Putting aside my obvious enjoyment of Host's books, what intrigued me the most about the Medair duology was the premise behind it: What would happen if the hero slept through the war and had no choice but to aid her once-enemies? Its more complicated then that of course, but the implications of the hero missing the war alone made me want to read more.

I could, and might still at a future date, wax poetical about the moral conflict Medair faces. Through no design of her own, a simple night's rest in fact, Medair missed 500 years of her world's history. She awoke to a world where the invaders are so inter-mixed with her former people most would be hardpressed to say they didn't have mixed blood somewhere in their heritage. Medair's oath to the throne of the Empire, to the Emperor and the people of Athere, tore her in two directions. And Host wrote that dilemma and confusion so believably I wasn't entirely sure what side Medair should land on.

Medair's constant struggle between understanding that the fight she remembers as being just a few months ago is ancient history to (most of) these people is what kept me reading. She's an intelligent girl, resourceful and clever, smart enough to know her limits, so rationally she understands she needs to move past things. Unfortunately there's so much unresolved issues from the past she finds it hard to look beyond it.

I'll admit the fact Medair says, often enough, that the White Snakes (Ibisians) of now can't be held responsible for what the White Snakes of her time did....then acts as if they're the devil incarnate got tiring by the end of the novel. It felt more like her mind was fighting what her heart knew; despite her best intentions she acted in the best interests of Illukar (even if she was under geas, that isn't what made her save him in the first place) and she genuinely seemed to enjoy the company of Avahn and Ileaha.

During its best moments Silence made me think about what honor, loyalty and redemption meant. Medair couldn't bring back the past, even if she were to use the Horn now, it wouldn't bring back her friends and family. It wouldn't erase 500 years worth of history that made the Ibisians less of the invaders and more of the people. This book was thought-provoking and heart-wrenching...and only served to remind me why I lost Host's writing. ( )

The Silence of Medair is refreshingly different. Filled with internal conflict, it’s deeply introspective in a way I wasn’t expecting. The worldbuilding is also impressively detailed and nuanced. Although the story gets somewhat bogged down in exposition towards the end, it’s still an engaging read. Well-written, with a unique premise and compelling characters, The Silence of Medair is a great book if you’re looking for a change of pace. The story is clearly only half finished, so I look forward to picking up the sequel. ( )

Medair an Rynstar has finally obtained the weapon to fight back the invaders. But she is late. What seemed to her like yesterday, it had happended long ago. The war is over. Her people and the hated invaders, they have found together, have loved and married for generations. 500 years have passed.

What is she going to do with that weapon? Can she find her place in this society, the wounds of her soul still fresh, her hate still raging?

What I like about the magical system is, that magic is just like any other talent. You might have little talent or much, you might have little or much training, and you are certainly exhausted after difficult spells. Mages can do all sorst of things, like wend whispers (magical SMS) or shielding. Anyone can use magical artifacts, e.g. a ring for animal control. Using wild magic, on the other hand, is very dangerous: there is nearly unlimited power, but also incredible danger: you might literally destroy the world.

For those having trouble to remember all those *kier* names and titles: there's a glossary at the end of book 2. ( )

Host is very good at putting her characters in situations that I find absolutely gripping. They're forced into exile by circumstances, grieving for what they have lost and, because they cannot go home, are stuck with people they do not know.

Medair an Rynstar has woken to discover that 500 years have passed. The world, the job she, and the people she cared about are all long gone. Those she considers invaders are now part of the empire and are certainly not to blame for the actions of their ancestors.
And there's no one she trusts to tell her secrets.

The Silence of Medair begins a few months after Medair awakes from her impossibly long nap, so the initial shock and grief have faded to something she can - mostly - keep safely hidden.
I like that Medair has taken time to grieve - but also that this is an on-going process. She cannot forget the past; she doesn't know how to untangle the world she knew from the world she is now in; she doesn't know where her loyalties should lie or what the right thing to do so. There are not any simple answers. She doesn't know what it means to be Medair an Rynstar in this new world.
And yet, she's determined to try. To try to be fair, to try to set aside old prejudices - even as she recognises that this, too, will be an on-going process, something she will perhaps always struggle with. To make the right choices.

I loved Medair, and her bigger-on-the-inside satchel, and the writing - the writing hooked me in, even before I knew what Medair's circumstances were.

Five hundred years too late, Medair an Rynstar finally crossed into the fastness of the White Palace. Her face was as pale and weary as the stone which mocked her loyalties and the company she kept. She took a harsh breath, like a swimmer coming up for air, and her chestnut tossed his head, for her grip on the reins was too tight. Aware of the gaze of fellow travellers and palace guards alike, she clenched jaw and hands and willed a blankness to her mind. How to survive this last distance? [...] It was too much like coming home. ( )

Shorter review because I'm on a book-reading binge currently (and am getting lazy).

This was a good read. I really appreciated a break from hack-and-slash-adventures or a typical tour-the-new-world fantasy book. This is more of a character development, mull on some morals, what-if scenarios put into actual writing, kind of book. It's a little slower paced, a little more in the character's head, but overall, very nice.

Medair is a pretty good strong female lead and I like sticking with her third person limited point of view. She succumbs a little too easily to the geas (I would have liked a little more fight to get away from it) even though we all know it's to put Medair and whats-his-name-main-male-character-lead together.

That was a big problem. Names. Usually I'll get it after the end of the book, but this book... seriously there were so many K- names and titles. It was a little frustrating trying to figure out who was who and what were titles versus real names.

I did not like the second twist of landing the whole freaking city in an alternate timeline because it felt a little contrived. Actually a lot of the plot points felt contrived. The Conflagration happening right before Medair leaves was eyebrow-raising, to be sure. But I guess if Host wants to make a series, it had to have happened.

The attraction happened a little too obviously. I wish there was more development than obvious interest.

I loved the verbal sparring and would have loved to see a little more of it.

I like the philosophical musings on what it means to be loyal and to whom do you give your loyalties.

Overall, I was very impressed by this book because it feels mostly fresh. It doesn't have all the cliches of a fantasy novel. Sure, there are a couple of things I've seen before, but it was all written in a new perspective. Very cool.

(edit: And actually, I take it back. I have seen this before. It's like Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith. Demoting it down half a star.)

Three 2.5 stars. Good job. I liked it.
Recommended for people who like fantasy books with a decent (not stupid) female lead.

-edit-
Read the second book (which was originally part of one big book). It was crap, unless you just want to read a pure romance-without-thought book. You don't need to read the second book. Actually, I really would recommend you just stop after book one. ( )