Angel Seeker (Hardcover)

The Jansai are explicitly described a) as gypsies, repeatedly and b) as blondes, frequently. They are depicted as rapacious, money-loving merchants-isn't that a typical racist stereotype of Jews? And for those lambasting Shinn for "abusing a culture"-first of all, hate to break it to ya, but this is fiction-Shinn can create any kind of hero or villian, culture, religion or society she wants and it doesn't have anything to do with the real world. Second-Arabic culture IS known for its repression, abuse and outright murder of women and is rightly condemmned by every intelligent human being for it. So-called "honour killings" are happening in places like India, Jordan and Afghanistan all the time (I have an Afghan refugee friend who could tell you horrifying stories about things that happened to the women in his family)-are you reviewers seriously defending it? If so, why are you not living there with your sisters, wives,and daughters?

As far as the Edori=Jew thesis, WRONG! I've read all the Samaria books and the Edori remind me of nothing so much as Native Americans-golden skin, long straight black hair, and a welcome for everyone, even those who would destroy them. These reviewers are reading their own vicious prejuidices into the text.

After all this, I have to say I enjoyed the book. Not perfect, but interesting. It's a little hard at first because Elizabeth is unlikable in her heartless ambition, but she learns and grows. The book sets up some intriguing philosophical problems, about angel-seekers, sexual morality and the value of a life that I look forward to Shinn exploring in future books.

GENERAL PLOT:

Elizabeth, a pampered Mandavvi daughter turned ignored, embittered servent, takes a laundress job at the Angel hold of Cedar Hills in the hopes that she can catch the eye of an angel. Instead her hard work earns her the attention of a proment doctor who wants to train her as an assistant - a more satisfying and dignifying job than that of angel-seeker but one that has much less job security than that of the mother of an angel.

Rebekah is an opinionated Jansai daughter about to be married off. Shinn is not very subtle in her distain for any culture that would cut women off from ouside contact and the Jansai life comes off sounding like Afghanistan under the Taliban. Rebekah's mildly discontent at her lot in life but can't imagine a different one. She rebels in small ways by arguing with her mother, sneaking out of her compound, and raising her younger brother to be kind and respectful to the women he will have complete authority over one day.

Obadiah is an angel recently sent to Cedar Falls as an ambassador to the Jansai at Breven. He is lonely and frustrated to find that he has little standing or authority among the Jansai. When he is attacked and injured flying between Breven and Cedar Hills, he makes an emergency landing 3 miles from Rebekah's caravan. She sneaks out to help him and the two begin a secret, dangerous relationship. Back at Cedar Hills, it is Obadiah's injuries that prompt the doctor to request Elizabeth's assistance, also giving her a taste of Samarian politics as the hold leaders meet trying to figure out how to respond to the attack.

OTHER THOUGHTS:

Angel-Seeker is the 5th book in the Samaria series, for all that it occurs 3rd chronologically. It is a stand alone book in the sense that Shinn offers readers an unending number of characters ready to offer up exposition at every turn. If it has been years since you've read Archangel, you do not need to reread it before picking up this book. If you have never read a Samaria novel, however, I would recommend reading them in publication order. Not because Angel-Seeker needs it but because in it, certain aspects of Samarian life, land, and history are revealed that might lessen the suspense of the previous books.