The Shades of Time and Memory: The Second Book of the Wraeththu Histories

by Storm Constantine

Hardcover, 2004

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Series

Wraeththu Histories (2)

Wraeththu Mythos (Histories 2)

Genres

Publication

Tor Books (2004), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 448 pages

Description

The Wraeththu, once a wild and beautiful race living on the land and reveling in their power and sexuality, have become a bit more tamed as the years have passed. And with the creation of their city of Imanion, and the enthronement of the Tigron and Tigrina, the Wraeththu have become civilized. And no more are new Wraeththu created by the Inception of human boys, there are no more human boys, or girls. Now the Wraeththu reproduce themselves, through aruna and the creation of a Pearl thatwill grow to be a young harling. The race of hermaphrodites has come into its own. Now it must learn to survive politics, and governing, and wars amongst itself. Hailed as "a literary fantasist of outstanding power and originality" by Michael Moorcock, Storm Constantine is one of the most exciting fantasy writers of her generation, best known for her daring and stylish "Wraeththu" trilogy (The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit ,The Bewitchments of Love and Hate, The Fulfillments of Fate and Desire). The series, which chronicled the rise of a new race of seductive androgynous beings with awesome powers, was hailed as a modern fantasy masterpiece, winning an avid international following of devoted readers.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member copperbeech

Wow. This second in the series really gets more into the energetic origins and capabilities of the Wraeththu, more than dwelling in the stories of the characters themselves. Again, Constantine brings to the fore the backstory of yet other past characters and there is more synergy between them than

dissent, as before most of the characters are facing deep personal crises. This book was tough to read, though. She really departed from a lot of what had become clichéd writing for her (though I love her style--it works). She definitely expanded her own understanding of what her characters and their world are and where they may be going. Constantine spent a lot of the earlier books nailing down that the Wraeththu are unsure of themselves as a race. The blinders are off now. That is mostly what made it so hard for me to read: It was sad. The irony is that many of the relationships you had been wanting to happen find a foundation in this book, yet their wider lives are in such turmoil as a race what you've been wanting for so long becomes an afterthought. She really is a brilliant writer. You really do go where she wants you to as reader. She also leaves a ton of doors open, as usual to make you wonder where the next book will go.

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