Book Review — "Mirrorstrike" by Benjanun Sriduangkaew
Benjanun Sriduangkaew continues to impress me. If you read my review of Winterglass, the first installment in the Her Pitiless Command series, you know that this genre of literature is not my usual cup of tea. But by now I am certainly getting acquired to the taste.
Like the novella that preceded it, Mirrorstrike is just a few pecks below 200 pages. Yet it has the depth of a novel four times its size. In theory, one could read the whole thing on a rainy Saturday afternoon. However, I wouldn’t recommend it. Because although Mirrorstrike is not massive, it is dense. And that’s not a negative whatsoever.
Sriduangkaew trusts her audience and respects their intelligence. She chooses to keep things flowing and paints between the lines, as opposed to bogging down the text with heavy backstory. In doing so, readers reading too fast might miss subtle, precious details that add texture to this captivating world. To be honest, I’d suggest taking a recess between each chapter. Go for a walk. Do the dishes. Make love. Meditate on what you’ve just consumed before diving back in.
With this second installment in the series, Sriduangkaew pivots the focus ever so cleverly. Lussadh, the evil Queen’s top general and perhaps Winterglass’s most richly drawn character, goes from supporting player to leading lady—which delighted me to death. Additionally, the author moves the setting from Sirapirat, Nuawa’s homeland, to Kemiraj, the city where Lussadh ruled as prince until the Winter Queen covered it in ice and forced Lussadh to kill her own family. The main protagonist here is still Nuawa, though, and the primary storyline still concerns her quest to end the Winter Queen’s reign of icy terror.
Those who’ve read Book One know that Nuawa will stop at nothing to accomplish this goal. Nuawa proved, in fact, during the climax of that previous volume that she’ll shed the blood of whomever it takes to make it happen—even that of those dearest to her.
And as it turns out, she’s not the only one who wants to slay the Winter Queen and bring temperate climate back to the land. Mirrorstrike introduces us to a new batch of names—all of whom have a score of some sort to settle with someone. Each character has a juicy history and contributes a unique spice to the brew. Shadowy deals. Secret connections. Everyone has a hidden agenda, and figuring out who wants what—and how they plan to get it—makes this story even more full-bodied and flavorful.
Also adding zest to the tale is all the steamy sex. Forgive me, but Sriduangkaew writes some very hot scenes that are absolutely central to the narrative. So, no, it’s not erotic for the sake of being erotic. These carnal acts are titillating, yes, but they also serve to deepen the development of the characters engaged in them. They also up the queer ante. Just when I thought Sriduangkaew couldn’t make things any queerer, she offers us the gift of arousing, lyrical fucking. Sexual politics have always been at the core of this world, and in Mirrorstrike they play out in the flesh… Remember when I said you ought to consider making love between chapters? Well, let Sriduangkaew put you in the mood!
While Book One was very plot-oriented and moved at a brisk pace, Mirrorstrike emphasizes character more so this time around and takes its time steeping. Readers keen on plot will likely complain that nothing is happening, that the story is thin. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Action can be internal, after all. Plus, dialogue is a form of action. Sex, too. Just because this installment does not have the bloody fight sequences that made Winterglass so riveting does not mean that Mirrorstrike isn’t just as absorbing. It is, albeit in a different way.
Unfortunately, the conclusion lacks the punch its predecessor had. The twist here, if that is the right word for it, reads as somewhat contrived, and… dare I say cheesy? I think I may have actually furrowed my brow and cocked my head in disbelief. Not necessarily because it felt out of character, or even unrealistic, but because of how it’s executed. The delivery is a bit abrupt—and not effectively. I will say, however… what unfolds in those final few pages will surly lead to an interesting beginning to Book Three.
Needless to say, I’m very much looking forward to the third part in the Her Pitiless Command series. Benjanun Sriduangkaew has a way of writing that I’m in awe of. Her prose is, to put it simply, breathtaking. Her characters are marvelous. This whole package is rad and queer as hell.
