Ilario: The Stone Golem: A Story of the First History, Book Two (Ilario, A Story of the First History, 2)

Good storyline and disorienting historical twists, following through from the first book (The Lion's Eye). The only unfortunate part of the deal is that two of the three main characters tended toward stereotypic: the enigmatic Egyptian, the doting hero/father. Ilario posed enough questions about gender issues to be a really interesting character, despite occasional histrionics. In general, I've enjoyed what I've read by Mary Gentle. Her characters and issues tend to be far more complex than they seem at first glance, kind of like a good wine.

This book opens with Ilario being suffocated by the assassin Carrasco, sent by the Chancellor of Iberia, Lord Videric. Ilario is a true hermaphrodite, formerly the Iberian "King's Freak," freed, sold into slavery in Carthage to Rekhmire' the New Alexandrian, where assassination attempts and political intrigue began with the first book. Ilario only wishes to study the New Art (using the new technique of perspective over idealism and stylization), but plots and greater issues spin out of control, keeping him/her involved in matters great and small. All of that happened in the first book, ending with the major cliff-hanger, which I found rather annoying. I also didn't care for Ilario's rashness, single-mindedness and attitude, nor for Ilario's improbable good fortune in his/her father Honorius and her master Rekhmire'--and in becoming pregnant after an ill-advised one-night stand AND surviving a cesarian in giving birth. Given all that, this continuation is a LOT more fun than the first book. The plots and political maneuvering between New Alexandria, Iberia and Carthage... and other powers, become more involved and complex, and Ilario and crew become more central to it all. Ilario's relationship with the no-nonsense Honorius, the reliably wise and clever Rekhmire' and others falls into a smooth-working comraderie that is amusing to watch. While Ilario is still unique, in that his/her motivations are sometimes difficult to understand, he/she is at least consistent in that--and so much less annoying to read about. Ilario has grown--and in a very good way. I truly enjoyed the many memorable characters, the drama, the political machinations and the emotional relationships in this conclusion to Ilario's tale.