The Belly of the Wolf

I've been a fan of MacAvoy's since reading Tea With the Black Dragon in highschool 20 years ago. I fell in love with the Damiano trilogy shortly thereafter and have read it many times since. I even managed to get my then-future husband, a very reluctant reader, to read all three. I've just finished re-reading the Lens of the Word trilogy which I had actually checked out of the library for my daughter who had asked me to pick her out something interesting. In the final installment of this series, MacAvoy does the unusual (and some would say unthinkabe) by killing off two of her main characters before the story even begins. Nazhuret is living a peaceful scholarly existence with his grown daughter Nahvah in Canton, far from Velonya. Still mourning his soul mate Arlin, four year's dead (presumably from illness which the author chose not to elaborate on), he learns of the death of his friend, King Rudof. This same day Nazhuret and Nahvah escape an assassination attempt (Nahvah's skill is medicine and hand guns) and flee Canton on a Felonk vessel. Here they meet up with a nobleman of Lowercanton, famous as a brilliant artist and deadly duelist. I don't think I'm spoiling anything for the astute reader who will quickly see what Nazhuret does not---that the Duke has romantic designs on him. Contrary to what an earlier reviewer stated, this kind of thing isn't uncommon at all in fantasy, although it is unusual for MacAvoy who generally only hints at homosexual tendencies in minor characters. A homoerotic attraction is not out of character for Nazhuret since he was never certain of his own inclinations. If homoeroticism is something you enjoy, you will not encounter much in this novel. There are some blushes, elusions, a few catty comments but nothing steamy or overt. That Nazhuret and the Duke become companions is only hinted at at the end of the book athough in a way that leaves no doubt in the reader's mind. I was a bit unsatisfied with the ending which seemed a bit hasty and pat. I noticed that this installment was quite a bit thinner than the first two books in the series. I would have liked if she had developed the burgeoning relationship between Nazhuret and the Duke a bit more. Also, MacAvoy introduces some potentially interesting characters without really fleshing them out. One of these is Timet , a young initiate of the sect which has grown around Nazhuret's writings in his absence. There are encounters between him and Nazhuret which ultimately lead nowhere and he winds up merely as a love interest for Nahvah in the penultimate page of the novel. As I said, just a little too pat. Considering the depth that went into the first two installments, this one seemed a bit sketchy. That said, a sketchy novel from MacAvoy is still excellent reading! Had I been reading the work of a less talented writer it is doubtful I would have been engaged enough by secondary characters to care to know more about them.

Those who have read the reviews I posted for the first two books in this series know that I have not been overwhelmed, citing reasons such as bland characterization and lack of plot for my opinion. This third volume changes all that. MacAvoy gives us a good plot and finally develops Nazhuret into a rich character.MacAvoy gives us a treat, letting the reader watch Nazhuret age from a child to a man of 55 years throughout the series. Here, Nazhuret tries to save Velonya from itself while struggling with personal demons. He looks for other options besides seizing leadership. He comes to terms with the loss of his late wife. A treat for the reader.MacAvoy explores Nazhuret's sexuality. First, he paired off with a woman who always dressed like a man. Now we see a potential romance blooming with Dinaos (which is hinted on the last page that it did happen). It doesn't fit with my political leanings, and I'm not convinced it belongs in books (if I wanted sex I'd pick up one of those Harlequins), but it's a perspective rarely seen in fantasy.

Pick up any work of MacAvoy's and you enter a strange realm where you get to share her appreciation of the somewhat mystical nature of our existance. She allows you to easily slip into the universe she creates and her characters come alive with their strengths and weaknesses