Helpful Score: 3
This is the third book in Susan Grant's Borderlands series and follows the end of the war between the Drakken and the Coalition from a different perspective--through the eyes of an indigenous pirate population that controls the flow of an important ore to the rest of the galaxy. As the war between the Drakken and the Coalition comes to an end, so too does the traditional way of life for the pirate clans who now find themselves being exploited by the newly arisen Earth/Drakken/Coalition power called The Triad as well as by the organization in charge of mining the ore. There are lot's of parallels with the forced relocations and exploitations of the Native Americans, but, though Grant makes the comparison via a Triad official of Cherokee heritage, the topic never becomes preachy and the pirate clans never think of themselves as victims.
What I really liked about this story was how epic it was in scope and how visually crisp the pictures were painted in my mind of these pirate civilizations. I especially liked the first half of the book in which the details of the Blue clan's homeworld were richly described and honestly enrapturing. I love when I can fully place myself into a complete environment. I almost believed I was in a humid, rainy, dusky world instead of in sunny and hot summertime Chicago.
I was very much afraid I wouldn't like this book after being underwhelmed by the last book in the Borderlands series, The Warlord's Daughter, which had editing problems and felt rough and unfinished in general. (I did love Moonstruck, the first in the series, however.) I'm happy to say that one can enjoy Sureblood without any prior knowledge of Moonstruck or The Warlord's Daughter. This is definitely a book that can stand on its own. The characters are basic archetypes that make up most successful storiess--a hero on his difficult journey home, a woman holding the fort and fending off enemies in the guise of suiters, and pretty obvious evil influences at work. (And now I can't get the comparisons to the Odyssey out of my head : ) Anyway, if the tried and true plot and characterization don't enthrall you (they didn't me either) then I think you'll enjoy the rich imagery of a different culture and way of life.
What I really liked about this story was how epic it was in scope and how visually crisp the pictures were painted in my mind of these pirate civilizations. I especially liked the first half of the book in which the details of the Blue clan's homeworld were richly described and honestly enrapturing. I love when I can fully place myself into a complete environment. I almost believed I was in a humid, rainy, dusky world instead of in sunny and hot summertime Chicago.
I was very much afraid I wouldn't like this book after being underwhelmed by the last book in the Borderlands series, The Warlord's Daughter, which had editing problems and felt rough and unfinished in general. (I did love Moonstruck, the first in the series, however.) I'm happy to say that one can enjoy Sureblood without any prior knowledge of Moonstruck or The Warlord's Daughter. This is definitely a book that can stand on its own. The characters are basic archetypes that make up most successful storiess--a hero on his difficult journey home, a woman holding the fort and fending off enemies in the guise of suiters, and pretty obvious evil influences at work. (And now I can't get the comparisons to the Odyssey out of my head : ) Anyway, if the tried and true plot and characterization don't enthrall you (they didn't me either) then I think you'll enjoy the rich imagery of a different culture and way of life.
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