Watergivers (3) - Stormlord's Exile by Glenda Larke
And last, but not least, Stormlord's Exile which I read in English, where it contained 673 pages. Originally published in 2011.
Ryka and her family joined the resistance in the Red Quarter, against the expanding aggressor she both fears and likes. Shale rules the whole Scarpen Quarter with Terelle at his side. But his love has to go and fulfil a prophecy or it will kill her. As she travels to the other watergivers, to solve the stormlord-problem once and for all; Laisa springs into action. Under her thump, the highpriest of the Sunlord forces Shale to marry Senya. And as Terelle looses her protection and is imprisoned by her family, Shale packs his things and follows her. To rescue Terelle, his family and his country... A footrace against time begins, and more than one life is at stake.
This book wasn't as tense as the second, but it wasn't like the first either. The characters are great as always, I especially like the relationship between Terelle and Shale, and how she treats his daughter. You know, usually you have this step-mother syndrome, but here, she's totally cool he's married someone else – okay, not totally cool, but she's cool with him having a daughter of that marriage. And Amberly is so sweet! I hate Taquar for doing that to her.
The scenes in this other, Watergiver's country were very interesting. Terelle's mother's family sucks, but they are still very realistically done, and it's nice they stay in the end. It's actually really well done how Terelle manages through lies and then through a painting not to get killed. That girl's got a damn good instinct.
Laisa is an... interesting woman, as well as Senya. Even though I like Laisa better than Senya. Which says much about Senya, because I actually don't like Laisa at all. But Laisa is fascinating, her whole scheming and how it used to work, but now doesn't.
And Ryka and her family are fascinating, too. It's cool how they are suddenly at the head of the rebellion and how they find all these details to help them against Micah and the others.
The plot itself was awesome, as always. But the ideas aren't special, which is sad.
I give this book a star for the plot, the characters as well as half a star for style and half a star for politics.