Grimlock ♥ Ultra Magnus

So, first of all, I mentioned to Fran that I'd heard good things about her work.   She was signing next to Cathrynne Valente, and I leaned over and said that.   Oh, well, she had two copies of this, would I like one?   Yup, and signed? 

Yes, I would love that!

I liked reading this during Readercon partly because it was so short: I could get little bits in between panels or while I was eating at the con suite and still feel like I was powering through this book.   Or that was the original reasoning for starting this immediately.   As soon as I started reading, the reason I kept reading immediately was I was entranced.   Fran Wilde does a lot right: she created a world that she made me feel, none of this felt like info dumping, and she created characters I cared about.  This story is dark and twisted, and the fantasy elements feel natural in this setting.   (They actually play into the darkness with the gems able to drive people mad.  In this world, a Jewel is a ruler, and they each have a lapidary: someone who speaks to gems, and those gems are powerful.   Some more than others, but if not bound properly, gems can drive the lapidary mad.   The lapidary is bound as well, and this helps control the gems.)

I really liked how much it felt like the gems and their powers were dealt with, as well as the lapidary and how she wasn't strong enough to speak to some gems.   She couldn't control the more powerful gems, and since this was a tale of treachery, and strategizing in the worst of possible conditions.   When Lin, the youngest Jewel, is supposed to get married, she instead finds herself in a battle of wills with a conqueror.   The lapidary she has is loyal, but Sima's father has betrayed the King.   The more powerful gems shattered, the Jewels killed, it is up to Lin and Sima to save their people.   Lin and Sima, however, were coddled, kept out of military and diplomatic affairs.   As the youngest, Lin's job was to be married rather than to wrest control from anyone and so the new army, and their commander, find themselves up against two young girls that they assume will be cowed easily. 

Except that as dark and disturbing as this gets, it's all about loyalty and how a character can shine under the worst of circumstances.  It's about putting them in situations that should break them, but doesn't. 

It shines a light in the darkest of places.   And that ending.  I have to tell you, I teared up at the ending.  I thought I would cry at one really tough scene, but nope.   That ending scene, though.   

And all I can think now is that the fantasy elements only amplified how much this was about the human condition and how it could rise above its situation, how it could find dignity even in defeat.   

I'm looking forward to reading more by Fran Wilde.  I'd love to get something longer set in this universe, but even something this length - or shorter - would be lovely.  I believe I've tracked down at least one short and I want to continue some of the Readercon books I got signed, but I will read it soon.  I'm also going through post Readercon funk, so I can't promise how quickly I'll get to anything.

Thank you to Fran Wilde.   Also, just a note, while I did get this for free, and while no doubt the author was hoping for a review, I never promised a review, and Wilde never mentioned a review. There was zero pressure to read this quickly, or leave a review at all.