Lovely, imaginative book about QPOC fantasy romance with great mutism and sign language representation, but BE SURE TO CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS. The subjects are handled well, but they are handled explicitly.

A STRANGE AND STUBBORN ENDURANCE is one of my favorite things I’ve read all year, in a year where I’ve already read more than two hundred books. It might be my favorite arranged/political marriage book, if it’s not the winner it’s at least in good company. It’s instantly achieved the rank of my favorite fantasy book dealing with rape (a strange category to have, but as I make a podcast dealing with fictional depictions of trauma, an almost necessary category to be aware of).  If you’re uncomfortable with that content, please choose another book, with my best wishes, as this deals with the actual event and long aftermath of a (graphic but brief) sexual assault by someone who until very recently was the victim’s romantic partner. 

There are two major countries, one of which is barely shown but heavily felt (Ralia), and the other is where almost all of the story takes place (Tithena). That means the reader's main understanding of Ralia is through Velasin's recollections and Tithenai gossip. The story's focus on Velasin's arranged marriage to a man, combined with Ralian homophobia, means that most descriptions of Ralia are unflattering, focusing on much that Velasin was unable to freely do in his former country. Most of the story is set in Tithena, in or around Caethari's home (now Velasin's new home). This allows the opportunity for both the official Tithenian line and the reality to appear side by side in a way that doesn't happen for Ralia. It makes it clear that even though Tithena is more egalitarian in many respects, 

Velasin and his soon-to-be husband, Caethari, are the two narrators. I love Velasin and Caethari, both separately and together. However, unlike most books with dual narrators, this gives each narrator several chapters in a row before switching to the other. This helps with immersion into each man's perspective, and means that in this emotionally fraught story based on a colossal and nearly catastrophic misunderstanding, the reader doesn't get an immediate narrative resolution merely by switching to the other person. They're very different people, something which really gets to shine when Velasin gets more comfortable and begins turning his people skills and political mind to the mystery at hand.

We meet Velasin on the road, almost immediately reaching his father's home after fleeing his unfaithful partner (and accompanied by Markel, his servant and friend). Upon his arrival he's notified by his father of his impending arranged marriage to a Tithenai woman. Moments later his former partner arrives, having pursued him, then assaults him. After his father and the Tithenai envoy walk in on them (not understand that it was rape), the envoy offers him a marriage to a man instead. He accepts with as little consent as was involved in the former arrangement, and then travels to Tithena, where the rest of the plot unfolds. 

Markel is Velasin's servant and best friend. He's mute, using signs, writing, and other non-verbal signals to communicate with Velasin (and anyone else who'll learn). I like Markel, and he gets a lot of space in Velasin's thoughts, but not quite as much in the actual narrative (as he spends much of it recovering from a very serious injury). He's very important to the story, playing much more of a role before he's attacked and after he's mostly recovered. 

Caethari wasn't expecting to be the one getting married, since Ralia's endemic homophobia is well-known in Tithena. Tithenia as a country is so casually queer that saying it's more accepting of queerness than Ralia does a disservice in the comparison. It is not, however, free of other problems. Before Caethari can greet Velasin, the incoming party is attacked and their introduction is made under rather stressful circumstances.

The rest of the plot weaves together a series of strange and possibly politically-motivated attacks, investigations of the same, Velasin's internal struggles, Caethari's attempts to help, and many long conversations about cultural differences which range from extremely serious to mere curiosities. There's also the lingering threat that Velasin's attacker might pursue him further, a (not unfounded) worry which complicates his recovery. I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters, but I'm generally terrible with names and was still able to track most of what was happening. Much of the narrative is structured like a mystery, where they're trying to figure out the person or group behind the attacks and don't know who they can trust. This is interwoven with Velasin and Caethari getting to know each other, and Velasin's introductions to Caethari's family and a few other important persons. 

Read this for a kind of mystery story, full of political machinations, focused on recovery from trauma in a situation where bad things are still happening.

I enjoyed this book so much, the worldbuilding was so interesting and the characters were ridiculously  lovable. I absolutely need a sequel. The central mystery was handled well but some things I wanted covered, like what happened with

Velasin’s rosewood chest?? Did it arrive, with its contents? Did the second party go well? I want more HEA time with these adorable characters!

 

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance

5/5

This book was a lot more than I anticipated and frankly, I’m happy it was. It managed to handle some intense topics with the delicacy and tenderness that they deserve. I really can’t give a full review of this without some spoilers. I promise, I am not going to spoil the ending or really any of the political “mystery” that the characters are caught in the middle of. For real now, turn back if you don’t want to know anything that happens. 

 ***SPOILERS BEGIN*** The book opens in a bleak world—one where the first MC (Vel) experiences emotional and physical suffering. He is a man who is attracted to men, living in a kingdom where homosexuality and deviation from heteronormative gender roles is viewed with disgust. Within the first two chapters, Vel is told he will be forced to marry a women he never met and (the night before he leaves) is sexually assaulted by his former lover. Believe me, I know how this sounds. It’s A Lot, and SA in books is typically a huge turn off for me. When it happens this early, the story can go two ways. 1) It’s used for shock value and to “toughen up” the character or 2) Readers are shown the aftermath and healing process. I was BEYOND pleased to see that it was option 2. This book is, at its core, a story of healing and hope. After the ambassador learns of his preference for men, Vel is then engaged to the brother of his previous betrothed (Cae). Their relationship was beautiful to read. It starts as untrusting, because they don’t know each other, and they both navigate a new relationship in the aftermath of sexual trauma. And you know what? They get their happy ending. They talk, and share, and work with each other. It’s a partnership and I can’t explain how much I loved it. ***SPOILERS ENDS***

CW: Sexual assault, animal death, attempted self-harm