(no subject)

[camwyn]

Started a new book this weekend: Ricardo Pinto's The Chosen, from his The Stone Dance of the Chameleon trilogy. I figured I'd give it a look based on TVTropes' page about it and how different it was from mainstream fantasy novels. Kinda fascinating so far, and rather more Mesoamerican flavoured than any other fantasy I've run into, without falling into the trap of 'look! It's AZTECS WITH MAGIC!' or 'Look! It's THINLY DISGUISED MAYA on a world that isn't Earth (but really it is)!'. I'll happily discuss details if people are interested, but what bugs me is I'm on page 162 of a 700-page book and we've encountered two female characters. Two. One among the kitchen women and one who was the protagonist's father's favorite barbarian concubine. A third, the Empress, is mentioned but not present yet. Which is kinda... mnrgh. I'm giving the book a chance despite this because a lot of the exposition so far has been dedicated to the author showing the reader just how screwed-up the society these characters live in is. I mean, we're talking 'one of the Masters went out on the deck of the ship without remembering to wear his mask; we have to kill every single low-blooded sailor including the captain who was on deck at the time because that is how things are done' levels of screwed up. For all I know the dearth of women is part of that. So we'll see.

In other news both the cats are well and I got the rest of the bed pre-stained and re-sanded last night. I may have tutoring to do tonight, and if I do I'll work on the bed afterwards and if not, I'll do that once I go home- which might be some time, as it's quite nice and sunny out for once and a walk in the sun before the predicted thunderstorms come would be good.