(Nimue, review)
Book 3 in Claudie Arseneault's The Chronicles of Nerezia is out on the 9th of September. I reviewed the first two books over here - https://druidlife.wordpress.com/2024/05/02/fantastic-fiction/
You do need to read these in order, as the story unfolds and world building develops with it. The characters are all growing, learning and deepening their relationships, too. This is uplifting fantasy fiction, centred on a mobile, queer platonic household. Thoughtful, warm, affirming, imaginative and a really good comfort read. It's not a demanding book, but at the same time will give you a lot to think about.
The third tale takes us into an unfamiliar costal city where the Sea Spirit Festival is under way – a mysterious ritual that happens about once a decade, and that raises far more questions than it answers.
If you like fantasy where the solution is not always about violence, then this is for you. There is action in this series, there are fights, but the answers have to be found other ways. Community, helping each other and cooperative answers are very much at the heart of this, which is what makes it so cheering to read. There's a strong underpinning plotline that we're being fed slowly – a huge mystery about the history of this world, and the apparently dangerous 'fragments' that haunt it. But, the telling is character-centric, and all about individuals finding their way through the challenges together. I really like the main character, who is trying to figure emself out, and whose deep goodness gets them into trouble rather a lot.
If you fancy some time in a world where civilized people think sharing your pronouns is just polite… if you want friendship-centred fiction, imaginative adventures and plenty of fantastical elements, this is for you. I very much enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next instalment.
You can find out more on the author's website - https://claudiearseneault.com/the-sea-spirit-festival/
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