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The Language of Power

(The Steerswoman #4)

Rosemary Kirstein

4.36 · Rating details · 1,415 ratings · 151 reviews

A STEERSWOMAN ASKS, AND IS ALWAYS ANSWERED

The steerswoman Rowan has learned much about the master-wizard Slado: how his spells are devastating the distant lands known as the Outskirts, and how they will ultimately threaten even the Inner Lands. But she knows nothing else about him, not even why he is hiding his actions from the other wizards.

He must be found, and stopped.

N ...more

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Kindle Edition, 400 pages

Published April 20th 2014 by Rosemary Kirstein (first published August 2004)

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Mar 26, 2021 Ryan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, happy, female-lead

No review. Saving my comments for the thread in the SFFBC group. ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Mar 01, 2009 Nick Fagerlund rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Impossibly, incandescently good. More barbarian action! More Scientifick Adventuring! More UNIX geeks with grenades! Wait, pretend I didn't say that.

UNFORTUNATELY, it's the last book currently available in the series, so now I get to grind my teeth and wait for the next one. I'd say something about wishing Kirstein would hurry up, but frankly the results of her current process are so perfect that I'm loathe to even suggest messing with it. ...more

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Feb 26, 2017 Robin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Robin by: Siri De licori

Shelves: sci-fi, friend-recommendation, series, maps-on-the-endsheets, speculative-fiction, female-author, strong-women, book-4-in-a-series, published-2000s, 2017

So. People. If you like speculative fiction, you need to go purchase these books, preferably new on Kindle so that Rosemary Kirstein is rewarded for her amazing work and can support herself while she continues creating it. Then you need to go tell all your speculative-fiction-loving friends to do the same. This is me doing that now.

Oh, reasons? You want reasons. I already gave you reasons three times in my previous reviews. And once you follow my advice and read these first four installments, y ...more

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Mar 25, 2021 Mareike rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I just.....continue to be blown away by how amazing Kirstein's books are. From the expertly layered, slowly unfolding mysteries to the sharply drawn characters, and the tightly plotted suspense, this was once again just excellent.

I can't wait for the next book to come out! ...more

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Oct 05, 2021 Jess rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, female-protagonist

Strong 4.5
This is my favorite so far: I barked out surprised laughter (startling cats), I cried, and I have become *deeply* attached to these characters. I cannot wait for there to be more of these books.
Gosh, this was good.

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Jun 06, 2018 Res rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sff

The one where Rowan reunites with Bel and Will, tracking wizards through the past while confronting them in the present.

These books continue to be not like anything else I have ever read. In particular the author is doing some perfectly amazing things with point of view as we see the exercise of wizardly power, which might be quite familiar to us, through the eyes of someone to whom it's not familiar at all, so that its strangeness is revealed to us.

These books also continue to be the best port ...more

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Feb 06, 2014 Charl(ie|es) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An unfinished series whose last book was published in 2004? Why didn't anyone warn me!

*Update* The author is currently working on 2 more books!! ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2018 Frances rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantastical, kindle, sci-fi

Noooooo I DIDNT WANT IT TO END.

You guys, this series. I’ve so far recommended it to at least 6 people, and I’m not slowing down. I’m bummed there’s no true culmination, but I can only figure that it’ll just give me an opportunity to reread the series before the next comes out.

SOON.

For an actual reflection on the content of the series, see Robin.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2021 Kevin rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, fantasy

I really enjoyed all four books in this series, the worldbuilding is fantastic the characters are really engaging and in this book all three of the main characters from book one are reunited. The only complaint I have is that it's December 18 years later that this book was published and we haven't gotten another book in the series. I want to see what happens to these characters and world.
This book has a note that the author is working on books five and six, but I don't know if that was in the 2 ...more

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Mar 22, 2021 Rosie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, fiction, adventure

This will certainly be percolating through my brain in however long the wait is for the next book. Like before, however many questions are answered lead to more questions by the end of the book. Like before, details and encounters in past books come into play, making the world feel real and complicated and genuine.

For the first time, Slado, the mysterious, shadowy figure behind so much of the previous books, is brought more into focus, as Rowan and Bell focus on piercing together what they can a This will certainly be percolating through my brain in however long the wait is for the next book. Like before, however many questions are answered lead to more questions by the end of the book. Like before, details and encounters in past books come into play, making the world feel real and complicated and genuine.

For the first time, Slado, the mysterious, shadowy figure behind so much of the previous books, is brought more into focus, as Rowan and Bell focus on piercing together what they can about him. Uncovering his past footsteps.

Sometimes small almost throwaway seeming comments seem significant, especially to the larger puzzle of the origins of people existing on this world, which I think is more a reader pondering and not something Rowan is aware of at all. The ability for Kirstein to have these two connected but separate mysteries, that are different for Rowan and the reader while intimately intertwined.

The questions now seem to be: Kieran, the most senior Wizard in his day, saw something in the stars that profoundly affected him, to cause an overnight change in his view of life. At some point during Slado's apprenticeship Kieran showed him what he had discovered and it caused Slado to choose to kill Kieran and destroy the Guidestar that saw it, so make sure no one else could find or see it again and lead to him actively beginning to kill the human populations.

It was also something so important that Kieran wanted to share it with the Steerswomen so everyone would have the knowledge.

The images are in Rowan hands but like us, we lack the right context to understand the answer that seems to be in her hands. Now the house in Donner is destroyed, the only two places that can provide answers is Farside, which seems to be on the other side of the planet and where it is that Slado is now operating from.

It's as satisfying a place to pause as is possible for now, not exactly hanging on a cliffhanger, so the wait begins.

I'm sure that the more I think about it and later reread it, the more details, hints and clues will be waiting to be discovered. This series is superb world building, character and study of human beings. Even with the wait for whenever the next book comes, what's been created so far is well worth investing the time to enjoy. ...more

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Dec 31, 2021 Anushree rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I can not wait for more books!! Good luck to Rosemary

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Sep 01, 2014 Steven rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cross-cultural-communication

This is book four of a series about the Steerswoman, Rowan. This amazing series might have one or two more books, if and when they get published. This fourth book is similar to the previous books in the series. We follow Rowan in her search to uncover the mysteries with the wizards and the guidestars.

Rowan comes to Donner and does what Steerswomen do. She questions people who might have known the wizard at the time 4 decades earlier when the guidestar was brought down. She finds the Donner conne This is book four of a series about the Steerswoman, Rowan. This amazing series might have one or two more books, if and when they get published. This fourth book is similar to the previous books in the series. We follow Rowan in her search to uncover the mysteries with the wizards and the guidestars.

Rowan comes to Donner and does what Steerswomen do. She questions people who might have known the wizard at the time 4 decades earlier when the guidestar was brought down. She finds the Donner connection to Slado, the head wizard she suspects of being the lead enemy.

Again, I admire the descriptive detail of the author in the day-to-day lives of the characters. When a town is visited in the books, you know what the town looks like, and especially what it feels like in that town.

When people are threatened with danger and death, you know why they die and why they live. I love the way the characters are real in this book, like the scenery. Each person we are introduced to has a back story and motivations. Even the villains have reasons for why they do things. This kind of writing is not what we are used to. There are world famous rich authors who are cranking out books, and getting huge movie deals, with no idea how to represent realistic characters or story world.

There is one major aspect of the book that would be a spoiler if this were book one. If you have not read the three previous books, skip this paragraph of my review, This aspect I was not aware of when I first picked up the first book to read, Steerswoman. I was not sure I wanted to continue reading that first book. I don't often read fantasy books. The series has 'wizards', 'dragons' and 'magic.' Someone reviewing the first book revealed the huge spoiler that actually the books are not fantasy. Rowan and the characters in the books think magic exists, but actually when they investigate, in the proper way, they find understandable explanations for all marvelous events. I think this series would be useful in schools to teach students about scientific thinking and methodology.

I only have two reservations about this book. First, the description of the search for the dragons was very long, running over many pages. Second, this book ends with a great need for a sequel. I approached the last pages of the book dreading the ending without a next book to pick up. I will buy the next book, as soon as it comes out. Many mysteries in the series are revealed in this book, but the tension in the long term story has not been resolved.

Who will appreciate this book and series? Unfortunately, the universe of readers who will like this type of writing may be limited. Probably readers have to have experienced enough in their lives to appreciate descriptions of real events in a fictional book. The plot is not driven by action and violence. Occasionally violence and action happens. Those incidents occur because someone makes a mistake, miscalculation or coincidences happen. Readers have to enjoy reading for the sake of character development, not for action alone.

I think this is one of the most interesting series ever written and hope new people can discover it. Enjoy! ( )
...more

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Nov 29, 2021 Sasan rated it really liked it

As expected, The Language of Power was just as entertaining as the previous books in the series.

I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)

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It's the end of the available road for me when it comes to the Steerswoman series. But, I'll easily say that Rosemary Kirstein earned herself one more lifelong fan for her phenomenal series.

I don't believe that there is anything yet to be said about the brilliant intricacy and attention ...more

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Apr 17, 2020 Phil rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Another solid volume in the series, but unfortunately, it does not wrap up much and it looks to be the last one Kirstein wrote. Rowan, our Steerswoman, is back in a big city looking for clues to the rogue 'wizard' that is destroying the outskirts and the people therein. She hooks up with Bel again, and tries to find some information about what happened 50 or so years ago to the last wizard stationed in town. Fun read, but it leaves you wanting more. ...more

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Jun 04, 2022 Holly Deitz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I swear to all that's unholy that I cannot believe writing is not Rosemary Kirstein's full-time job. I think I may have hit the end of the road of her published works. If that's the case, I'm going to be very, very sad. ...more

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May 13, 2022 Anna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2022

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 10, 2009 Arminzerella rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-needs-tags, favorites, actually-own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Rowan, the steerswoman, has spent some time recovering from her near death experience and injuries following her adventures in the previous novel – the Lost Steersman. She and Bel and an acquaintance from the city of Alemeth, have come back to Donner (from which Rowan was once chased before – after being attacked by dragons) to learn more about the wizard Kieran who once ruled there. We learn a very interesting fact – Slado, who now controls all of the wizards, was once Kieran’s apprentice. Rowa ...more

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Nov 01, 2018 David Phipps rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, ebook

This was book 4 of 6 of the Steerswoman series. Much like the previous volumes for the most part. Rowan and her friends are still investigating things while trying to avoid the wizards' attention. Discoveries come very slowly.

There is no telling when books 5 and 6 will be released so I will provide some thoughts on the series as a whole thus far. This series is well-written and the characters feel real/believable. I like that romantic angst is pretty much non-existent and that gender equality se ...more

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Jul 26, 2010 Christine added it · review of another edition

Much of this book is about how to make sense of past events through personal stories. Rowan interviews many people connected to someone she's hunting down, sifting through their impressions from decades before. Despite this focus on a distant event, tension is building in the world around her. Kirstein's pacing is slow compared to the world-falling-down model employed by so many fantasy authors, and I appreciate the difference.

After reading more Kirstein I'm looking forward to what Alaya Dawn Jo ...more

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Aug 03, 2007 Amanda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you like fantasy (that's really not fantasy, just fiction set in a non-magical land that is not our own) then get yourself down to the bookstore and order everything they've got by Ms. Kirstein. The woman can tell a story, and the fourth installment in the Steerswoman series doesn't disappoint. Characters who disappeared back in books one and three show up again, changed by their various experiences. Bad guys, new friends, dragons, and Rowan and Bel trying to figure out what that Slago is up ...more

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Jun 30, 2007 Beth (moonivy) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fantasy/sci-fi readers.

Read 6/30-7/1/07
The Language of Power is the fourth book in the Steerswoman series. Old friends reunite and adventures ensue as Rowan continues to slowly unfurl the mysteries surrounding the wizards. Part rollicking adventure,
part philosophical treatise on the nature of mathematics, this odd fantasy/sci-fi hybrid is a very enjoyable set of stories. Recommended

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Apr 08, 2017 Rosario rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I picked up the first in the Steerswoman series after reading a review in Eyrie.org (this is a site I don't see mentioned much at all, probably since it's pretty low-key, but I've been following it for many years it's led me to quite a lot of wonderful books, mostly in the fantasy/sci-fi and non-fiction genres). I had never heard of Rosemary Kirstein and never heard of this series before reading the review. Having finished all 4 available books now, I can tell you they should be much better know ...more

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Jul 07, 2017 Anri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, scifi

In this one, Rowan comes to Donner, after reading about a sudden personality change in its former wizard Kieran, right around the time of the Guidestar falling.

(view spoiler) In this one, Rowan comes to Donner, after reading about a sudden personality change in its former wizard Kieran, right around the time of the Guidestar falling.

(view spoiler)[
Some thoughts

Donner seems a lot more friendly than Alemeth >_> It was cute reading about all the old people. I'm pretty surprised she didn't actually meet Nid though. There were so many mentions of him, I thought for sure there would be an important event there. And then, all it comes to is that Nid remembers Kieran wanting to say something. ugh what a letdown.

I think this one is the most obviously sci-fi of any of them, what with the satellites and watches, and robot dragons, and embedded devices, and terminals, and security systems, and routine maintenance, and drones, and helicopters, and the wizard Krue/Crew, and especially the TERRAFORMING.

I know now that this series is only deceptively fantasy-genre. I think it's easier to do reading ebooks than with some of the covers put out. The more I try to reconcile the concept of "There is no magic in this series" in my mind, the more I dislike it though. How is a completely uneducated teenager with medieval technology supposed to learn enough about explosives to take down a castle? And then go on to become a planetary systems-level computer hacker within 6 years??

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if Slado's motivations are ever going to be satisfyingly explained. I think there's supposed to be 3 more books after this.
We never did get to find out where Slado lives... or even why Kieran suddenly became friendly, which was the whole point of this book. Am I missing something else about the star printouts???

I read the following hypothesis in another review: "I think Slado has decided wiping out a world's unique heritage of life is wrong and is taking steps to prevent it."
I could see that, especially in light of the alien settlements, but I'm just not seeing how that translates into killing off Outskirters or star picture-takers.

Re: the title. I'm still confused about that it's supposed to mean. "Language of power" is the book-cannon's magic, right? So... is it supposed to be science?

Bel keeps saying that the Outskirters were the first people. They find one of Einar's poems with the wizards, so maybe he was one of the original Crew?

The worst part of finishing this book is now I have no more of the series to read.

(hide spoiler)] ...more

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Dec 05, 2017 S.J. Higbee rated it it was amazing

My firm advice with this particular slice of the adventure is not to read it. First, go back to the first in the series, The Steerwoman, and start the narrative there. While I’m sure you could follow this slice of the unfolding story without too much trouble, this is such a cracking series with so many clever twists and scenarios that starting here right at the end would be a real shame. Far better to begin at the start to fully appreciate this adventure.

Rowan visits Donner on the trail of the w ...more

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Jan 24, 2017 D.F. Haley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I stalled out on this book when I suddenly realized that it was the middle of the series and wouldn't conclude the cycle. In truth, I didn't want it to end! I love these characters and the lyrical storytelling which perfectly matches the pace of the story to a low-technology travelogue.

The Language of Power, and the knowledge of power are the essential mysteries of the "wizards" who rule these lands. The Steerswomen are dedicated to truth and universal knowledge. Thus, a built-in conflict exist ...more

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Apr 18, 2021 Jay Brantner rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Steerswoman series has hit the point where I can no longer be objective about it—which is itself a glowing recommendation. Kirstein has drawn me in so deeply with her characters and the central theme of the series that it’s going to take a major misstep to break my immersion. And there are none here. Does Rowan’s mind work incredibly fast in difficult situations? Sure. Is that harming how much I love this series? Nope.

After spending most of book three apart, we see the dynamic duo of Rowan ...more

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Nov 28, 2021 Cheryl struggles to catch up rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Ongoing discussion in SFFBC group.

I'm disappointed in Rowan for the choice to not interview Nid promptly.
Kirstein is so good at consciously avoiding cliches and contrivances, but this felt like a big flaw to me.

Love the ending w/ the ppl of Donner.

Found the bit that reminded me of the Power of Labyrinths to be the most powerful meditative or 'spiritual practice' for this atheist. I wish there was a labyrinth around here... I used to live near Reno and even the simple one at the arboretum was an ...more

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Nov 02, 2017 Mark rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The excellent series continues; it is now some six years after Rowan and Bel first met and at least a few months past the ending of the The Lost Steersman.

The fact that Bel is back again with more than a cameo instantly makes this satisfying; the relationship of the wandering Outskirter and Steerswoman, and the way they complement each other, being a highlight of the ongoing story.

The action happens in Donner, close to the center of civilization. This was a town that appeared early in the first ...more

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Apr 25, 2018 Mike rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Another excellent installment. This is the last one that was published, and while I certainly want the rest of the series, I'm content enough with where this wrapped up.

Overall, this series has been fascinating to read. The science fiction remains diamond hard, while the story remains thoroughly wrapped up in a fantasy costume. I just love reading the scenes where I, avid consumer of sci fi that I am, understand what is going on at a wholly different level from Rowan.

I also find I'm appreciating ...more

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Apr 06, 2019 Hypatia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ebook, scifi

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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About Rosemary Kirstein

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“Rowan sighed. “Yes.” She folded her hands before her on the table, sat gazing at them a moment. “But.” She looked up at the Outskirter. “Bel, no matter how clever we are, no matter how much we can discover, I believe that the common folk will, at the end of this, need magic. Even if we defeat Slado, or kill him, Routine Bioform Clearance will have to be reestablished according to its proper use, and maintained, and intelligently so.” — 2 likes

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