Pre-numbered label used for registration.

At the Brick Muni building, the Brick library has set up a FREE BOOK SHELF. Seems like a good idea, since, many people have to wait thru court there. I limited myself to just taking this one.

Settled in a mediaeval Ethiopia Mezlekia tells the story of Aster, the daughter of the feudal lord Ashenafi, and the slave-born court entertainer Gudu. Aster was born with astonishing talents but the court's diviner takes her education in hand and she looses some of them. The remaining capabilities are much appreciated by the emperor where she spends some time because her father is expecting advantages for himself. When the drunken emperor rapes Aster, she returns to her father's court, badly in need for care. During her recovery she gets into close contact with Gudu and the two young people fell in love - a love without perspective. As soon as Ashenafi discovers it, Gudu had to flee. He gets into contact with a nomad group, the Amma, who practice another religion which the empire's diviners call pagan and heretic. Gudu manages to rally not only the Amma warriors but also tenants of Count Ashenafi who are dissatisfied with their master. This revolt conincides with the emergence of an deadly inquisition movement ...

Although there is a historical postscript which gives some background information I'm not sure whether I would call it a historical novel. There are parallels, sure, but the combination is so much fiction that I don't like this genre here. The story had lots of potential: it's dramatic with the revolt and battles and guerilla warfare, it's mystic with Asters capabilites and the spell charmers and so on, it's romantic with Aster's and Gudu's love. But the result lacks something, and I believe this has to do with the very straight-forward telling of the author. I would have liked to put on the wrong track from time to time or to make a little detour from the main plot. And the language was somewhat uninspiring as well, especially during the battles where I felt more like reading a military report from the front. A good novel with some weaknesses, I'd say.

Most likely the book is still with the previous journaler, I had only asked for the BCID for my own journal entry. But I don't want it on my shelf anymore with a misleading status, therefore this entry.