Royal Airs

This is a tough book to rate - I probably added a gratuitous fourth star just because I was so happy to read a Sharon Shinn book that wasn't part of that dismal shapeshifter series. Royal Airs returns readers to the kingdom of Welce that was introduced three years ago in Troubled Waters. The setting is an intriguing mix of fairy-tale and Industrial Revolution - people have one of five personality types, with portentous blessings associated with each, but, in a more modern touch, rudimentary automobiles are in use and airplanes are being tested (with a great deal of risk).

The hero of the novel, Rafe, is a rootless gambler who learns that he has more to offer than he thought. I liked him a lot, and felt invested in his journey of discovery, but was less enthusiastic about the heroine, Princess Josetta, who was introduced in Waters. She has an admirable dedication to the poor residents of the kingdom, but she doesn't do anything particularly heroic or memorable. She especially pales in comparison to the few glimpses we get of Zoe, the heroine from Waters, who continues to display her awesome ability to control the kingdom's water supply and discern blood relationships by touch. Compared to her, Josetta is a bit of a wimp.

I enjoyed spending time with the characters who were previously introduced, and appreciated re-familiarizing myself with the Welce customs, so I'm going with a four-star rating. The book's ending indicates that at least one more book in this series is planned, although Shinn's website only notes an upcoming shapeshifter novel (ugh) so it may be three years again before we see another Elemental Blessings novel. I hope not - this series has the potential to be as engaging as Shinn's Twelve Houses novels.