Favorite Lines: “Silvia had taught him well. Never mind that the heat from the salamander’s skin scalded his fingertips and singed his hair, never mind that his mouth and tongue blistered as he kissed her breasts, that her strong scent made him want to vomit.” (363)
This book
Thief With No Shadow is a fantasy novel about two families and their journey to overcome the past. Melke, a wraithe, has broken a personal vow to never steal. She stole a necklace from Bastien and that is where the book begins. Melke is stuck in a tree with a hound snarling beneath her. The hound belongs to Bastien, so when Bastien calls him he leaves allowing Melke to run for her life. She must take the necklace to the salamanders to exchange for her brother.
The necklace is much more than a pretty bauble though. Tied to the necklace is a curse laid upon Bastien’s family by a psaaron (sea creature). If the necklace isn’t returned to the creature by high tide it will come and punish a member of the family, his choice, male or female.
Like all characters, Melke and Bastien’s past has formed who they are when we pop into their world. Melke holds herself as her mother taught her and incurs Bastien’s wrath for her seeming indifference to his plight. Bastien has watched the curse destroy his mother, father, and their land. The curse caused the water to slowly leave their land. Add to that a creature that sexually punishes a member of his family and you’ve got the formula for a jacked up man.
Bastien isn’t nice and at times I really disliked him. He even sinks to doing things that he abhors out of spite and later out of a need for redemption. Melke is a noble creature but she really didn’t do anything for me. She was predictable. Her brother was much more interesting and I would have liked to know more about him and the secondary story line that evolved around the siblings of the main characters.
The story was tame compared to what I’ve read lately. The pace was steady, so instead of racing forward into battles and action, it walked on a journey. After completing the book I didn’t feel a “Oh my God, that was a great book!” feeling. It was alright and slightly different from what I’ve been reading.
Scooper Speaks 
It has a great cover though. I’ll check out to get the feel of it. Thanks for bringing it to my notice! 😉
Tempest- While the book is pretty tame, it does have some moments that are not tame. They are sexual moments that are hinted at but not described as the action takes place. The author hints at the aftermath of the violence but doesn’t give blow by blow descriptions.
I’m about a third of the way through this book. I did a Google search for reviews and this site popped up. So far, I’m having a hard time with Bastian as well. Bigotry is a difficult character trait to ignore. But I see much in him to admire, so I’m trying to give him a chance.
That was an interesting quote you put up. I haven’t gotten to that point yet.
Tia- I didn’t like Bastian. He was def. a bigot and he treated Melke horribly. Granted she did steal from him, but he didn’t like her because of what she was born not because she was a thief. The end was rather mellow. You start out running and slow to a walk then race some more and the end just seemed to lack any fireworks or sigh of release for me.
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