A review by angelas_library
Summerwode by J. Tullos Hennig

2.0

Much as I adored the first two books in the Wode series, the subsequent books haven't worked as well for me. For one thing, I feel like the constant fog and tangle of magic and mysticism and tynged and the like has begun to befuddle me; most of the time I can't make heads or tails of it and end up feeling lost.

Also, there isn't nearly enough Gamelyn-Robyn page time anymore. What I loved most about Greenwode and Shirewode were the scenes of passion between the two men, and these were basically non-existent in Summerwode.

The biggest issue for me, though, was

Spoiler

the lack of fidelity among the characters. For all Marion's insistence that none of them owned one another, and that sharing and swapping lovers freely was "their people's way," I just couldn't get behind it. In fact, it infuriated and frustrated me to the point where I'm hesitant to continue with the final book in the series. I especially hated the idea of Gamelyn and Marion getting together. The whole thing was so bizarre, and I felt like it undermined the relationship between Gamelyn and Robyn, and Marion and Much. The fact that Robyn and Much not just condoned, but encouraged, the union just made the situation worse, not better.

I confess, part of me wishes this series had simply stopped at a duology. The first books were amazing, but the fact that I haven't enjoyed the follow-ups as much casts a pall over my fond memories of the first stories. :-(