The Outskirter's Secret
Ratings10
Average rating4.3
15
Ratings10
Average rating4.3
WHEN A GUIDESTAR FALLS Two shining lights hung above, motionless in the night sky as the constellations slowly passed behind them. The common folk knew them well, and used them to count the hours, mark the seasons: the Guidestars. But when the steerswoman Rowan discovered a number of broken blue jewels of clearly magical origin, her investigations led to a startling discovery: a Guidestar had fallen. There were more than two; the others hung above the opposite side of the world; something had caused one of those to fall. But what? And what might it mean? Rowan had no answers... But she knew one thing: where the fallen Guidestar was located. To reach it, she must cross the Inner Lands and pass deep into the wild and deadly Outskirts. Rowan's traveling companion, Bel, is an Outskirter herself. Together the steerswoman and the warrior-poet have a chance of surviving the cruel landscape, the barbarian tribes, and the bizarre native wildlife. But there are more secrets than one in the Outskirts: and each dangerous step closer to the Guidestar brings new discoveries, leading to the most startling secret of all... "If you haven't read Kirstein's Steerswoman books I envy you the chance to read them now for the first time.... I think they have a very good claim to be my favorite thing still being written. [...] If you like science, and if you like watching someone work out mysteries, and if you like detailed weird alien worlds and human cultures, if really good prose appeals... you're really in luck." - Jo Walton, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner, author of Among Others and Farthing. "[Kirstein] walks the tightrope between fantasy and science fiction with precision and grace... [her] compassion for even minor characters is evident on every page, and her prose is measured and alluring without being overworked." -- Damien Broderick & Paul Di Filippo, in Science Fiction: The 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 "The world Kirstein creates is captivating." -- Publisher's Weekly
Series
4 primary booksThe Steerswoman is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 1992 with contributions by Rosemary Kirstein.
Reviews with the most likes.
Nomad life is rough
warring tribes, nasty beasties
the biggest perk: goats.
This is indeed better than the first one: slightly less unexpected violence, much better dialogue and more explanation. Having said that, it still seems on the slow side - there is a lot of wandering between the revelations. I am also now slightly concerned that the unfinished series is 4 books long without a conclusion in sight (book 4 was published 20 years ago!). This is giving GRRM vibes.
Still, the hook is enough to make me to add book 3 to my TBR. Fingers crossed book 5 makes an appearance by the time I get to book 4...
I enjoyed this second book in the Steerswoman series. It is challenging to read them. This book continues and expands the practice of showing ordinary lives. These books are not about leading up to action payoffs every few chapters. Instead these books are written with the flow of life that seems real. A person lives life with everyday events happening, and once in a while sudden violence might happen which is a surprising interruption.
Rowan is continuing her investigation of the fallen guidestar. I am learning more about day-to-day life in an outskirter camp than I ever wanted to know.
I most enjoy learning about the Face people.
The author is frustrating me by revealing no more about the mysteries of the Guidestars and the Wizards to us readers than she reveals to the steerswoman. So we must try to put together the mystery at the same speed as the characters in the story. Very frustrating, but probably a wise writing choice.
I want to warn potential readers. There are pages upon pages of information about the life and practices of the nomadic goat herders in the Outback and the Face. Be prepared.
