It’s absolutely orientalist, similar to Zelazny’s Lord of Light but for Islam instead of Hinduism. For these, I was able to view them as a product of their time and enjoy the story even while recognizing some problematic elements.
I found the 2nd book to be a bit of a slog, and I enjoyed the 3rd a lot more again. Since it was about new characters once again coming of age (… kind of), it has that same sense of exploration and discovery as the 1st. The 1st is definitely my fave so far though.
It’s absolutely orientalist, similar to Zelazny’s Lord of Light but for Islam instead of Hinduism. For these, I was able to view them as a product of their time and enjoy the story even while recognizing some problematic elements.
I found the 2nd book to be a bit of a slog, and I enjoyed the 3rd a lot more again. Since it was about new characters once again coming of age (… kind of), it has that same sense of exploration and discovery as the 1st. The 1st is definitely my fave so far though.