This is repetitive and has too much overlap with the last 2 books. I'm sick of hearing about Del's song, yawn and the durn quis game.
Only saving grace is gorgeous scene towards end, won't spoil. Otherwise this is mostly a really long and repetitive short story.
Finish the series and stop dragging this nonsense out. ( )

You know when you have a favorite author/series/family that you follow, and you have a pile of books to get to, but you just pick up that old favorite and re-read it instead? That's how I am about this entire Ruby dynasty family invented by Ms. Asaro.

I just reread this book after reading Diamond Star for the first time this past weekend.

I actually teared up this time over some of the mental and emotional suffering that Jabriol Qox III goes through, and how he reconnects with his true family for the briefest of instants for the first and perhaps only time ever.

It's not just the family threads holding this book (and ALL the other books in this sprawling saga) together that appeals to me. There is richly drawn political intrique, very clearly drawn civilizations (one earth, two others that are similar to but much different from actual human beings), and fascinating science (physics, biology and a bit of chemistry). Oh, and music (less so than in Diamond Star, but still).

Don't let the cover dissuade you, seriously.

SPOILER ALERT:

I really really loved the inventive solution of using the game Quis as a story-telling and culture-shaping way of infiltrating all levels of society in two major civilizations and slowly, slowly bringing about change in even the major tenets of those civilizations.

I am left sad and hopeful and wondering if there will be another chapter in the life of this Trader Emperor. Oh, I hope Jabriol reconnects with the other Ruby members again in some universe. Oh, I so hope that he gets to know one day of the true fate of his mother, father and siblings. How I long for some happiness (beyond that which he's found with his empress), true friendship and healing for this powerful, unique, creative and lonely psion.

It's such an enjoyable read. ( )

Carnelians is the 14th books in the Skolian Saga by Catherine Asaro, but not the last in chronological order. Not that it matters any more. What I really liked about this series was that each book was pretty self contained (with the exception of Skyfall and Schism which had to be read together), meaning you could read whatever books in any order without feeling left out. Unfortunately that self-containment of the books is gone. It's gone from an interconnected set of stories to mere chapters in a larger story.

I could not recommend reading Carnelians before reading the preceding two stories. And since I have an abhorrence for the last book (Diamond Star) it hurts me to say that that particular has to be read.

The book is miles better than Diamond Star, it gives forward movement to the relationship between the two empires (but is unfortunately, all about that). Instead of focusing on just one main character, Dehya, Kelric, Jaibriol III, Del-Kurj (ugh), and a new character, Aliana are all followed. It broke the story up. And there were a lot of loose ends tied up, but I know I'd be happier if she found a way to bring Jaibriol II and Soz back from Prism in their self-inflicted exile just to throw everything into complete chaos.

It's a good addition. It's more like a 3.5 star for me. The writing felt off to me, not as polished as before, and there was a lot less of the physics/hard science in this one. The prevalence of quis helped make up for that, since I really enjoy that system of influence/predictions/modelling/communication/etc.

I did like it. I more than liked it, but I didn't *really* like it. Although if I had read it right after Diamond Star I would have probably given it 5 stars.

I'll leave you with the most ridiculous snipped from the book. I nearly put it down after this, it just seemed so corny for the book.

"Nothing would ease his fisted anger, no matter how many providers he whipped, or how many of them he buried his cock inside of. Not even when their screams sent him into the highest transcendence." ugh

( )

Carnelians is the 14th books in the Skolian Saga by Catherine Asaro, but not the last in chronological order. Not that it matters any more. What I really liked about this series was that each book was pretty self contained (with the exception of Skyfall and Schism which had to be read together), meaning you could read whatever books in any order without feeling left out. Unfortunately that self-containment of the books is gone. It's gone from an interconnected set of stories to mere chapters in a larger story.

I could not recommend reading Carnelians before reading the preceding two stories. And since I have an abhorrence for the last book (Diamond Star) it hurts me to say that that particular has to be read.

The book is miles better than Diamond Star, it gives forward movement to the relationship between the two empires (but is unfortunately, all about that). Instead of focusing on just one main character, Dehya, Kelric, Jaibriol III, Del-Kurj (ugh), and a new character, Aliana are all followed. It broke the story up. And there were a lot of loose ends tied up, but I know I'd be happier if she found a way to bring Jaibriol II and Soz back from Prism in their self-inflicted exile just to throw everything into complete chaos.

It's a good addition. It's more like a 3.5 star for me. The writing felt off to me, not as polished as before, and there was a lot less of the physics/hard science in this one. The prevalence of quis helped make up for that, since I really enjoy that system of influence/predictions/modelling/communication/etc.

I did like it. I more than liked it, but I didn't *really* like it. Although if I had read it right after Diamond Star I would have probably given it 5 stars.

I'll leave you with the most ridiculous snipped from the book. I nearly put it down after this, it just seemed so corny for the book.

"Nothing would ease his fisted anger, no matter how many providers he whipped, or how many of them he buried his cock inside of. Not even when their screams sent him into the highest transcendence." ugh

( )