The Jewel and Her Lapidary by Fran Wilde

The kingdom in the Valley has long sheltered under the protection of its Jewels and Lapidaries, the people bound to singing gemstones with the power to reshape hills, move rivers, and warp minds. That power has kept the peace and tranquility, and the kingdom has flourished. Jewel Lin and her Lapidary Sima may be the last to enjoy that peace. The Jeweled Court has been betrayed. As screaming raiders sweep down from the mountains, and Lapidary servants shatter under the pressure, the last princess of the Valley will have to summon up a strength she's never known. If she can assume her royal dignity, and if Sima can master the most dangerous gemstone in the land, they may be able to survive.--cover.

I enjoyed this. I probably would have liked it better if it was a little bit longer. I just didn't get enough of the world building.

This is a highly original story and I enjoyed it.

I saw several reviews which classify the two main characters' relationship as romantic, but I didn't really see it that way. To me it's more accurate to call it a very close master/servant bond, and it does have the usual moral problems of that setup, since the lapidaries are more or less slaves. But if the lapidaries did not serve the jewels, they would be slaves to the gems, I guess, so it's a little morally grey.

The story is kind of in the tradition of classic sci-fi short stories I read as a kid, like Ray Bradbury - it's nothing like his work in tone or subject matter, but in that it's focused on a very specific concept, the magic system, and the plot and characters seem to spring from that idea. But the characters are definitely interesting and well-developed, and the plot kept me guessing until the end.

I did know about the ending before I started this - it's a sad ending, but it fits the story and does not feel inappropriate.

An interesting world, and a sad story.

Sad and Lovely

A beautiful, poignant little story that vividly encapsulates character and setting in a few spare strokes. This is the first I've read from Fran Wilde, and I definitely liked it enough to seek out more of her books.