A review by evakristin
A Time of Omens by Katharine Kerr

3.0

So far there's no doubt that I prefer the Deverry series to the Westlands. The main reason is that I miss the old characters, and even the few that are left just don't feel the same. I suppose Kerr is setting up a new generation of characters for this next installent, and I'll keep reading to see if they grow on me. And I miss Nevyn's magic, I always found his travels in the astral plane fascinating. This popping in and out of the Guardian's realm just isn't the same.

I also have the impression that her world building is slipping a bit. One example is people's attitude towards the silver daggers. Through the earlier books Kerr taught us that they are close to the bottom in her world's honour system, and she'll still occasionally mention that they are treated with scorn by others, particularly when they visit ale houses and brothels. At the same time, with no background story to make it believable, the lady of a dun discusses her husband's politics with a silver daggers apprentice?! In the days of Cullyn of Cerrmor the lad would have been smacked across the face for just looking at her!