Saskia and her sisters are desperately trying to find the
lost pieces of the totem pole which could have dire consequences for all
shapeshifters if it is not found.
But not only do they have to contend with the person who
stole the pole in the first place – but the pieces’ magic are causing many
supernatural threats to arise
So when she and Sedge, the Reincarnation of the Great
Bear Spirit come across a native village under attack due to the totem’s magic.
They have to fight to protect them – but Saskia is worried about being pulled
back in under Sedge’s influence.
I really hate these two characters together – because a
lot of it is the very essence of a destructive romance. On the plus side we don’t
actually reach a romance this book – but the whole framework of a romance is
there complete with clichéd “I don’t want anything to do with you we’re over
but zomg so hawt so hawt” which is definitely a foundation for romance so
often.
Saskia and Sedge may have history, may have been in a
relationship but they split up because Saskia decided to end the relationship –
and yes, I get that we’re supposed to disagree with her reasoning (and I do,
yes I do) but it’s still her choice, her reasoning, her decision. But I think
because we’re expected to disagree with her reasoning and know she wants him
really – so his constant pushing against her “no” is ok.
Like the concept of Taboos – there are taboos people are
supposed to follow in accordance with the Inuit beliefs (I don’t know how true
this is due to my own ignorance of Inuit beliefs) and while major spirits like
Sedge (who is Bear) usually let violations go – when Saskia last broke a taboo
he took her to a cave and they had lots of sex… which is a dubious “punishment”
to begin with and raises questions of consent. Now she scrupulously follows all
taboos knowing he is waiting for an excuse… Waiting for an excuse? This does
not sound remotely consensual. Add in her having to meet him in human form –
because she would be too submissive to him as a bear.
And yes, she is avoiding that – but there’s no treatment of that behaviour as what it is: nor is there any real challenge of his machinations to bring them back together. Oh she’s angry about it – but they’re not remotely treating it with the severity it deserves and I can feel the trajectory towards the romance with this man who doesn’t seem to have the slightest respect for her.
It’s a shame that this relationship is here because
otherwise we could focus more on the beliefs of the Inuit and the creatures we
see here which, I presume (again, I can’t stress enough my own ignorance here)
which are drawn from their mythology and beliefs and practices. We could focus
more on the shapeshifters and Black Shamans and even on the main plot that has
been pending now for a couple of books of finding the parts of the missing
totem and the consequences (the unspecified consequences) towards all
shapeshifters is that happens.
This is similar to what I said about Silent
Whispers, there’s a lot of good things here. There are some excellent
characters – from Saskia’s conflicted opinions in regards to the Black Shamans
to what it means for Sedge to be Bear, to what being a Black Shaman or even a
werecreature even means, to more exploration of the creatures and beliefs that
populate this book and the previous one. On the one hand I can understand the
temptation not to infodump excessively but we’re only getting the bare bones or
the plot for the last 3 books. It’s an issue that’s only exacerbated by this
world being so interesting, the plots ones I want expanding and the characters
and setting being so very different from what I’ve seen in many other places. The
fact it’s not expanded seems a shame when that is what makes this series
unique. And the romances? They’re sadly pretty typical and not all that
interesting.
We do have a number of Inuit characters and the story
draws from Inuit mythology (again, I stress that I absolutely cannot speak as
to the accuracy or authenticity of this). But they are background characters
and deeply subservient, even worshipful, of the main characters.
Sedge is the reincarnation of the Totem spirit, Bear. He
speaks Inupiat and is known as Nanuk to the
people around him – but there’s absolutely no indication he is Inuit himself
(or Saskia for that matter), but his description (with blond hair) it seems
unlikely; there is no real clarification at all. There’s an issue with 2 White
people playing in Inuit mythologies and especially being honoured and revered
as deific figures.
We have no LGBT people. We have other women but really
only Saskia and Sedge are appreciable characters this book.
I like this series – but increasingly I like it more for
what it can be, what it hints it will be more than what it actually is. Around
the edges are excellent characters, excellent world settings, excellent
concepts but the centre is a relationship that is kind of dull kind of clichéd and
in this case very problematic.
