Reading Wednesday: The Steerswoman continues some more

[frayadjacent]

I stopped between The Lost Steersman and The Language of Power while my family was in town, but now I'm back at it.

I'm already almost halfway through The Language of Power and I'm coming to the cold hard realisation that this book is not going to end with any more resolution than its predecessors.  :( I'm loving these books so dearly, but I see now the price for jumping in in the middle of a multi-decade WIP.

That being said, The Outskirter's Secret, which I never really discussed here, has probably been my favorite. Awesome adventure! So much Bel-Rowan hangout fun! Rowan being all out of sorts! Seven thousand mother fucking delightful new characters.

But I did adore Steffie, and Zenna, and the "Demons" in The Lost Steersman, and I am enjoying The Language of Power, especially Rowan and Bel's comfortable dynamic.

One thing: when Janus the lying liar who lies was telling his lie about why he left the Steerswomen, I actually thought it sounded...really familiar. Like, he loves the learning, but he doesn't like adventure, he wants to stay in one place, he wants to be *safe*. And I thought, yeah, that's exactly how I'd feel. I wouldn't want to be a Steerswoman, at least not long or often, but I'd sure love to work in their archives.

Which made his betrayal even that much more sad. :(

Oh, and while I was digging around to remind myself of Janus's name because I forgot it for a second, I saw from Rosemary Kirstein's blog that she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. And apparently her treatment seems to have obliterated it!

Comments

[chaila]

I know, the WIP-ness is perpetually painful. I partially solve this by rereading the whole series once a year, but it's still sad. The Outskirter's Secret is also my favorite! I just love the quest, and all the Rowan and Bel, and Rowan discovering ALL the new things, and all the new characters. It is just a delight! The Lost Steersman is probably the one that's benefited most from rereading though. I liked it the first time but I don't think I fully appreciated it until I'd been through the mad tear of the first read of the series. :)

[frayadjacent]

Ah, good to know! I'm already looking forward to re-reading. :D In fact, when I was traveling with my family in tropical northern Australia, I started fantasizing about a vacation there where I alternate between tropical bushwalking, snorkeling, and re-reading the Steerswoman books.

Honestly, I think these might be my new favorite books. :D