Witch

If you read Wheel of Time and wanted a series that just focused on the inner politics of the Aes Sedai, then Warrior and Witch are the books for you. After Miryo and Mirage through thousands of years of tradition into question in the first book, the witches have to deal with the fallout. Predictably, some are on board with the new information while others are desperate to squash it and keep the old ways alive. There's a huge rift among the leaders of the witches, ultimately threatening a civil war that will draw in the rest of the world, as the various factions use their power and influence to lend strength to their various positions.

What's really refreshing about these books is the sheer number of female characters. They're brave and scared and strong and cruel and thoughtful and rash and hypocritical and because there are so many of them you get this wonderful varied cast of women behaving in all manner of different ways as they work towards whatever goal they've decided is most important.

This book provided an excellent conclusion to the first half of the duology, acknowledging all the messy bits that come with letting go of tradition but ending on a note of hope for the future and progress to be made. It's not perfect, but nothing ever is, and everyone seems to be moving in the best direction.

I'm going to have to go track down more of Marie Brennan's work. I picked up another book by her at a recent library book sale, but for the third time in a row it was the second in a series. So now I gotta track down the first one so I can start it. One of these days I'll manage to buy one of her first books first.