If you really like Modesitt's day by day, meal by meal, every outfit described, righteous man who respects women who has perfect female associate/wife, well this book is for you. It is not a patch on The Hands of the Emperor despite some superficial resemblances. It is also too long, but other than previously specified caveats, relatively painless. Well, unless heavy constant dosing of liberal agenda politics in a made up universe is personally painful, then the book would be positively agonizing. ( )

A new and fascinating Modesitt world!

Entering a new Modesitt world always fills me with goose bumps of expectancy. What intriguing differences might this place hold? The opening events throw us right into the thick of things. And Yes, there’s that familiar cadence Modesitt brings to his works. Complex places without question. A troubled society, with different groups jockeying for power. Political / social divisions that are out of kilter demanding change and justice. I sigh with relief as the prose wraps around me. I know this rhythm. There’s echos of tropes from other tales but given a wholly new and mesmerising sheen.
The characters begin to take shape. Steffan Dekkard, an Isolate and Avraal Ysellla, an Empath are employed by Councilor Axel Obreduur the Leader of the Craft Party, as his security aides.
Dekkard has that restrained air of someone who is more. Someone comfortable with themselves. It’s through his eyes the country of Guldor unfurls. Ysella is more mysterious, politically aware, with hidden depths. But very knowledge about the political process. (I do so appreciate the the male and female hero’s Modesitt gives us!) Councilor Obreduur is enlightened, forward thinking and plays the long game. He encourages his aides to question and to think. I really liked that about him.
Guldor appears to be a place where groups are sorted by trades and psychic abilities. The social heirachy is well defined and appears immutable.
Empies or empathetics can sense intent, manipulate feelings, and inflict harm.
Isolates can’t be manipulated and are mostly teamed with empies as security agents for Corporacions (I love the spelling BTW), CEO’s and political leaders.
Susceptibles or Sussies are those who appear to be expendable. They can be easily influenced by Empathetics and in dark times were used as indentured servants. In other countries they still are.
The Great Charter (playing off the Magna Carta) is a charter of rights setting out how society should run. However it seems to have been cannibalized away from its original purpose in favour of, yes you’ve guessed it, the Corporacions and the Commerce Party. The Charter is both a best friend to the society’s running and an enemy, depending on interpretation. Maybe the subtitle says it all.
There is a ruling monarch type figure, The Imperador. He can call for elections and take action in the political scape where absolutely necessary, such as a huge political scandal.
There are three parties: the Commerce Party, the Craft Party and the Landor Party. The Commerce Party currently holds leadership. The Premier of the country is the leader of the party in power. How to bring about leadership change and elections is the challenge facing the Craft Party.
However there’s a revolution hatching by an entity known as the New Meritorists. They feel that councilors should be elected by merit of their vote, and not by party politics. They want it seems more accountability. Demonstrations have been swiftly and harshly dealt with. Disruptive action on major resources and infrastructures are targeted. They appear to be coming more violent. Mind you the actions of the Security Ministry are atrocious.
Elements of Guldor are more in tune with the Gaslamp fantasy trope with vehicles powered by steam. There’s the search for alternative power sources. Now that resonates with me. There’s coal shortages and trade deficits. That too! Hmm!
Do I see a running commentary on todays society? Well commerce is King. Corporacions and councilors are all powerful. Goods are being made cheaper by slave labor in other countries and imported in unfair competition with the Artisan community. The press is hardly free and the landed class is giving way to big coporacions. The artisan community represented by the Craft Party is on the rise. The status quo is changing. For the better?
Once again the deeper I get into a Modesitt novel the more I’m intrigued. (I was fascinated by the segue into tulip petals as a substitute for onions. I looked it up. It was a food source during World War II in Holland in famine times, although the bulbs are poisonous unless treated properly.)
I am so enjoying the unique setting of Modisett’s latest novel and must confess to some impatience for the next in the series. Be calm my beating heart!

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley ( )