Space Opera Fans discussion

For April 2025 we chose two Reader Picks. This thread is for Diviner's Bow by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Official description:
NEW ENTRY IN THE BEST-SELLING LIADEN UNIVERSE® SERIES

A world divided cannot stand.

A people divided cannot thrive.

The Oracle has Seen the end of Civilization, and the end of the Haosa, too. Reactions to this are—mixed.

On the one hand, foresight is a notoriously erratic Gift. On the other, can Civilization—or the Haosa—afford to assume that the prophecy is an error?

And if the Oracle has Seen truly—is it possible to alter the future?

While well-meaning people struggle to implement change that might, at least, mitigate a disaster, others are looking toward the profit they can make from the end of the world.

In the meantime, the Tree-and-Dragon Trade Team has concluded its whole port inventory, and is about to propose Colemeno as a trade-hub and anchor to a brand-new route. Padi yos’Galan is preparing to step into new roles, personally, and in trade.

And the lives of two small children may be the thread that binds the future—or unravels it.

This book is being published April 1st. I’ll be buying it from Baen when it is out (avoiding Amazon). Baen doesn’t do preorders for ebooks. I’ve read all the Liaden Universe books to date so I’m confident that this one will be well worth reading.

I've not read any of the series (other than a related short-story) - I assume that the latest in the series is not the best place to start?

There are several good starting places to the Liaden Universe books but odds are this isn’t a good one. It finishes a story arc that started with Alliance of Equals (going by memory). The nomination was allowed because we have already discussed the books in that story arc.

Edit: yes, Alliance of Equals is the start of the story arc about Padi. See the official reading order here:
https://korval.com/publication-list/c...

Thanks Teresa, I've had a look at the reading order and it would take me too long to get through the preceding books, so I'll pass on Diviner's Bow this month. I may try to work my way through the books later in the year.

I have my copy, and have started reading.

I just got my copy.

I’m making slow progress. I did not reread the previous book since it came out less than a year ago (last June). The bits of backstory scattered definitely make it possible to enjoy the story without rereading Ribbon Dance, however I’m finding myself pausing reading to think about the related backstory that isn’t mentioned in this book. This is not a complaint, just an explanation of why my progress is slow. This isn’t a book that I’m going to finish within 24 hours the way I do most books that I read.

One of the minor characters is named Majel. That is likely a nod to Majel Barrett, but it makes me think the character is female, so I’m jarred by the he/him pronouns. I’ll get it eventually. I’m not good with names, and I struggle when books have too many named characters.

My progress has sped up since the story finished introducing characters that we have met in previous books. It’s still slower than reading books that stick to just one or two POV characters, but I’m more that halfway now and will likely finish tomorrow.

It does help me that all those various characters are either on the same planet or on the Dutiful Passage (or a shuttle in between those two).

Here’s a quote that made me giggle.

“There are late developments that may interest you,” Tekelia said.

“By all means! I dote on late developments.”

(Back to Teresa) that response is just SO much Shan.

Elsewhere (not in the book), the author states that she considers Tekelia to be gender fluid, hence the they/them pronouns.

There is an Appendix at the end (of the hardback version at least) of "people, places, and weird words" that might help the reader keep track of the many names in play.

And finished. Satisfying ending, tying up a lot of loose ends but leaving hints of storylines for future books.

(view spoiler)[I was half expecting the bad guys to be either part of or associated with Department of the Interior. Yes most of DOI is gone but they can’t have gotten to all of them yet. (hide spoiler)]

I just got to the scene where Tekelia meets Theodelm yos'Galan. Interesting how Tekelia reacted to the combination of changing melant'i and ambient conditions. That scene seemed well-placed coming as it did immediately on the heels on Mar Tyn and Dyoli combining forces to deal with another concerning issue.

I just finished. This would have been a much faster read if life didn't keep getting in the way. Good book with a couple of little annoyances that weren't enough to pull the rating down for me. I kept going back to that very useful appendix as a reminder of who everyone was. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, whenever that might be.