Romance and other things

REVIEW ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AT DA AND I PURCHASED THE BOOK

Dear Lyn Gala,

I reviewed the first book  in this series here. This book continues to deepen the relationship between Ondry and Liam, and a significant part of it is also devoted to the relationship with a new human trader/first contact specialist in the midst of human civil war. I would say that the main theme in this story is communication. Communication between two lovers from different species is *fascinating* to me. Rownt’s psychology did have some similarities to humans, but A LOT of very significant differences and I did not feel that you wrote a race that just looks different from humans.

It is a lot of fun to read about Ondry trying to understand some major definitions from human psychology – mostly because he wants to understand Liam better, but also because he wants to conduct more profitable trades for himself and community. After reading this book it was clear to me that wealth is not the most important thing for Rownt – status is. Status seems to be a flexible thing and something that can go up and down depending on the conduct of the trader in many areas of his life. Ondry is young (he is not even 200 years old, Rownt seems to have a thousand-year life span, and some grandmothers live even longer), but he already has a Ka status which he guards jealously, because if Grandmothers (even some of them) continuously refuse call him as Ka, apparently his status could be lowered. Apparently finding palteia for himself is something that added more prestige and status for Ondry as well, since so many Rownt want that but fail to find a palteia and become a chilta.

“Ondry would never admit that to another adult, but to say that his palteia was a brilliant trader was a compliment to himself for having the foresight to have claimed one so intelligent.
“What are you talking about?” Liam asked. “You got the legal documents out of her.”
“And you earned a promise for two trees. Trees are a gift to the city, and you have gifted Janetjay with two sources of cinnamon that will live long after either of us. They will sprout young trees, and cinnamon that will live long after either of us. They will sprout young trees, and cinnamon will be your gift to this world. The value of that…”
Ondry could feel pride pressing against his chest. He pulled Liam close and stroked his neck. One day Ondry hoped to buy a bench, and on it he would inscribe Liam’s name and place it under those trees so all Rownt would remember who had made this gift. It would last far longer than the drapes Ondry had promised the temple, and Ondry’s name would be there alongside Liam’s”

Ondry keeps insisting that Liam is not the same thing as a sexual submissive (I think there are more differences than the similarities, but again opinions may differ). These two cannot have sex the way we understand it anyway – because their sexual organs are not exactly compatible. They do find a way to pleasure each other, but while what Ondry does for Liam may look at least somewhat familiar to you (if you read the m/m books where one partner has tail ), what Liam does for Ondry is not sexual as we understand it at all.

“That elicited a sigh, and Liam shifted, his hot skin pressing against Ondry, “I told you that my people have very little respect for submissives.”
“I still dislike the linguist implications of that world,” Ondry said. If anyone else designated his palteia with a category using the root “sub,” Ondry would be most displeased, and he would likely show that displeasure in rather physical ways. Instinct told Ondry that “palteia” and “submissive” could not be the same. A rational species – and humans had shown every indication of being rational – would not dismiss the value of having one who would serve willingly.”

I guess what I was worried about after book one was the implication that as palteia Liam would have to serve Ondry. I read master/slave stories and have nothing against them, but this series just did not feel like one. Apparently “serving” means conducting trades for Ondry, which is something that brings them both profits – and they both trade anyway, so Liam now works for Ondry. This work seems to be something that he enjoys tremendously and Liam seemed to thrive much more amongst Rownt than he did amongst humans anyway. As I said, they seem to pleasure each other pretty equally, even in a completely different way. Also, Ondry protects Liam from physical threats –fighting is not something that Liam ever enjoyed and I can respect it, not everybody is born to be a soldier. Liam took a linguistic exam because he wanted to escape the horrors of the war in the first place. Basically what I see in this relationship is two beings equally supporting and helping each based on who they are.

The larger communication issue the book explores is Liam and Ondry having up close and personal contact with Susan Diallo – the first contact specialist/trader/military person. I am not sure what to call her, because she can do several things at the same time. I really enjoyed her portrayal – not just because she is a brilliant linguist and brilliant in so many other ways (for example, she understood some complexities in Rownt language after one conversation with Liam). No, what I loved is that at some point Susan screwed up very badly – because of the best intentions but also because of her arrogance. She screwed up so much that Ondry has this desire to kill her, which he has to fight almost till the end of the book and probably in the next book of the series as well. You see, she unintentionally endangered Liam because of her gaffe and Ondry is very unhappy when somebody does that. Very unhappy! Have I mentioned that Rownt are predators and hunters by their basic natures?
Anyway, the author manages to make me still like her, in fact I like her a lot, and I really appreciated that. I could see Susan’s point of view and understand why she made the mistake she did.

At the end of the book Ondry and Liam have a chance to take their trades much further than before and even though the Rownt dislike change (Liam hates change too, maybe that’s another reason he took so much to them), they are both happy and welcome it. I loved the ending and an looking forward to the third book in the series. I think it’s the last one, but of course I can’t be sure.

Grade B+