Book Review: Sterkarm Handshake by Susan Price
Four Stars
“To them, to kill in revenge was a duty; to forgive the killing of a kinsman sin.”
Excellent science-historical fiction mashup. Avoids the time travel paradox by having travelers visit a past in a world a few dimensions away from our earth, but recognizably similar.
“… always worrying about someone getting hurt, as if people could keep from getting hurt.”
Changes point of view often–paragraph by paragraph–but with sufficient clues to keep the reader oriented. Deep into the minds and emotions of all the principle characters (who vary enough to reflect vastly different mores and experiences), to the point that we understand the motivation and worldview of those we might normally consider villains. Female lead has near-terminal conscience and indecision problems, which makes her the perfect lens into the story.
“Lovers divided by family and feud made good stories, but in life it was nothing but misery.”
Excellent immersion into medieval culture: not just sights and sounds, but smells and taste …. And all that filth. Music and folk tales deepen our cultural engagement. A skilled archer misses; hooray!
“It was like the music stopped and I had no chair.”
Quibble: Land Rovers haven’t had hub caps for decades.
If I had but a swan’s wings
Far over hills and sea I’d fly–
To my true love’s arms I’d fall at last
And in her arms I’d gladly die.
As a Matter of Fancy 
I don’t doubt your Land Rover knowledge, but HOW did you remember such a little factoid?
What a quibble. Ha. Perhaps the writer knew this and didn’t care? After all this isn’t all historical fiction. Do you think I’d enjoy this book?
As an author you’d enjoy how she built her story, especially her protagonist’s inner dialogue, but I don’t think you’d like the story itself so much.