Review: Passion Play (Erythandra Series, #1)

Passion Play by Beth Bernobich

Copy Courtesy of First Reads and Tor Books
Already Released

Summary
Therez aka Ilse runs away from a marriage set up by her father for material gain. She travels with a band of not very nice men who do not very nice things to her. She is taken in by a pleasure house owner who takes pity on her.

Commentary
This book is clearly aimed at me (or well those like me) because it is written for the target audience of Kushiel's Dart lovers (huge fan) with a strong female heroine in a politically charged epic fantasy about nobility and throw in some sex (yes, I do know that the plots are different) and wandering. But while the target audience is the same, Passion Play lacked all the charming qualities of Kushiel's Dart.

The political intrigue in this book is stilted rather than a fluid moving thing, which must be constantly re-evaluated (yes, I enjoy plots within plots within plots). Given that the political intrigue is what made me the most interested in this book, I was much disappointed by it.

The best part of the book is when Ilse/Therez works in a kitchen. The interactions she has there seem the most well written. There is the making of a good story in this book, but I think it would have required more polish to bring it out.

Side Note: It really irks me that the summary which is on the book has the main character's name as Ilse when she starts out as Therez and then takes on the name Ilse later. Makes reading the book at the start really confusing.

Star Rating: 2.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Passion Play at Amazon