Naamah’s Blessing by Jacqueline Carey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The end of Moirin’s trilogy. I gave this book 4 stars even though I only “liked it” instead of “really liked it” because there was too much that I had to give more credit for.
Jacqueline Carey’s ability to spin her tale within completely different cultures in completely different times still astounds me. This story brought our heroes into the Aztec mythology and lands. It was simply fascinating as a setting and my only complaint was the jerky pace at which the story processed. It would slow and then suddenly speed forward and then slow again. It was a little disorienting at times but I understood the reasoning behind it.
Moirin is still not a character of particular interest to me but she was a good enough tool to drive the story forward. The cast surrounding her helps to fill in the gaps of lost interest so it is not a completely painful reading experience. The ending to the main trouble was rather anti-climatic, which always frustrates me but at the same time there is that understanding yet again. There is only so much one can do in this type of setting without making the heroine out to being a god.
All in all, I am not necessarily sad to see this trilogy end. What disappointed me the most was the lack of real, honest references to the main group of characters from the first two sets of trilogies. Some questions were answered (such as if Imriel and Sidonie have children) but there was just a gigantic lack of how their stories truly ended in their lives. It would not have been too difficult to devote a little time within the story to sate the reader with these tidbits as a way of presenting the realm’s history to the heroine. What I will be sad about is if the author does not proceed with this world she has so beautifully crafted and this is truly the end.
