Wednesday, February 18, 2009



BLOG TOUR - DAY 3

Cyndere's Midnight
by Jeffrey Overstreet

Web site - http://lookingcloser.org/

(Click book for Amazon link)


On this last blog day for Cyndere's Midnight I wanted to discuss the secrets brought to light by the book's end. Darkness hides secrets and title seems to hint at the secrets of the Midnight hour. One that was missing is found, but he is changed. One that was changed through contact with Auralia's colors, and Cyndere's help , helped the one feared lost. A true friend is murdered by one who had already betrayed a deep trust. Feared lost after the great battle with the beastmen, Cyndere returns to Bel Amica with a clearer mind for her purpose.
In the epilogue, it is mentioned again that the four great houses were once united but a great rift developed and each house went their separate way.

By the end of Cyndere's Midnight the loose ends are tied up, not all the way the reader had hoped, as more questions are asked and hinted at for answers in the next book. Book three of the series continue the golden strand of The Auralia Thread, entitled Cal-raven's ladder. Cyndere's Midnight weaves the blue strand of the tales. I wasn't quite sure what the author meant by the strand colors, unless the next strand is a strand of hope much like a golden sunrise.

Secrets are gradually revealed in Cyndere's Midnight, like a slowly woven fabric reveals the pattern over time. Some characters receive justice for their crimes, while others keep committing injustice so that you wonder when their crimes will be brought to light. By the end of Cyndere's Midnight it seems the common secret bond between Cyndere the future Queen, and Jordam the beastman, has formed and strengthened so that each helps the other. Both characters grow and learn to overcome their losses with each other's aid.
The book seems to end with a promise of hope that the characters will accomplish their goals. Things won't go perfectly, you will lose much along the way, but in the end things will come together and work for the best.

3 comments:

Rebecca LuElla Miller said...

You've obviously interacted with the story, Tim. So what did you think of it? I said in my last comment to you that I thought it was a story of redemption. You described hope for change, but I don't think either of us think that's actually redemption. So do you think I'm stretching it to see this story as one of redemption?

Becky

Robert Treskillard said...

I'd say that its one of redemption. Especially in the end when you see Jordam replanting the apple tree ... isn't that a reference back to the Garden of Eden?

Now that he's been redeemed, he's trying to fix the sin in his life.

And him being caught in a trap to that tree earlier can easily represent the power of sin.

Fantasythyme said...

I saw the story as a promise of unification, and a return to a time when the four houses were united. Cyndere and Jordam helping each other hints at a promise of healing a peace among the four houses.

Tim