Naamah's Blessing (Naamah Trilogy, #3) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Mar 08, 2011 Valerie rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2011, autographed

Here we are, at the end of Moirin's journey and what has been said as the final Terre d'Ange book in general. So, how was it? Better than its mediocre predecessor, luckily, but still not as good as Naamah's Kiss - the last books in her previous trilogies were the weakest, I found, and this was no exception.

First of all, the first 150 pages or so were incredibly, incurably dull. They consist of Moirin and Bao attempting to find a suitable caretaker for the late Jehanne's three-year-old daughter, Here we are, at the end of Moirin's journey and what has been said as the final Terre d'Ange book in general. So, how was it? Better than its mediocre predecessor, luckily, but still not as good as Naamah's Kiss - the last books in her previous trilogies were the weakest, I found, and this was no exception.

First of all, the first 150 pages or so were incredibly, incurably dull. They consist of Moirin and Bao attempting to find a suitable caretaker for the late Jehanne's three-year-old daughter, Desirée, which is every bit as exciting as it sounds. I found myself frustrated - where was the action, the hook, the purpose from the beginnings of the two previous novels?

Things don't pick up until a ship arrives from Terra Nova, and one of its men - one who was seen previously in the Circle of Shalomon in Naamah's Kiss - walks out and announces, "Prince Thierry is dead." After this causes turmoil within the kingdom, Moirin and Bao embark on a journey to Terra Nova to find out the truth, spurred on by Jehanne's ghost.

For those of you who were waiting for Raphael de Mereliot's return, fear not: he comes through in this novel. Also, remember that thing from Kiss, when the spirit bestowed upon the Circle the language of ants? Yeah, you'll see...

The journey through Terra Nova itself was very well-done. Carey didn't shy away at all from how unglamorous jungle life can be: blisters, sweating, malaria, eating grubs. Having the Nachuatl and Quechua empires inoculated after the Aragonians' arrival was a nice touch. She also approaches the subject of human sacrifice with delicateness and respect.

I do wish that the final showdown with Focalor had been... well... more epic. He was a scary bastard in Kiss, but he didn't get any face time at all here, which I thought was kind of a letdown. Also, while I love Bao, his relationship with Moirin (and Moirin herself, tbh) was incredibly plain in comparison to the complex relations of Phedre and Imriel. Less angstful, yes, but more boring. Think happy-fun-time-comfy-fluffy-sex, all the time. She has to sleep with someone else in the novel, once... but it's okay, because NAAMAH'S WILL COMMANDS IT! And then back to happy-fun-fluffy-times, talking about making fat babies. Yawn.

However, if you really want to see this trilogy (and series) to the end, this is a decent enough ending. :) Despite the slow start, it DID become a page-turner once that hurdle was passed, and I don't regret reading it. ...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Colleen rated it really liked it

Love, love, love this author's books, Kushiel series and now this one. Rich, political, fully realized alternate world based on different social construct: Love as thou wilt. ...more

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