I saw there were two new installments to the pelted-verse! My only complaint is they are too short! I want more!
I. Love. These. Characters! I danced when I saw there were two new installments to the pelted-verse! My only complaint is they are too short! I want more!
May 9, 2022
My goodness, this was quite a story! Very moving, and I'm very much looking forward to Book 2!
December 3, 2022
I wish I could spend less time with Beth but I am happy to see Amber getting wise to her. I hope he eventually breaks free entirely. Things got difficult towards the end and I am looking forward to the sequel to see how it pans out. However it ended on a hopeful note and there was much to be enjoyed along the way. Really enjoying the character growth of Ran and Juzie. I never dreamed when we met them as toddlers back in Family that they would be featured again as they grow into such interesting characters.
April 21, 2022
I'm rounding up a little.
This most welcome continuation of several intertwined series will be a must-read for fans of those series -- and would be a confusing place to begin any of them. We have lovely quiet moments and harrowing dramatic ones. I've actually read this twice, which is worthwhile for the deftly included foreshadowing at multiple points.
It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but it will definitely leave the reader eager for Book 2. Fortunately, it's available.
This most welcome continuation of several intertwined series will be a must-read for fans of those series -- and would be a confusing place to begin any of them. We have lovely quiet moments and harrowing dramatic ones. I've actually read this twice, which is worthwhile for the deftly included foreshadowing at multiple points.
It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but it will definitely leave the reader eager for Book 2. Fortunately, it's available.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews