There’s a fire creature that might call to mind Calcifer at times for those of us who love Howl’s Moving Castle. Segnbora is wandering with Bad Stuff in her past and an inability to use her abilities for other reasons. Lorn is a king without a kingdom, exiled after usurpation. Herewiss has access to a power men can’t normally wield, and yet he can’t truly call it forth. The fantasy elements are fun enough, if somewhat typical (though that might be partially familiarity with later fantasy). It’s not falsely optimistic: in fact, the way Herewiss and Lorn hurt each other is very real, and recognisable. Despite that, it’s not idyllic: the characters don’t always accept their lovers’ choices, don’t always agree with their actions, do things to hurt one another, etc, etc. (Although alas, I don’t know that the fourth book has progressed at all since I bought them.) It’s a refreshing world where, though people have a duty to provide an heir, sexuality isn’t tightly regulated and once you have provided a child, you can love whom you will - and polyamory is also an option. This was a reread for me, since it’s been so long since I read it, and I want to get on and read the second and third book.
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