The Sovereign - BookWyrm

Paperback, 592 pages

Published by Orbit.

ISBN:: 978-0-316-54288-3

The Sovereign brings princess Luca and soldier Touraine together one last time in the thrilling conclusion to C. L. Clark’s beloved queer political fantasy trilogy.

Luca is the new queen of Balladaire. Her empire is already splintering in her hands. Her uncle wasn’t the only traitor in the court, and the Withering plague will decimate her people if she can’t unearth Balladaire’s magic. The only person who can help her wants the only thing Luca won’t give—the end of the monarchy.

Touraine is Luca’s general. She has everything she ever wanted. While Luca looks within Balladaire’s borders, Touraine looks outward—the alliance with Qazal is brittle and Balladaire’s neighbors are ready to pounce on its new weakness. When the army comes, led by none other than Touraine’s old lover, Touraine must face the truth about herself—and the empire she once called home.

A storm is coming. Touraine and …

The Sovereign brings princess Luca and soldier Touraine together one last time in the thrilling conclusion to C. L. Clark’s beloved queer political fantasy trilogy.

Luca is the new queen of Balladaire. Her empire is already splintering in her hands. Her uncle wasn’t the only traitor in the court, and the Withering plague will decimate her people if she can’t unearth Balladaire’s magic. The only person who can help her wants the only thing Luca won’t give—the end of the monarchy.

Touraine is Luca’s general. She has everything she ever wanted. While Luca looks within Balladaire’s borders, Touraine looks outward—the alliance with Qazal is brittle and Balladaire’s neighbors are ready to pounce on its new weakness. When the army comes, led by none other than Touraine’s old lover, Touraine must face the truth about herself—and the empire she once called home.

A storm is coming. Touraine and Luca will stand against it together, or it will tear them apart once and for all.

1 edition

Jaelyn reviewed The Sovereign by C. L. Clark (Magic of the Lost, #3)

She was changing it ... by making them reckon with her prescence.

5 stars

As someone who tends to prefer stand alone stories, it has been a long time since I have anticipated the conclusion to a trilogy like this and perhaps the first time I have reserved one in advance.

But Touraine is someone who has captivated me as a character grappling with their identity under colonialism. This reflects both in the realm of empires and on a personal level with Luca. And while that relationship on the surface is characterised by Luca's royal status, it is as true for any interpersonal relationship where you have differing colonial legacies.

This final book deftly brings to a head how Touraine has to choose who she defines herself by the future she builds. Notably, by changing her colonial culture "by making them reckon with her presence". I am also so happy with how it has been resolved. All too often historic fantasies based …

As someone who tends to prefer stand alone stories, it has been a long time since I have anticipated the conclusion to a trilogy like this and perhaps the first time I have reserved one in advance.

But Touraine is someone who has captivated me as a character grappling with their identity under colonialism. This reflects both in the realm of empires and on a personal level with Luca. And while that relationship on the surface is characterised by Luca's royal status, it is as true for any interpersonal relationship where you have differing colonial legacies.

This final book deftly brings to a head how Touraine has to choose who she defines herself by the future she builds. Notably, by changing her colonial culture "by making them reckon with her presence". I am also so happy with how it has been resolved. All too often historic fantasies based around monarchies end in a victory for the status quo or a benevolent dictator. Finally here we have a proper, messy, conversation around what real change looks like. Not just as far as the world goes, but how we've seen the monarchy impact Luca and Touraine really shows how there is no just exercise of imperialism.

As conclusions go, for both the individuals and the world, this is perhaps the most thoughtful understanding of power and corruption I've read.

Still here after the colonialism part? Good, so it's also hot. As much as narrative and the worldbuilding is all beautiful; Sabine holds a special place in my heart. I didn't get why people weren't talking about her more after the second book. That charming wine making fencer seducing every girl around her and eyeing up threesomes... she stole my heart. Chapter 15 was... mmmmmm long awaited. And as much as I expected the ending, I still cursed loudly when it came.