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Picking up where Breath
of Earth left off, we find Ingrid Carmichael determined to
stop the plans of the evil kitsune, Ambassador Blum, whose
goal is nothing short of world domination. The alternate world
of these novels is fascinating, a world where a confederation
of the United States and Japan uses magical-fueled technology
against their enemies, and they've decided their primary enemy
is the beleaguered Chinese in America. This adds a painful
and gritty element to the stories, that could easily become
unreadably grim, but though the situation is dire and the
reader definitely feels the pain of the abused, the novels
do a good job of mixing gritty moments with those of hope
and victory. Ingrid is a strong heroine with a driving love
for the people close to her, an unwavering moral code, and
a fascinating magical power tied to the earth and fantastic
beings the live within it. The addition of such wonderful
mythical creatures as kirin, kitsune, and thunderbirds add
to the feeling that this isn't the usual fantasy novel. The
series is also a love story, though at no time does that eclipse
the action and seriousness of the plot. Instead, Ingrid’s
relationship with Cy gives her a very human connection as
she continues to learn about her abilities and destiny. Uniquely
political, brilliantly historical, and surprisingly appropriate
today, this series is sure to fascinate. Because of the complexity
of the world, readers are best served by beginning with Breath
of Earth before moving on to this terrific sequel.
Reviews
of other titles in this series
Breath
of Earth #1
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