All I knew about The Bone Doll’s Twin, the first book in the Tamir Triad, was that it was a fantasy novel written by a women. I couldn’t remember which internet list had recommended it to me.
The series takes place in a medieval-type world, in country long ruled by women. Once a male in the royal line takes power, he attempts to secure his patrilineal line by doing away with women who could claim it back. There’s a prophecy and a ban on training and allowing women to be warriors, although they had been for aeons.
There’s a prophecy, difficult choices, madness, and magic.
This is also a thoughtful meditation on gender, sex, and sexuality, asking what it means to foster and fight sexism, what happens when your true self is denied, and what difference a body makes to the self.
As in much contemporary fantasy, we explore class, gender, war, battle strategy, othering, education, love, and friendship.
Many will enjoy the LGBTQ themes in the book; I enjoy that our cast is varied, just as our world is.
The Bone Doll’s Twin was published in 2001, followed by The Hidden Warrior in 2003, and by Oracle’s Queen in 2006. I’m looking forward to reading the companion series, The Nightrunner.
