Often the stories that we loved when we were younger don’t stand the test of time. Sometimes, our tastes change or evolve or as we learn more about ourselves and the world around us, the stories don’t resonate as well.
For me, the Deverry Cycle is a rare example of a series that has stood the test of time for me. The themes, the magic system, and characters still have things to teach me while they entertain. The series is told in quartets, each one having an arc and theme. While I appreciate the first three, the final one is by far my favorite, with the first being a close second.
Dallandra is one of my favorite characters, though she is one of the few characters that we never see reincarnated, due to an interesting turn of events. She does grow and change in her very long life, however.
If you missed my blog last month, it centered on this series as well and I highly suggest you go read that. I hope that you give these books a try! If you do dive into Deverry, be sure to check out the expanded table of incarnations on Katherine Kerr’s website or the one on Wikipedia.
I also read A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking this month. I was on a panel at JordanCon to discuss it with other authors. One of the most interesting themes in the book was the fact that we shouldn’t need heroes. If our leaders put politics aside, pulled their weight, stood up to injustice and generally did the right thing instead of the easy thing, heroes wouldn’t be needed.
The magic system was ingenious and the characters were nuanced, flawed, and relatable.
Creativity and imagination play a huge role in being “powerful”. The traditional flashy magical powers of wielding lightning or fireballs are nowhere near as interesting as some of the “smaller” time magics. Imagine having your magic tied to dough and baked goods!
My 10-year-old is currently reading the book and thinks it is hilarious and entertaining. Definitely a book that you can read as a family or share with your kids. Honestly, based on the blurb alone I wouldn’t have picked it up unless it was for the panel, but I am so glad I did!