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A review by jackiehorne
Heart Thief by Robin D. Owens
3.0
Really enjoy Owens' writing and storytelling, while questioning some of the underlying gender politics. In this 2nd book of the Heartmates futuristic romance series, new head of her Greathouse Ailim D'Silverfur has come to the FirstFamilies Council to ask for a loan, as she's discovered her house is in major debt. While waiting for her case to be heard, she meets a handsome, audacious man, a man to whom she immediately finds herself attracted. Because for some reason, her magic gift, telempathy, seems to quiet in his presence, something she finds amazingly soothing. But their relationship seems destined to end before it's even begun, for the insouciant man turns out to be a captive awaiting trial.
Ruis Elder, who ran away from his own Greathouse and his abusive uncle at the age of 14, has been living for twenty years as a thief. Unlike other Greathouse offspring, Ruis has no magical talent, or at least, a magical talent that negates all others' magic: he's a null. Banished from the city as a result of his (unfair) trial, Ruis ends up sneaking back in and taking up residence in the abandon starship that brought his ancestors from Earth to Celta hundreds of years ago. And Ruis, fascinated by anything mechanical, gradually restores the ship, all the while courting Ailim. But Ruis's evil uncle has it in for both of them...
The novel asserts that Ailim, a judge, is a competent, intelligent woman. But the plotting here continually presents her as weak (constantly worried; bullied by her family; at the mercy of the FirstFamilies) and places her in danger, and allows Ruis to rescue her. Weirdly, though, the climax of the novel is more about Ruis learning to contain his anger, and to believe in Ailim, than about proving that Ailim needs to be under constant (male) protection. Do Owens' female protagonists all fall into the "worrier/damsel in distress" mold?
Ruis Elder, who ran away from his own Greathouse and his abusive uncle at the age of 14, has been living for twenty years as a thief. Unlike other Greathouse offspring, Ruis has no magical talent, or at least, a magical talent that negates all others' magic: he's a null. Banished from the city as a result of his (unfair) trial, Ruis ends up sneaking back in and taking up residence in the abandon starship that brought his ancestors from Earth to Celta hundreds of years ago. And Ruis, fascinated by anything mechanical, gradually restores the ship, all the while courting Ailim. But Ruis's evil uncle has it in for both of them...
The novel asserts that Ailim, a judge, is a competent, intelligent woman. But the plotting here continually presents her as weak (constantly worried; bullied by her family; at the mercy of the FirstFamilies) and places her in danger, and allows Ruis to rescue her. Weirdly, though, the climax of the novel is more about Ruis learning to contain his anger, and to believe in Ailim, than about proving that Ailim needs to be under constant (male) protection. Do Owens' female protagonists all fall into the "worrier/damsel in distress" mold?