/lit/ - Literature

>>17803911
>>/lit/?task=search&search_text=desolation+Teixcalaan+

>>17684818
A Desolation Called Peace, Teixcalaan #2 - Arkady Martine (2021)
The first book was about being an ambassador to a civilization that was trying annex their own, whom they literally considered to be barbarians. This does entirely away with that and doesn't have much in common overall in terms of plot. Instead, this is a book about first contact with a new non-human species, the second one, though there is minimal detail about relations with the first non-human species. I don't know how much it was me thinking it was, but this book seemed to be in response to Ender's Game.
The POVs are Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass from the previous book and then Nine Hibiscus, commander of Fleet commanders, and Eight Antidote, the eleven year potential Imperial heir.
As with the previous book, it was difficult for me to remember names using the [number] [noun] system, which were, as noted by the author a "direct reference to the naming practices of the Mixtec people of Oaxaca". I continue to have mixed feelings about whether this adds or detracts more from my enjoyment, though I'm leaning towards being a detraction overall.
The characters are handled better than in the first book as this time they were more appropriate for their age and station. When they weren't it was noted by other characters. Mahit and Three Seagrass continue to behave as if they were whimsical teenagers who have stumbled into dire situations and yet somehow are able resolve their problems through clever antics. Everyone states how it isn't normal for Eight Antidote, who is eleven, to be so amazing, but also it's to be expected of a potential Imperial heir.
The relationship between Mahit and Three Seagrass continues to develop and after a near-death experience Three Seagrass decides it's time for moderately graphic foreplay and a lightly detailed sex scene, of which Three Seagrass says she thought about asking for consent but thought it was obvious that she didn't need to. Mahit agrees. Unfortunately, by the end of the book their relationship arrives in a place that I found unsatisfactory, but not unexpected at all, as it seems to be common. They decide to split up again and say that simply writing letters to each other could be satisfactory. I disagree.
The aliens are an extrapolation of the relationship between Teixcalaan and Lsel Station, which was the the focus of the first book. The same question is asked, "How can we co-exist if we don't consider each other to be people?" though in a more extreme manner. The aliens also further the argument that collectivism is unfairly maligned and that individualists need not be so terrified of being deeply involved with each other.
I don't know what the author intended by describing people as being male or female bodied and I wonder if it'll become a point of controversy.
If there's a third book, I'll read it. They're entirely ok.
Rating: 3.5/5