Castles Made of Sand (Gollancz)

[b:Castles Made of Sand|2910238|Castles Made of Sand (Bold as Love, #2)|Gwyneth Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352313082l/2910238._SY75_.jpg|352899] is my favourite book in the [b:Bold as Love|1118463|Bold as Love (Bold as Love, #1)|Gwyneth Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327928608l/1118463._SY75_.jpg|1105495] series and one of my favourite novels of all time. Yet it's quite difficult for me to review. I've already explained the reasons for my love of the series and for rereading now while reviewing [b:Bold as Love|1118463|Bold as Love (Bold as Love, #1)|Gwyneth show more Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327928608l/1118463._SY75_.jpg|1105495]. What makes [b:Castles Made of Sand|2910238|Castles Made of Sand (Bold as Love, #2)|Gwyneth Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352313082l/2910238._SY75_.jpg|352899] the best, in my view, is the incendiary combination of extremely tense plot and incredible relationship drama. Both are truly epic. Ax, Sage, and Fiorinda attempt to negotiate a poly romance while also dealing with green Nazis, evil wizards, the destruction of the internet, and climate refugees. While the first book establishes the characters, setting, politics, and music brilliantly, this one that really got me in the feelings. The Triumvirate love each other so much!!

As usual, I am much less able to articulate my response to a book when it was predominantly emotional. Rereading for the first time in more than ten years, I found myself still caring intensely about the sufferings and triumphs of the three main characters. Although there are four more books in the series (and perhaps another still to come), the first two form a lovely self-contained narrative with a wholly satisfying conclusion. The first scene of [b:Castles Made of Sand|2910238|Castles Made of Sand (Bold as Love, #2)|Gwyneth Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352313082l/2910238._SY75_.jpg|352899] continues the final scene of [b:Bold as Love|1118463|Bold as Love (Bold as Love, #1)|Gwyneth Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327928608l/1118463._SY75_.jpg|1105495], so I would definitely recommend reading the two together. [b:Castles Made of Sand|2910238|Castles Made of Sand (Bold as Love, #2)|Gwyneth Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352313082l/2910238._SY75_.jpg|352899] rewired my brain when I was 17 and is one of a small handful of books I've kept for more than twenty years. I simply adore it; Gwyneth Jones set the standard that I compare all near-future sci-fi and epic romance to. show less

Liked this one a lot. It speeds up a bit towards the end and at that point I didn't want to stop reading, whereas some of the earlier parts were a bit slower and less totally engrossing. Particularly liked the fact that although Fiorinda was in a very tight corner that could easily have been played as passive captivity, in fact she is very active in her own rescue and the final triumph of the good guys.