Book Review
Dec. 10th, 2023 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariStormsong
by C.L. Polk
This sequel to Witchmark takes up where that book left off, but focuses on Miles' sister Grace. After helping bring down the evil of the aether network, Grace finds herself appointed Chancellor of a government in upheaval. Most of the scions of the aristocracy are in prison and Grace must gain support for her leadership and the sweeping reforms Aeland desperately needs. She also has to keep both a series of devastating storms and societal chaos at bay. In the midst of this, she meets and forms a tentative alliance and budding romance with Avia Jessup, an investigative journalist on the trail of Aeland's secrets.
Stormsong is an astute look at how a new leader navigates the reform and redemption of a nation in crisis. There is a lot of politics and intrigue, all of it really interesting and often exciting. I do wish that the romance wasn't quite so far in the background. Grace was a terrific character and I came to like her quite a lot. The revelations of Witchmark really affected her and changed her path in a good way. She is smart, compassionate, and effective, and it was cool to see her using her abilities for good. I liked how Polk portrays her as someone working within the system to do the right thing and make radical changes and as someone who struggles with how to do it all. Aeland is very clearly modeled after England, but there are a lot of ways in which it evoked post-war Germany as well.
by C.L. Polk
This sequel to Witchmark takes up where that book left off, but focuses on Miles' sister Grace. After helping bring down the evil of the aether network, Grace finds herself appointed Chancellor of a government in upheaval. Most of the scions of the aristocracy are in prison and Grace must gain support for her leadership and the sweeping reforms Aeland desperately needs. She also has to keep both a series of devastating storms and societal chaos at bay. In the midst of this, she meets and forms a tentative alliance and budding romance with Avia Jessup, an investigative journalist on the trail of Aeland's secrets.
Stormsong is an astute look at how a new leader navigates the reform and redemption of a nation in crisis. There is a lot of politics and intrigue, all of it really interesting and often exciting. I do wish that the romance wasn't quite so far in the background. Grace was a terrific character and I came to like her quite a lot. The revelations of Witchmark really affected her and changed her path in a good way. She is smart, compassionate, and effective, and it was cool to see her using her abilities for good. I liked how Polk portrays her as someone working within the system to do the right thing and make radical changes and as someone who struggles with how to do it all. Aeland is very clearly modeled after England, but there are a lot of ways in which it evoked post-war Germany as well.
