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Estara's Reviews > Stranger at the Wedding

Stranger at the Wedding by Barbara Hambly
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really liked it
bookshelves: ebook, re-read, read-in-2012
Read 2 times. Last read February 23, 2012 to February 24, 2012.

** spoiler alert ** Huge spoilers!

Hambly dedicated this book to her husband, so I would guess the love story inherent in the plot is a lot how she felt about him - I really liked it in any case. I liked both love stories - and I remember that the first time I read the book I was mislead by the red herring threads to think that Kira's father's patron or her sister's beloved might be the danger after all.

It took me ages to see the hints (much better visible on this reread) of why there was the falling out with Kira's dog wizard mentor originally.

I liked that a whole lot of the story centres around this one family and their daily life in ordinary times and under this enormous pressure of a formal wedding in the Traditional Style. Beyond that there is a portrait of the town and its quarters, always in service to the plot, but fascinating on its own.

Kira remains herself but she is finally freed from a lot of her anger and guilt, and Spenson comes into his own even more in this book. Alix finally stands up for her love.

There is no HEA but a HFN with potential for more. While her sister Alix and her beloved do get a fresh start, Kira and her father can never openly reconcile and her status as a wizard means she can't have children or marry Spenson openly. He's so far only got a two year respite from his own father (and there is no clue whether the Citadel mages won't realise what Kira had to do to save her sister).

It would be lovely to get a follow-up to the story.
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Reading Progress

Finished Reading
February 23, 2012 – Started Reading
February 23, 2012 – Shelved
February 23, 2012 – Shelved as: re-read
February 23, 2012 – Shelved as: ebook
February 23, 2012 – Shelved as: read-in-2012
February 24, 2012 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)

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Laura (Kyahgirl) I read this one years ago and, from your review, am thinking I missed a few things. I think I'll re-read.


Estara This was the first time I reread since I read in the original paperback ^^ - it's interesting that the nebulous dread I was feeling was still misdirected somewhat but the farther I got into the plot the more I was sure of the villain.


Hélène "Spenson comes into his own even more in this book" : does this mean the book is part of a series?


message 4: by Estara (last edited 24 fév. 2012 21:42) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Estara No, I probably used the wrong image there - while he is a grown-up successful man (I think he may be 20 years older than Kira who is in her mid 20s?) with a career that has included captaining and ordering the fleet of ships of his father's business empire in all kinds of situations - his father has now called him home to ensure the succession.

And he starts out like a fish out of water, but still willing to please his father. This is very much a book about children deciding to live their own life (without burning all the bridges, at that, which is what most children eventually try to avoid in real life, I would say) and not be sacrificed to the dynastic plans of their parents.

Having said that: There is a trilogy set in this world, but the characters here don't enter into it - it's the Windrose Chronicles trilogy.


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