In the first chapter of Trickster’s Queen, the Balitangs return to Rajmuat, and the conspiracy starts. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to start Trickster’s Queen.
Prologue / Chapter One: Rajmuat
OH MY GOD. IT’S STARTING OH MY GOD. It’s weird how in hindsight, Trickster’s Choice feels like such a different book than it was while I was reading it. It’s all set-up for this, so excuse me if I am particularly excited about what’s about to happen. The prologue alone is not okay, as Tamora Pierce is able to somewhat summarize some of the events from the previous book while providing us with the necessary information regarding what happened during the winter months at Tanair. WHICH IS ALY BEING A SPYMASTER. She is a spymaster she is a spymaster HER DREAM CAME TRUE. And this transformation clearly happened over the course of Trickster’s Choice, but the very matter-of-fact announcement of this fact here in Trickster’s Queen is stunning because… shit. She did it. She did it.
But while this journey centers on Aly, this whole conspiracy isn’t just about her. (I love that I get to call this a conspiracy because that’s what it literally is.) Every one of the characters from the last book (well, those who survived SORRY I HAD TO SAY IT) has their own part in it. Ulasim is now the head of it all; Ochobu is leading the Chain, the network of mages used for communication purposes; Junai is watching over Dove; and I’m eager to see what the Balitangs are going to do in the coming days, given how volatile this already is.
And good lord, the tension is thick in the first chapter, y’all. Stormwings are everywhere in Rajmuat; Rubinyan and Imajane are liberally executing anyone who is perceived as a threat to A FOUR-YEAR-OLD KING; Topabaw’s spies are an additional threat; the crows arrive in the most conspicuous manner in the history of the universe. And then there’s Nuritin, who I’ll get to at the end. Pierce does an utterly fantastic job of conveying the layered and endless complications already present in this conspiracy, and it’s so satisfying to read. Yes, it’s a joke that I’m unprepared, but this is precisely why this book is so exciting right off the bat. There are so many things that could go wrong or go right, and with the introduction of Topabaw and Nirutin, Pierce is metaphorically cackling at us for trying to anticipate the end of this journey. Actually, I should correct myself, as I know from personal experience that she literally cackles at this shit, so yeah.
Even Kyprioth’s appearance here isn’t laced with the same sort of humor and mischief that we’re used to. Sure, he’s his usual coy, sarcastic self, but then Aly experiences a startling moment of honesty that’s a lot more severe than she expected:
A will of stone showed on the corners of his mouth tightened. “I’ve waited a long time for this spring to come.”
Aly stayed where she was, though her body wanted to flee. It unnerved her to see that depth of emotion in the dethroned god.
It’s important that Pierce reminds us of the stakes at hand, which she does again a few pages later:
His eyes darkened. “Make sure you see this through. Once battle is joined in the Divine Realms, we gods draw strength from the success of our worshippers. If you fail and I fail, the luarin will exterminate the raka. And I will be unable to help them, because my brother and sister will kick me to the outermost edge of the universe.”
Wow, how have I not realized the unintentional/coincidental parallel between this series and The Inheritance Trilogy, which I’m reading right now??? SIBLING GODS DOING FUCKED UP THINGS AND RUINING THINGS FOR EVERYONE ELSE. Again, I love that Pierce is willing to paint Mithros and The Goddess in a negative light here, especially since she spent so much time doing the opposite in past books. It’s a challenging thing to read about, but I think it’s crucial to help comprehend how these sort of political situations happen. It’s a way to help people cope with the fact that people they like can still create or support oppressive systems.
The suspense that I already felt from all of the above only got worse once the Balitangs disembarked from their ship and made their way to the Balitang house. The raka of the city of Rajmuat couldn’t resist showing up in DROVES to stare at Sarai, and Topabaw’s spies notice it, too. GREAT. I loved the details along the way that Aly noticed that told her that there was a lot more unrest in Rajmuat recently. It harkens back to the prologue and the idea “psychological operations” and their necessity in this rebellion. This is about chipping away at luarin power and image, and it means that those in power are struggling. It’s a start. It’s a chip in the armor, and I can’t wait to see how Aly and the others exploit this.
Of course, there’s a more immediate concern that they’re all going to have to deal with, the Balitangs included: AUNT NURITIN. Oh gods, I know so little about her, so it’s hard to parse how I feel about me. Initially, though, I’m suspicious. I’m guessing that’s why the Balitang house is in such good condition and why there are so many servants and slaves tending to the place. How much does Nuritin Balitang know about lines of succession? Is she possibly enacting a power play of her own, or will she be harmless? How the hell are the conspirators supposed to enact this revolution with Nuritin watching over them??? Oh, Tamora Pierce, you’re already messing with me, and we’re not even 25 pages into this book. But I love it, and I love how much potential there is in this one character!
Thankfully, the raka have helped Aly more than she knew, and the end of this chapter features one hell of a surprise. After room inspections and a brief reunion with Chenaol (MY QUEEN), Aly is led to her new working space within the Balitang house. She has a personal office. OH MY GOD SHE IS A REAL LIVE SPYMASTER. Sorry, I can’t get over it!!! Seventeen years old, and she is living out her dream. That is so incredible and amazing to me!
Seriously, what a fantastic start to this novel. I’m ecstatic to finally discover how this series will end.
Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Mark Links Stuff
– You can now purchase a personalized Holiday Card from Mark for just $20!
– If you would like to support this website and keep Mark Does Stuff running, I’ve put up a detailed post explaining how you can!
– Please check out the MarkDoesStuff.com. All Mark Watches videos for past shows/season are now archived there!
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. The schedule for Double Features is also updated through the end of the year!
