Seeker's Mask

Book 3 of the Chronicles of the Kencyrath and they are getting better. Torisen, Jame's brother, is still a far more compelling person, as are many of the other people around Jame. But often the pivotal character, since they appear to be swept up in a Destiny (with a capital D) seem less dynamic. My main complaint is that Jame really doesn't eat or sleep enough. Seriously, it gets tiresome. In this story Jame is relegated to the Women's world where they all wear masks (even with one another) and they swear by one set of rules (be quiet and subordinate) and yet the matriarchs of each family group are anything but. Since Jamethiel's betrayal women have been increasingly sidelined and squashed but as far as Jame (and I agree) can see all it show more has done is make a pressure-cooker from where, perhaps, many of the current Kencyrath troubles arise. There are still some awkwardnesses, here and there, and I do better when I don't think too much about the almost inconsistencies (such as the abundance of very powerful women and women soldiers who don't wear masks or silly outfits in which they can barely walk). I am still confused too about the levels and degrees of the Kencyrath "shanir" with special powers, why some are "good" and some "bad" but maybe I'll figure it out one of these days. I think Hodgell knows, but somehow it hasn't quite come across, or I missed something. The story is lively and original and I'm sufficiently into it to be fully committed. **** show less

Jame is left with the Matriarchs and her twin's unwelcome term consort and all does not, as could have been predicted, go smoothly. An attack by assassins sets off the story which has people and buildings flowing hither and thither on the weirding fogs. The strange and incongruous is much more smoothly handled in this third volume though some of the important bits still have to be dug up for this reader with a tendency to skim, The humor has improved though it sometimes seems sitcom, yes we know it's going to happen, slapstick.

The sequel to God Stalk and Dark of the Moon is classic high fantasy, it's rich, complex and beautiful. The enthusiastic forward is by Charles De Lint and it's completely justified. I am utterly in love, I finished it, paused for half a day, and started again at the beginning. After locating her her twin brother Highlord Torison, Jame has been swept up in the mire that is Kencyr politics. The Women's Hall wants her obedient, her brother's consort wants her broken, his noblemen want her hand, and the Assassins guild want her dead. So off she sets; with a blind ounce (read big cat) for company, a couple of highly dangerous magical artifacts, the ghost of her sadistic half brother Bane, and some unreliable and possibly demonic magical show more powers, what could possibly go wrong? show less

You know, while I'm enjoying these books overall, I'm also confused as heck. Something that is given 1 or 2 sentences in a previous book suddenly takes on a larger and more important role. But it isn't written for us the reader to make that transition easily. Instead, Hodgell writes in this confusing, round a bout manner that is starting to infuriate me. I am finding that these books ALMOST seem to be written for the re-reader and not the initial reader.

That being said, I did enjoy this. There are times where Jame does/says/thinks something that just makes me laugh out loud. Lots of action, adventure and drama. It is just that things aren't fleshed out for us. Which is why I think a re-read in 10 years time will do wonders for my show more attitude towards this author. show less

A sequel to "God Stalk" and "Dark of the Moon," "Seeker's Mask" is definitely the best of the three - one can definitely see Hodgell really finding her stride, and moving ahead with both characterization and plot.
At the outset of this book, Jame has finally found her brother, Torisen, but unfortunately, he really doesn't know what to do with her. Having grown up partly in the sinister realm of Perimal Darkling and then as apprentice thief and tavern dancer, Jame is far from the typical meek and obedient highborn Kencyr lady. Regardless, Tori has her escorted to the women's quarters – and tries to forget about her. Unfortunately, not only does Jame not fit in socially, the women's quarters are also home to her brother's consort, show more noblewoman of an enemy house. But the jealous and bitter Kallistyne may be one of the more minor dangers awaiting Jame, as old blood feuds awaken. Soon Jame is on the run, in a danger-filled quest of self-discovery and family reconciliation, where, of course, the fate of worlds may hang in the balance. show less

This complex and dark continuation of P.C. Hodgell's Kencyr series starts with heroine Jame trying to learn to fit in as a Highborn lady as her station seems to dictate; a cloistered, restricted, obedient life that utterly clashes with her personality and nature.

The only surviving Highborn lady of her house, she finds the women of the other houses conspiring against her and assassins after her life. Moreover, neglected responsibilities tug at her, and natural catastrophes begin to tear the Riverland apart.

Hodgell's complex story and world lead me to recommend that you read the two preceding novels, "God Stalk" and "Dark of the Moon", before this one, and you might want to have the sequel, "To Ride a Rathorn", on hand as well.

This one show more is probably the unhappiest book of the series, with Jame feeling out-of-place and hurting for most of the novel, but things end on a more upbeat note and lead into the much more upbeat fourth novel. It's also perhaps the most densely packed of the novels, and rewards rereading. It's a novel of transition, of learning to make one's own way, of growing into one's abilities.

Dedicated fans may enjoy the Kencyr Wiki at http://kencyr.wikia.com/ which is working toward the goal of a comprehensive encyclopedia of Hodgell's world. show less

Jame's story picks up a couple of years after the end of Dark of the Moon. As a highborn Kencyr female, custom dictates Jame's confinement to the matriarchy of the Woman's Hall. As the last living Knorth woman, her ambiguous position puts her at risk not only from the women around her, but from assassins bound to carry out an decades old, unfilled contract. Nightmares stalk Jame's dreams, and haunt her brother, the HighLord, as well. With Weirding mist closing round, and assassins closing in, Hodgell cranks the tension still higher with Bane's return. (And that's barely the beginning!)

This is definitely not the volume in which to join Jame's story, but it's a crackerjack continuation. Make sure you have the final volume, To Ride a show more Rathorn close by, unless you're a fan of delayed gratification. show less