A Strange and Stubborn Endurance: 1 (Tithenai Chronicles)

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An engrossing political intrigue and romance set in a world that feels complex and lived-in; beautifully realised and a pleasure to read!" - Sam Hawke How can so many (white, male) writers narratively justify restricting the agency of their female characters on the grounds of sexism = authenticity while simultaneously writing male characters with conveniently modern values? Reminiscent of Ursula K. Le Guin, An Accident of Stars will take you to a lush, magical new world.” – Laura Lam Yes,” said Father, and though he was discomforted in the admission, at least he did me the courtesy of not looking away. “You’ve always been a good son, Vel—a good third son, supportive of your brothers and uncovetous of their dues. I watched you with Jarien earlier, and unless I miss my guess, you bear him no ill-will, though many in your position would. I know you haven’t sought marriage”—and here he reached out, squeezing my chair’s arm as if in proxy for my withheld hand—“but I wouldn’t propose it now, even though it please my king, if I thought it was not also a reward to you; a fitting, good thing for a loyal son.”

BT] You are a lover and prolific writer of fanfiction. What was your first brush with fanfiction? And how has fanfiction influenced your work as an author? Truly, we are living in a golden age of queer fantasy. From continent-spanning epics and fairytale reimaginings to seemingly futuristic dystopias and worlds built on complex systems of magic, these are stories that run the gamut from thrillers to romance and everything in between. The best of the lot, however, are usually those that mix various genres and elements in a way that feels fresh and new or gives readers something they haven’t seen before. A satisfying balance of romance and action, with political intrigue that is both elaborate and plausible and rich, fascinating worldbuilding." - Malka OlderI was very worried about miscommunication driving the plot. Though Vel and Cae don’t know how to communicate it felt like a realistic problem. They have known each other for a relatively short amount of time and both have a lot of healing and growing to do. That being said, I would have liked a bit more “happily ever after” time in this installment.

Compelling characters and a fascinating world. I can’t wait to read the next book.” – Martha Wells, New York Times bestselling author of the Murderbot Diaries, on An Accident of Stars I stared at him. “In principle,” I said, pulse galloping in counterpoint to my careful speech, “I have no objection.” A bald-faced lie; I had every objection, though none I dared to voice. “But in all practicality, Father—and I say this with no false modesty—what good Ralian heiress would have me? They are not such abundant creatures as to have no better prospects than a sinecured third son, no matter your elevation.” Not that the vin Aaros had risen in rank, per se, but as any good Ralian knows, there are lords and there are lords, and since being awarded vin Mica’s holdings in the still-recent aftermath of the Dissension, Father was now much closer to the latter than the former. There is much to love about A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. Come for the elegant prose, the political intrigue, the lovingly rendered characters, the romance and baring of hearts, the thorny and tangled path towards healing—come for any of it, and you will love all of it. Meadows has written something beautiful and if you needed a book to light a fire in your heart, let it be this one.I saw what happened,” Cae said, into the silence. “From the parapets of the Aida. I was coming to help.” After a moment, Cae nodded at his leg. “You can’t walk on that unsupported, tiern. I don’t mean to importune you, but under the circumstances—” Spoiler alert: The absolute best part of A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is the relationship that slowly grows between Vel and Caethari, a delicate push and pull that shows rather than tells us about the pair’s growing feelings for one another and then genuine desire to make their unexpected partnership work. I know I can’t be the only person who gets a little swoony over a well-done marriage of convenience trope, and Meadows executes it brilliantly here. Agent Hannah Bowman said, “I couldn’t imagine a better artistic fit of author and editor than Foz and Claire, and we’re delighted to have found such a perfect home for this book.” With an unknown faction willing to kill to end their new alliance, Vel and Cae have no choice but to trust each other. Survival is one thing, but love—as both will learn—is quite another.

An absolute delight! A perfect balance of romance, fantasy politics, and a truly sinister murder plot. It put me in mind of The Goblin Emperor (earnest but wounded lead characters you can’t help rooting for) and Winter’s Orbit (queer marriage of convenience with deep sff politics)”—Olivia Waite, award-winning author Many a reader longing for a sense of homecoming in the realm of romantic fantasy will find it in A Strange and Stubborn Endurance.”—Jacqueline Carey Inwardly, Cae sighed; outwardly, he straightened. “Tiern Caethari Aeduria,” he said, softly. “Or Cae, if you like.” I have a history of tarrying,” I said. “But the weather is fine, and I”— needed to get away—“was moved by filial piety.” An engrossing political intrigue and romance set in a world that feels complex and lived-in; beautifully realised and a pleasure to read!”—Sam Hawke, author of City of LiesAnd this bugs me; because if authors can stretch their imaginations far enough to envisage the presence of modern-minded men in the fake Middle Ages, then why can't they stretch them that little bit further to put in modern-minded women, or modern-minded social values? It strikes me as being extremely convenient that the one universally permitted exception to this species of "authenticity" is one that makes the male heroes look noble while still mandating that the women be downtrodden and in need of rescuing. I don’t know how you do things in Ralia,” Cae said, taking the final corner, “but here, it’s generally frowned upon to ride indoors.” But he did not ask; just clapped my shoulder, fingers squeezing briefly against the bone, and bade me welcome. Many a reader longing for a sense of homecoming in the realm of romantic fantasy will find it in A Strange and Stubborn Endurance.”—Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the Kushiel's Legacy series My thanks,” he whispered. And then, as though he feared the answer, “Can you take me to him? I know there are other things to discuss, but Markel’s mute—he won’t be able to speak if I’m not there, and Tar Raeki might not think to tell the healers.”

The characterisation is fantastic. The conclusion is nerve-biting and explosive – and has dragons… I really really love it” – Tor.com on A Tyranny of Queens Having never experienced this sort of generalized acceptance of his sexuality and identity before is all initially pretty overwhelming for poor Vel, a situation that’s compounded by the fact that his new husband Caethari Aeduria isn’t the monster he feared, but a kind, devastatingly attractive man who seems like everything he could have ever wanted in a partner. No, I decided, inhaling a lungful of crisp, clean air. Little Jarien can have it all, and welcome. My infant half-brother, Father’s son by his new wife and, through her, heir to all I surveyed, was a fraternal blank slate. Whatever relationship we might one day have was untainted by the childhood I’d shared with Revic and Nathian, and though that unpleasant template might yet reassert itself, I was disinclined to borrow such a worry so preemptively. Pixieltd on Reading The Wheel of Time: Taim Tells Lies and Rand Shares His Plan in Winter’s Heart (Part 3) 3 hours ago

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At this, my lungs and brain forgot how breathing worked, denying me that function for seconds that passed like minutes. My poleaxed expression must have been the expected response, however, for Father waited out my breathlessness with no apparent chagrin.