The Divided

If not quite as magical as her prior novel The Merro Tree, The Divided is still a very good book. It tells the story of a planet with two warring peoples whose provenance and historical relationship is unclear. Sekme is a talented, seemingly charmed soldier, but needs the emotional support of her poet brother Set. Avhrym is a religious scholar who has been pushed by the war to a darker, more violent path. Both represent insular, intolerant cultures. Wepanu is the gifted prophet behind the scenes.

Waitman does a good job of representing all sides, and of keeping us interested. The prose is always smooth and easy to read. There are some plot flourishes that are never quite resolved, but for the most part, The Divided is a fun, satisfying novel.