The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng

A very satisfying end to the series. Emotional, poignant, action packed and brutal. The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen manage to be both intensely personal and sweepingly epic at the same time, and this final entry is no exception, taking both ends to increasing extremes. The battles are bigger, badder and more frequent. The personal sacrifices are more painful and intimate. The series certainly ends on a bang.

We pick up pretty much where the previous book left off - Talyien is back in Jin-Sayeng and is now trying to navigate the labyrinthine politics of her own country as well as play off Yuebek. This is as twisty and tricksy as any political thriller. This is all with the impending doom of the rift in the back ground.

The core of the story really is down to Talyien's relationships. With her husband, with her lover, with her suitor, with her parents. These relationships are extremely varied but all very real in their feeling. There is definitely a chemistry between Tali and Rai, but this is a relationship that is on its last legs - the challenges have been taken too far. And whilst there is still respect and a bond their, the love is leaching away. The relationship with Khine is far more intense and passionate. The relationship with Yuebek is cleverly evolving throughout the book. The revulsion never goes away, but the necessity of his presence definitely changes. He is mad but believably so, not a caricature by any means. And then there is Yeshin, a character who is dead throughout all three books but whose presence and machinations drive everything going. The man is both brutal and brilliant. His Machiavellian presence permeates everything here.

A worthy finale to a special series that I thoroughly enjoyed