A fascinating, well-written, colorful book that paints a vivid picture of another world with other customs and then, sadly, gets bogged down in its own world-building. The events start with young Humility Garden and her small village near the salt-filled center of her island, named throughout as Salt. Each of the island nations features a center landmass made of salt, with arable land near the coast. The culture has evolved to include the blinding nature of the Salt: the mystics (flamens) are self-initiated by living in this interior until they are blinded, and then are led by their proteges (lemans) throughout their lives.

Humility's story is interwoven with the custom of ghosts, the most beautiful young people of both genders who are destined to become non-living statues in the homes and palaces of the wealthy and the gods. And yet their lives continue as fish-like beings in a giant pool, while more are added by the ghostiers and their apprentices.

The very audacity of the culture of ghostiers, lemans, and gods drew me into this world, as did the transformations which Humility's culture was undergoing. But the convoluted nature of the court and political intrigue became unfathomable the more the book progressed. And then the story would take a fascinating turn and went into unexpected territory that kept me intrigued. Still, balancing the bogged-downedness with fascinating storyline kept my star level at 3 1/2. ( )

I picked up Humility Garden because it was a) free and b)it sounded vaguely interesting.

I was subsequently proven wrong on both accounts.



Humility Gardens betrothed Beau is being taken away to the decaden capital city to be an eternal ghost(no idea) on account of his great beauty,and Humi asks if she can come with him so they go with Godsbrother Sensuality.



This book had a writing style that was like grasping fog.Occassionally you will bump into some piece of worldbuilding but its still a dim view so you cant connect the rest.

But much more than this the reason I decided to DNF this book was because did not want to find out more about this books world where young boys and girls are kept as sexual companions to some mystical persons and the female main character is offhandedly described as being used and submitting for sex one night with no emotional connection.

Persons chosen by the gods to be blessed and or special take advantage of young people for their own pleasures. Hmm why does this leave a bad taste in my mouth...can you guess?

Give me dark fantasies,bleak horror and glimpses into twisted minds but dont excpect me to continue reading a book where such things are met with indifference and acceptance.
( )

Interesting worldbuilding. Good plot, although not gripping. Very annoying ending - I didn't realise that it wasn't a stand alone book. ( )

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1005344.html

I can't remember who recommended this to me or how; for a first novel, published when the author was only 20, it's pretty impressive, a portrayal of a viciously political city with interlocking dynamics of sex, species and death. It isn't as good, though, as Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel books which have a very similar setting, and although it ends with a massive cliff-hanger I am not in a huge rush to track down the sequel. ( )

I still remember this book even though I haven't touched it in 12 years. ( )