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A review by leahegood
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Summary
Kazi, former street rat and thief, is a soldier ... an elite one at that ... and she's on a mission. Jase has recently been thrust into leadership after his father's unexpected death, which makes him part of her mission (unbeknownst to him and a surprise to her). Neither of them planned to be captured by slave traders and end up chained together, even after their escape. A tentative trust, friendship, and attraction grows between them, but it's built on a foundation of lies and deceits. Everything they're building is destined to crumble. But what if that's not the tomorrow they want? Is it too late to fix their broken foundation?
My Thoughts
Hands down, my favorite thing about this book is the way it undermines the typical way misunderstandings and deceptions destroy the characters' relationships. This story, more than most, gives Kazi and Jase reasons to distrust each other, turn on each other, and have dramatic fallings out ... and that certainly impacts the story and their relationship. Kazi pushed Jase away and Jase withholds information, for many reasons of which distrust is one. But I love the way they see the good in each other, even when they're angry, hurt, or have had their trust broken. Love the way Jase's protectiveness persists no matter what Kazi does to alienate him.
The story reads like a fantasy novel, but the world building carries a vaguely post-apocalyptic flavor and there's no real magic, mythical creatures, or other "other worldly" elements. The closest we get are some massive predatory birds, ghosts that flutter on the edges of both awareness and the story, and Death as tangible being.
Some of the writings from the Ballinger family histories carry hints or Biblical phrasing and themes, but it's minor enough that I'm not sure if it's an intentional parallel or happenstance.
Content Disclosure
Minimal swearing (all i can think of is one scene where Jase, without understanding the language, recognizes that he's been called an unpleasant name and voices it).
Violence and injury are present and moderately graphic.
Kissing, physical attraction, and undescribed touching are present. S*x is referenced euphemistically several times and once it's implied that characters desire to go all the way instead of stopping with making out, but lack of protection and imprudence of a potential pregnancy is a sufficiently dissuading factor.
Characters visit a temple, make both monetary and blood sacrifices, and support religious people including priestesses and seers. This is mostly treated as a setting detail, not a key element of plot or character.
Kazi, former street rat and thief, is a soldier ... an elite one at that ... and she's on a mission. Jase has recently been thrust into leadership after his father's unexpected death, which makes him part of her mission (unbeknownst to him and a surprise to her). Neither of them planned to be captured by slave traders and end up chained together, even after their escape. A tentative trust, friendship, and attraction grows between them, but it's built on a foundation of lies and deceits. Everything they're building is destined to crumble. But what if that's not the tomorrow they want? Is it too late to fix their broken foundation?
My Thoughts
Hands down, my favorite thing about this book is the way it undermines the typical way misunderstandings and deceptions destroy the characters' relationships. This story, more than most, gives Kazi and Jase reasons to distrust each other, turn on each other, and have dramatic fallings out ... and that certainly impacts the story and their relationship. Kazi pushed Jase away and Jase withholds information, for many reasons of which distrust is one. But I love the way they see the good in each other, even when they're angry, hurt, or have had their trust broken. Love the way Jase's protectiveness persists no matter what Kazi does to alienate him.
The story reads like a fantasy novel, but the world building carries a vaguely post-apocalyptic flavor and there's no real magic, mythical creatures, or other "other worldly" elements. The closest we get are some massive predatory birds, ghosts that flutter on the edges of both awareness and the story, and Death as tangible being.
Some of the writings from the Ballinger family histories carry hints or Biblical phrasing and themes, but it's minor enough that I'm not sure if it's an intentional parallel or happenstance.
Content Disclosure
Minimal swearing (all i can think of is one scene where Jase, without understanding the language, recognizes that he's been called an unpleasant name and voices it).
Violence and injury are present and moderately graphic.
Kissing, physical attraction, and undescribed touching are present. S*x is referenced euphemistically several times and once it's implied that characters desire to go all the way instead of stopping with making out, but lack of protection and imprudence of a potential pregnancy is a sufficiently dissuading factor.
Characters visit a temple, make both monetary and blood sacrifices, and support religious people including priestesses and seers. This is mostly treated as a setting detail, not a key element of plot or character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail