--- In MichelleWest@yahoogroups.com, Tchula Ripton <tchula@...> wrote:
> I know what you mean. It's tough reading about kids starving to death
> and being abused. I haven't reread Hidden City myself, yet. For some
> reason, political treachery and demons killing people is easier to take.
> Probably because it seems more "fantasy." Unlike starving, abused
> kids, which is a tragic reality.


Hidden City isn't *about* starving, abused kids. It's about kids (and one
rather important one in particular) growing up and figuring out how not to be
starving, abused kids. It gives rather important background on several key
characters, and quite a bit more insight on how Rath and Duster affected Jewel
so much.

I rather liked Hidden City. I haven't read it as many times as the Sun Sword
series, but that's mostly because there's so much weight of history and legend
in the Sun Sword series, I reread it regularly just to get a better feel of the
"universe" these characters exist in, and to improve my comprehension of the
various characters, current, legendary and immortal. Hidden City is probably
one of the most straightforward books Michelle has yet written. It's got a few
odd twists and turns, but in general it's a very straight shot from beginning to
end, with very few odd references thrown in. So re-reading it every 6 months or
so will probably do me, while I re-read the other books probably every 3 months
or so. Yes, I really like her books, all of them - I'm as big a fan of the
Elantra books as I am the Sun Sword books and related series.

Saying that, I think I'll dig up Hidden City and read it again - I don't think
I've read it since last Christmas.