The Night Bird

It should first be mentioned that this book is part of the Lost Continent-series. The other titles are: Moonglow (in the anthology 'Charmed destinies'), The Charmed Sphere, The Misted Cliffs, The Dawn Star, The Topaz Desert (in the anthology 'Lace and Blade 1') and Fire Opal. The book can be read on its own, but I would recommend reading the rest of the series first. In Jazid, women have always been treated like animals and property, which led to higher mortality rates among female children, women escaping the country and no female settlers coming to take their place. By now there are far more men than women so some tribes from Jazid abduct women from other countries and sell them in Jazid. One of the victims of this practice is Allegra, a young mage. Kidnapped, mistreated and finally sold to the leader of the resistance against King Cobalt, who recently conquered Jazid, her situation is truly frightening. Her owner, Markus Onyx, could do anything to her, but instead he shows more kindness than could be expected from a Jazidian man and warlord. But other members in the resistance think he's far too lenient and would love nothing more than to get their hands on Allegra to teach her the respect and submissiveness she refuses to show. In this humiliating and dangerous situation, Allegra finds out about the plans of the resistance to conquer Taka Mal and kill the royal family. She knows she's the only one who can save them. But to do this, she will have to escape the resistance and Markus, whom she has begun to care about. Her only hope are her as yet undeveloped magical abilities... Like the rest of the series, this is a well-written novel with interesting characters, a fascinating world, a suspenseful plot and many beautiful and original ideas. I enjoyed it very much, but it should also be mentioned that is relatively dark because the situation of women in Jazid and Allegra's fate in particular are highly unpleasant. Still, the book easily earns 5 stars and the whole series is worth buying in my opinion. For those who feel this is a terrible book about a woman falling in love with her rapist: I think it should be allowed to explore what happens in restrictive cultures where women have no or few rights - there were and still are enough of those in real life. The novel makes it very clear that Markus is very far from a romantic love interest in many ways, but that he is a product of his culture - which he learns to overcome. So this book isn't a sweet romance novel, but it has much more depth and gave me a lot to think about. The process in which both Allegra and Markus have to learn about each other, their respective cultures and how to make a life together despite their differences is worth much more to me than another sugared romance. So thumbs up to Catherine Asaro - I wish there were more courageous writers like her.

Night Bird (2008) is the fifth fantasy novel in the Lost Continent series, following The Fire Opal. In the previous volume, Ginger-Sun found a badly injured man on the temple grounds and nursed him to health. Then his friends located him and helped Ginger escape from her village. Eventually, Ginger discovered that Darz Goldstone was an alias for the cousin of Vizarana Jade, the queen of Taka Mal. Cobalt Chamberlight -- the Midnight Emperor -- already ruled the Misted Cliffs by inheritance and the countries of Blueshire and Shazire by right of conquest. Then he conquered Jazid. These nations now comprised the Dawnstar Empire. Vizarana almost lost Taka Mal to Cobalt. Only a treaty with Aronsdale protected Taka Mal from becoming part of the Empire. But Aronsdale and Harsdown are themselves allied with the Empire by family and marriage. In this novel, Allegra Linseed is a dairymaid at her parents' farm in Aronsdale. She has been selected to study at the Song Weavers Guild, but she feels that she is too young. Two years later, she is on her way to the guildhouse. Prince Regent Marcus Onyx is the elder half-brother of Atajazid D'Az Ozarson Onyx. Cobalt thinks that all the sons of Ozar Onyx are dead. He also believes that the Jazid still owe their loyalty to himself as the occupant of the Onyx throne. Yet the Jazids are really loyal to the sons of Ozar. In this story, Allegra's journey is interrupted by Jazid slavers within Aronsdale. She is taken to a tribal encampment in Jazid. There she is cleaned and dressed appropriately for a pleasure slave and then presented to two potentials buyers. Prince Marcus has commissioned the slavers to abduct an Aronsdale woman. He is the principal bidder. Marcus has invited General Dusk Targazon to participate in the bidding. Being the person she is, Allegra refuses to be treated as a slave. Despite the threats from the Prince Regnant and the General, she responds with cutting remarks. She is mauled somewhat by the General, but the Prince Regnant discourages his blows. Then Allegra is removed from the tent. Later she is told that Marcus has outbid Targazon and now owns her. She has a few things to say about that idea. The Prince Regnant and the General depart from the tribal camp and journey on to their hidden camp. Marcus and his men are outlaws within their own country, with a price on their heads from Cobalt, the nominal ruler of Jazid. This tale is very similar to The Misted Cliffs in its plot. The young mage and the Jazid prince become lovers, but are not certain about their love. As usually happens, they have numerous cultural differences that cause conflicts and misunderstandings. Then Allegra escapes and Marcus come after her. This story almost supports the effectiveness of lust in resolving personal and cultural conflicts. One wonders how many teenagers will get the message that sex -- and maybe a baby -- will solve all problems with their boyfriends. Lust is highly overr

Okay, I love Cathrine Asaro fantasy. This is a professional woman who owns a research facility has a PHhd. in physic and a series of science fiction longer then my arm. But to me she is a great writer of fantasy. This is a standalone book in her Misty Cliff series where magic uses geometrical shapes and sometimes music to focus. So we have shape and color of magic, the more side to the shape the more powerfull the magic and higher the frequency of the color. In this story we have a girl who sings her magic she still need to have a shape to focus. But when she sings lullabies people really go to sleep. I think some of the fixes that she gets into were kind of contrive and should or would not had happen if this story was in a real world. But I still love her writing. I am glad that there is a Luna Imprint for good fantasy to get printed but hate the Tradebook size. But Im not waiting a year till they print the mass market paperback to get a good novel. five stars all the way. If this is you first introduction to this world I suggest you find the Cliff of Mist series first. or later or at the same time.

I thought this was a very realistic but not heavy story of a very male dominated race that see women as both of no worth yet a status symbol of power and wealth. Add to that a captured woman from a race that was strong and cognizant of her own worth and that of her fellow sex, and who was horried over the abuse, humiliation and denigration experienced by the woman and who dared to question why. I couldn't put it down.

While the basic plot has been written about before, girl gets kidnapped by nomads then sold to the warlord who she falls in love with, the book was engaging and very well written. I've read a lot of romance where the prose was subpar, the world felt flat and the characters seemed like cardboard cut outs. This book is not one of those. While I don't think new people to the lost content series would be unable to lose themselves in the lingo if they started with this book, those of us like myself who are returning to this world, will enjoy the depth of character revealed in some old friends and the amazing speed at which we get to know some new ones. I was very happy to see Cobalt grow in his humanity, Jarid's struggles with his magical bane of being able to kill, and I cant wait to see what happens to poor Aron and if he ever can get married. I would recommend this book for people looking for a good story and not philosophical insight into the universe.