The widow's house

I continue to adore this series. Though The Widow’s House has notable flaws (and note them I‌ will), it still has the delightful characters that I was glad to revisit and the interesting ideas that make this series unique.

Those ideas are even more relevant than ever. The way that false certainty (spread via ancient magic) has plunged the world into an unending war, and the same kings and priests that perpetuate that war can’t recognize the evil that they’re doing strikes a chord with anybody who has watched the endless pointless American wars of the last few decades.

Much of The Widow’s House shows us the consequences of that war:‌ it’s unsustainable, but the religion of the Antean Empire won’t let them see it. The Empire lacks the manpower to control all the territory its increasingly worn-out army is conquering, and famine looms. Meanwhile, the religion itself begins to fracture as it spreads to new cities and their dogmas diverge. It’s clear to everybody except those who matter that this holy war is about to turn into a civil one.

It’s always a pleasure to revisit these characters. The soldier and captain Marcus’s dry professional wit is the obvious star, but Cithrin and Clara are also compelling as they struggle to change the world using the non-military tools available to them. Geder has grown into a villain for our current age:‌ a man-child driven by insecurity and self-pity to acts of towering horror.

I greatly enjoyed the dragon Inys, who plays a large part. His disdain for humans and morose navel-gazing (if dragons had navels) contrast amusingly to the increasing desperation of the mere humans who need his help.

I’m less enthused about Cithrin’s grand scheme to (effectively)‌ invent a modern financial system as a bulwark against the Empire’s expansion. We have that in the real world and while its merits are debatable, prevention of wars and empires isn’t one of them.

The writing is even clunkier than the previous books. There were several passages that I‌ had to reread several times to parse. I‌ enjoy these books enough to soldier through, but it would have benefited from a closer edit.

Also worse than the previous books was the structure as a novel. The beginning feels like a continuation of the last book, and there isn’t much of a climactic ending. There is drama in between, but there’s nothing like the stinging cliffhangers of the previous books.

But that doesn’t matter too much, because I am certainly going to read the next (and final) book. I love the world and characters and the spin on fantasy tropes is still fresh four books in.

He whispered, softly enough that not even Sabiah could hear him, "I don't want to do this anymore."

Am I sympathizing with Geder? While this series continues to be a great read with wonderful characters Geder is the reluctant, but entirely aware of his role, villain I enjoy. His juxtaposition between power and immaturity is excellent and I look forward to each chapter of his.

The power should have been freeing. Instead, it weighed him down.

The most dangerous person in the realm who has no true friends and is causing a war that grips all borders because of a girl. What I enjoy is the simple reason why Geder is so upset, yet he imagines conspiracies that don't exist, jumps at shadows and can still claim that what he is doing is right.

Violence made the landmarks of his personal city. Perhaps even of this world.

Geder will abandon civic duties to care for Jorey's family in their time of need because he wants to show he cares for his friend but none of it is reciprocated. Geder acknowledges his loneliness and comments on how absurd it all is, but he's stuck and all he can do is flex military muscle and continue to misunderstand fear for respect.

Absence of evidence which forms the core of speculation requires the absence of judgement.

The lines of right and wrong are blurred based on the perspective of the person and I enjoy seeing a character act on what they believe is honest and right intentions. The blind faith servants and enslaved put in to the spider goddess and their obedience because there is absence of evidence walks a fine line between fiction and non-fiction.

"So you shall be my Stomcrow. Murmus Stormcrow."

"Marcus."

"Marcus Stormcrow."

Cities fall, the devastating affects of battle have crossed the countryside and overall the story is pretty bleak. Because of that I have appreciated the bits of humour that lighten the mood. They are fleeting but they exist.

Inys' usage in the story has been just the right amount. Inys can't cross the continent in hours and has been shown as a liability in battle. A dragon would have been such an easy Deus ex Machina for the story and I'm grateful that Abraham has avoided that pitfall.

When I am drunk, I have hope. When I am sober, I am too much of a coward to let myself die.

This is probably my favorite book of the series to date and I'm excited to carry on in to the finale.

I highlighted more sentences than I know what do with them in this review so I'll add them below because they are too good to discard.

Humanity has been struggling for power and advantage since the last time a dragon flew. Perhaps before. I don't see the need for a grand plot to explain what's normal.

We can't win by fighting, because fighting is what the enemy wants of us.

I think war's like fire. It goes where it wants more often than where you'd have wanted it to.