Book Review
Dec. 14th, 2023 11:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariSoulstar
by C.L. Polk
Soulstar is the conclusion to the Kingston cycle and is a very satisfying ending. After the witches are freed from the asylums, former nurse Robin Thorpe finds herself taking on leadership of the Free Democracy movement while also working out her relationship with her spouse Zelind, who was confined to an asylum decades ago. Robin works with Chancellor Grace Hensley, who continues and strengthens her fight for and support of sweeping change. These revolutionary activities put both Grace and Robin in danger from both the government and powerful, connected citizens who support and benefit from the status quo.
Polk continues and wraps up all the threads from the previous two books, but the focus is very firmly on the politics and revolution rather than the relationships. The story is a great exploration of a nation's path to redemption and a more just system after perpetrating an atrocity. I liked the way Polk shows the movement using both direct action/protest and existing government systems and processes to effect change. I also liked how Robin and Grace forged not just a good professional relationship but a real friendship despite working for change in very different ways. I do wish that Robin and Zelind's re-establishment of their relationship had a a bit more romance to it, and that we could have seen more of Avia (and her with Grace). Nonetheless it was a very good book and a great example of how radical political change can be done.
by C.L. Polk
Soulstar is the conclusion to the Kingston cycle and is a very satisfying ending. After the witches are freed from the asylums, former nurse Robin Thorpe finds herself taking on leadership of the Free Democracy movement while also working out her relationship with her spouse Zelind, who was confined to an asylum decades ago. Robin works with Chancellor Grace Hensley, who continues and strengthens her fight for and support of sweeping change. These revolutionary activities put both Grace and Robin in danger from both the government and powerful, connected citizens who support and benefit from the status quo.
Polk continues and wraps up all the threads from the previous two books, but the focus is very firmly on the politics and revolution rather than the relationships. The story is a great exploration of a nation's path to redemption and a more just system after perpetrating an atrocity. I liked the way Polk shows the movement using both direct action/protest and existing government systems and processes to effect change. I also liked how Robin and Grace forged not just a good professional relationship but a real friendship despite working for change in very different ways. I do wish that Robin and Zelind's re-establishment of their relationship had a a bit more romance to it, and that we could have seen more of Avia (and her with Grace). Nonetheless it was a very good book and a great example of how radical political change can be done.
