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A review by kaa
The House of Sundering Flames by Aliette de Bodard
4.0
Powerful conclusion to the trilogy. While the first two books were somewhat stand-alone, this one depends pretty heavily on the previous two for context. For me, it does a very good job of tying those stories together. With each book in the series, de Bodard has delved more explicitly into examinations of power, oppression, and colonization, and in House of Sundering Flames she draws these themes fully to the surface. At the same time, however, for me it is also the most hopeful book in the trilogy, arguing that a different future is possible.
While I was reading this, several people I know were reading and discussing N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season. I found it interesting to consider some of the parallels between those two series, and how they are in dialogue about issues of power and system change. Both authors have also written short stories responding to UKL's classic "Those Who Walk Away From Omelas", and some of the same themes appear in their respective trilogies. All of which to say: as an examination of hierarchies and power, the Dominion of the Fallen series is in good company.
While I found this a very rewarding read, the writing was not as polished as I am used to from the author, and I felt that such an intricate story with so many characters could have been somewhat longer to given all of the threads more space. However, these are somewhat minor complaints given what de Bodard has accomplished with this series.
While I was reading this, several people I know were reading and discussing N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season. I found it interesting to consider some of the parallels between those two series, and how they are in dialogue about issues of power and system change. Both authors have also written short stories responding to UKL's classic "Those Who Walk Away From Omelas", and some of the same themes appear in their respective trilogies. All of which to say: as an examination of hierarchies and power, the Dominion of the Fallen series is in good company.
While I found this a very rewarding read, the writing was not as polished as I am used to from the author, and I felt that such an intricate story with so many characters could have been somewhat longer to given all of the threads more space. However, these are somewhat minor complaints given what de Bodard has accomplished with this series.