Honor's Paradox

Jame faces the last test of her first (only?) year at Tentir. Torisen continues his slow progress at seeing Shanir gifts as part of the Kencyrath "arsenal" for fighting Perimal Darkness. Several others, including the Commandant of Tentir, face "honor's paradox" -- that is -- when do you obey orders and when do you obey your own moral code? I like that Jame and Timmon and Gorbel have "bonded". All good funn and judging how intently I read this one it has to have the "couldn't put it down" rating. I do have to add that the Baen covers are beyond bad -- Jame is flat-chested! ****1/2

Synopsis I don't know where to begin. Another Equinox festival, another test at the college, more interfering by sundry and sorts.   My Thoughts While this was the most non-cryptic book so far in the series [and it is the latest written to date], it also was the book where I figured out WHY I hate these books so much even as I like them.   The good guys are filled with nothing but indecision and fear and allow themselves to be pushed around without pushing back. The bad guys are always breaking the unwritten rules without any consequences.   That type of disparity always pushes my buttons. I'm a small guy and I learned early on as a teenager that if someone bigger than me hits me, I hit them back twice as hard. 99% of the time, it show more rocked them and shut the situation down. That other 1% sucked, but hey, not everything is perfect, right? ;-) So when I see people just giving in, giving ground, not fighting for what is right, it grates pretty bad on my psyche.   And the story isn't anywhere near finished. So I think I'm done with the Kencyrath world. At the rate the books are being written [started back in '86 I believe], they will never get done.   Author: P.C. Hodgell   Rating: 3 of 5 Stars     Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.com " show less

My biggest problem with the series is that it's come to a screeching halt ever since Tentir. The pace of events seems to have just stopped dead and while we can see where the series is heading it feels like it's going to take forever to get there. This is book 6 of a series started in 1982. I enjoy the series, setting and characters but I would really like some kind of conclusion one day. At the very least I want out of this soldier academy arc because it's boring as anything. We all know she'll succeed. We all know her friends will love her, her enemies will sabotage her. The series was far more interesting when we had one book for one major location and then moved on. It gave us some kind of momentum that felt like things were show more happening.

I also think Tori deserves more time though I realise the books are primarily about Jame, I still want to spend more time with him and Kithrie. show less

Another enjoyable Jamethiel book, but I wish the story had left Tentir behind already.

And this is minor in the way of things, but I hate -hate hate hate- the cover art Baen had done for these books. It doesn't encapsulate the series well at all, and I actually feel a little alienated by it. If I were new to the series, I wouldn't have picked up this book.

Honestly I would rather have her run around on the cover naked, since that would at least be in character for her. It would be awesome if she could actually be mistaken for her slender, cis-bodied brother, which is a recurring plot point throughout the books.

Oops - I missed one!
I got this through interlibrary loan, and thought it was #5 - but it's #6. However, I didn't actually notice that I missed one until I was done. (Yes, there were a few mystifying bits - but Hodgell's writing tends toward those.) Jame is still a randon cadet, establishing her leadership and demanding respect in a difficult situation. I actually thought this one flowed a lot more smoothly than 'To Ride a Rathorn.'

The main theme here is the one referred to in the title: is it more honorable to show loyalty, upholding your vows and your position - or is it more honorable to do what one believes is the correct thing?

Jame continues to struggle with juggling the never-ending politics and intrigue of being a both a Highborn Kencyrath female and a student at the warrior school Tentir - not to mention being tied to the elemental spirits of the wild Merikit n the hills, and having bonded with one of the savage, deadly, vaguely horse-like rathorns. Beset by danger on every side, will bone-deep stubbornness and the ties of friendship and blood be enough to keep Jame alive?

So glad Baen signed Hodgell and we have more of Jame's intricately crafted story to look forward to.

Jame continues her adventures in Tentir and as the Earth Wife's favorite. Her twin Torisen seems to have softened his line on his Shanir relations, but there is hardly a mention of it. Somewhat less episodic that the last volume, it still jumps around a fair amount.