User:Jmdeane1/The Bone Palace

Summary
When a prostitute dies carrying a royal signet, Isyllt Iskadur, necromancer and agent of the crown, investigates the murder and discovers that the vampires of Erisin are somehow involved. Unable to leave Forsythia’s death unsolved, she continues her investigation which leads to more lies and secrets ahead. Meanwhile, inside the palace, Sevedra Severos, the prince’s transgender mistress, deals with assassination attempts and then stumbles upon the mystery of a missing Severos woman whom no one remembers. Savedra and Isyllt cross paths as they discover a conspiracy that links their two cases.

Savedra is the princess’s mistress and the Severos household is always scheming for her to become the princess to add the severos name among royalty .She begins her quest for answer when she hears about the murder Isyllt is investigating and tries to find out more about the mysterious murders and who plotted an assassination attempt on Ashlin .Her search leads her to the name Phaedra Severos, a member of her family, the problem is most of the information of Phaedra has been removed. Eventually the plot thickens when Savedra hears the tale of Savedra; Savedra and Ashlin explore Phaedra’s former fortress and Savedra has no one to trust with all the information she has uncovered, which is why she turns to Isyllt.

Isyllt on the other hand is investigating the Queens stolen jewelry and the death of Forsythia. Isyllt’s investigation leads her to the underground where the vampires dwell; it is there where she reunites herself with Spider and first learns about Spider’s, a vampire that aids her or so it seems, plot for a revolution. In an attempt to find Forsythia’s murderer Isyllt summons her spirit and discovers the scent of the murderer. At this point Isyllt and Sevedra come to the realization that their investigations may be intertwined and they begin working together.

With Isyllt and Sevedra working together they now begin to close in on the scheme conducted by Varis, Kiril, and Phaedra. Throughout the novel Kiril is involved trying to persuade Isyllt to discontinue her investigation and at the same time he is plotting with Phaedra to overthrow the palace. Kiril is also a third narrator in the story who plays a significant role and as he is at the heart of the conspiracy and is someone who Isyllt loves dearly. Together Phaedra, Varis, and Kiril are plotting to overthrow the palace and alter Erisin’s societal structure dramatically with the help of Spider and young vampires. Overall this book has many plot twists and the story becomes more and more intriguing as it continues; by the end of The Bone Palace Isyllt is forced to decide who she is prepared to betray.

Synthesis
When a prostitute dies carrying a royal signet, Isyllt Iskadur, necromancer and agent of the crown, is called to investigate. Isyllt begins investigating the murder of Forsythia and the trail of death leads her to mysterious places such as the sewers where they seek the vampire inhabitants. Isyllt is able to gather enough information to satisfy the crown, yet she is unable to leave Forsythia’s death unsolved and she continues her investigation which leads to more lies and secrets ahead. Inside the palace is Sevedra Severos, the prince’s mistress, who deals with assassination attempts. Sevedra stumbles upon a mystery when she tries to find the existence or history of a women who bears her family name but one who no one remembers. Sevedra and Isyllt both cross paths as they discover a conspiracy that no one could see coming. At the heart of the plot, Isyllt and Sevedra, also deal with many internal issues that they cannot necessarily control that affect the overall story. Sevedra is desicribed as a hijra which means she is transexual. This has a great impact to her relationship with Prince Nikos and it is important to note she is not able to bear children which is crucial to the latter parts of the novel. While Isyllt has to deal with her mentor/lover, Kiril, being at the heart conspiracy. Kiril is also a third narrator in the story who plays a significant role and has his own personal issues to deal with. Overall this book has many plot twists and the story becomes more and more intriguing as it continues; by the end of The Bone Palace Isyllt is forced to decide who she is prepared to betray.

summary

 * Ashlin: a barbarian princess with pale skin and blonde hair, wife of Nikos, fond of riding horses and sword fighting, who becomes increasingly close to Savedra.
 * Savedra Severos: Mistress of Nikos who attempts to protect Nikos and Ashlin, falls in love with Ashlin, helps rescue Nikos and kill Phaedra.
 * Captain Deneris: King Mathiros’ royal guard, helps Isyllt and Savedra rescue Nikos.
 * Khelséa Shar: loyal, but not so intelligent police inspector, as compared to Isyllt . She assists Isyllt in investigating Forsythia’s murder, and helps track down Phaedra in the end.
 * Forsythia: is the prostitute who was killed by a vampire named Spider and a demon named Phaedra. Her lover, Whisper, was also a vampire, and he had given her the late Queen’s ring.
 * Whisper: like most modern day vampires, had built a relationship with Forsythia, and unlike like most vampires, Whisper was always polite-as much as a monster could be. He always asked before drinking from Forsythia and gave her items from graves. He was also killed by Spider to throw Isyllt off the trail.
 * Spider: a vampire who had an on and off relationship with Isyllt wanted to revolt against the Elders and not be prisoner to the darkness . He joined forces with Phaedra and Kiril to help Phaedra over throw the king, but he was caught by Tenebris.
 * Tenebris: the elder vampire, was intimidating and dedicated her time to the dark much like old perception of vampires . She was aware of Spider’s intentions and actions all along, thanks to another vampire Azarné, and as punishment for his actions, Tenebris kills Spider.
 * Azarné: the vampire that helped Isyllt out all along. She became infatuated with Ciaran and was the one to inform the Elder’s about the planned revolution.

synthesis

 * Ashlin: a barbarian princess with pale skin and blonde hair, wife of Nikos, fond of riding horses and sword fighting, who becomes increasingly close to Savedra.
 * Savedra Severos: Mistress of Nikos who attempts to protect Nikos and Ashlin, falls in love with Ashlin (Mandelo), helps rescue Nikos and kill Phaedra.
 * Captain Deneris: King Mathiros’ royal guard, helps Isyllt and Savedra rescue Nikos.
 * Khelséa Shar: loyal, but not so intelligent police inspector, as compared to Isyllt . She assists Isyllt in investigating Forsythia’s murder, and helps track down Phaedra in the end.
 * Forsythia: is the prostitute who was killed by a vampire named Spider and a demon named Phaedra. Her lover, Whisper, was also a vampire, and he had given her the late Queen’s ring.
 * Whisper: like most modern day vampires, had built a relationship with Forsythia (Bradshaw), and unlike like most vampires, Whisper was always polite-as much as a monster could be. He always asked before drinking from Forsythia and gave her items from graves. He was also killed by Spider to throw Isyllt off the trail.
 * Spider: a vampire who had an on and off relationship with Isyllt wanted to revolt against the Elders and not be prisoner to the darkness (Gardeła et al). He joined forces with Phaedra and Kiril to help Phaedra over throw the king, but he was caught by Tenebris.
 * Tenebris: the elder vampire, was intimidating and dedicated her time to the dark much like old perception of vampires (Jia). She was aware of Spider’s intentions and actions all along, thanks to another vampire Azarné, and as punishment for his actions, Tenebris kills Spider.
 * Azarné: the vampire that helped Isyllt out all along. She became infatuated with Ciaran and was the one to inform the Elder’s about the planned revolution.

Awards
The Bone Palace was nominated for two different awards in the year 2011 and 2010. The recent nomination was for Best Novel for the 2011 Spectrum Award. The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor "outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy and horror which include significant positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues". In the previous year, the book was nominated in the honors list of the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award 2010. This represents the Science Fiction or Fantasy that explores and expands the roles of women and men for work by both women and men. Amanda Downum was nominated for the David Gemmel Legend Awards for fantasy novels and art in the selection Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer for her first novel, The Drowning City in The Necromancer Trilogy.

Synthesis
The novel, The Bone Palace, was nominated for Best Novel for the 2011 Spectrum Award (Spectrum). The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor "outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy and horror which include significant positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues" (Gaylactic Spectrum). The awards was created in 1998 because there were no existing awards for the recognitions of outstanding gay-positive work within the genre. The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are presented in three categories: Best Novel, Best Other Work, and Hall of Fame (Gaylactic Spectrum).

The novel, The Bone Palace, was nominated in the honors list of the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award 2010 (Mark R. Kelly and the Locus Science Fiction Foundation). This represents the Science Fiction or Fantasy that explores and expands the roles of women and men for work by both women and men. For the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award, it was held in Wiscon, Madison, WI in May 26, 2011. The judges were Euan Bear, Jessa Crispin, Penney Hill, Alice Sola Kim, and Lawrence Schimel (Sturgeon). The James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award was named after Alice B. Sheldon, who wrote under the pseudonym James Tiptree Jr. before revealing her identity and real name ( James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award Council). The novel, The Bone Palace, is under the theme 'gender-bending fiction'.

Amanda Downum also received a nomination from the novel, The Drowning City, for the David Gemmel Legend Awards that are awards for fantasy novels and art (Mark R. Kelly and the Locus Science Fiction Foundation). This is nominated by publishers and editors. A brief description of the David Gemmel Legend Award is that it is initially for Best Fantasy Novel. The categories for Best First Novel and Best Cover Illustration. Downum was nominated for the Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer (LaBwitz)

Summary
Leading The Bone Palace with strong female characters through the ability to make any role higher in class and more respected, it's captured through the method in making a transgender narrator a leader in their societal lifestyle, as she is the mistress to the Prince. Although the feminine roles are stronger than the masculine characters in the novel, the desire to convey the characters as a group that are of the "oversexed variety" is not approached as every character competes in their own manner without having preferences in sexuality, as in every character fills their societal role regardless of gender. Savedra, even though she is a self proclaimed bodyguard to the Prince and Princess, her transgender role is one "who loves to fight but isn't reduced to her tomboy archetype", and the being of her sexuality isn't conveyed to classify her as a different role compared to other individuals in Erisin. Relationships were not even based off of jealousy or competition as Savedra and the Princess were close. Finally, Isyllt's history and relationships as it was from backgrounds that were previously studied uncovered more relation to comparing Erisin's hierarchical status and the modern world.

Synthesis
Amanda Downum leads The Bone Palace with strong female roles in unique ways through her ability to make a hijra, or a prostitute, a higher and more respected role. Amanda Downum captures this through her ability in making a transgender narrator a leader in their societal role as she is the mistress to the Prince (Mandelo). Although she wants to have a stronger feminine than masculine role, she does not desire to convey the characters as an overzealous group and that they are of the "oversexed variety" (Orbit). Savedra is an unorthodox princess in their world, one "who loves to fight but isn't reduced to her tomboy archetype" (Jia). Relationships were not even based off of relationships involving jealousy or competition as Savedra and Phaedra were in a close relationship (Jia), to the point of it involving protection from attempted assassinations. Amanda Downum wanted to explore Isyllt's history and relationships as it was from backgrounds she understood before she started while exploring more surfaces (Mark). In addition to the royals of higher societal status, and other levels of hierarchical order, necromancers and vampires are not looked highly upon by outsiders but embraced by their own kind. The vampires are strong and have their own kin that are respected much like humans of the social status of today, but to a much higher extent that they will be killed if swayed too far from their original group. The "evil magic was a useful skill set with a lot of practical applications" (Fergus) that allowed Downum to keep this higher tier of magical basis and higher societal status of these individuals to a respected level within the sewers of Erisin. The use of different settings also allows Downum to keep the social status separated by having vastly different locations such as the sewers or the capacious Azure Palace.

summary
The Bone Palace is a fantasy novel by Amanda Downum. Mainly set in a fictional royal city of death, it tells the story of the necromancer, Issylt Iskladur and the trasgender woman, Savedra Severos as they work together to overcome powerful forces of magic and deception. These characters represent a strong sense of sexual identity that break the normalcy of typical castes. Critics praise the novel for its unique perspective on relevant subjects in the world today. It was nominated for the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award in 2010 and the Spectrum Award for Best Novel in 2011.

synthesis
The Bone Palace by Amanda Downum is an American fantasy novel centered around the fictional city of death, Erisin. It tells the story of the royal necromancer, Issylt Iskladur and the princess mistress, Savedra Severos. These characters represent a strong sense of sexual identity that break the normalcy of typical castes. Critics praise the novel for its unique perspective on relevant subjects in the world today. It was nominated for the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award in 2010 and the Spectrum Award for Best Novel in 2011.

Synthesis
Isyllt Iskladur is Erisin’s Crown Investigator who is also a sorceress who apprenticed under her former lover Kirilos. Her main motive is to solve the murder of Forsythia and the robbery of the late queen’s tomb. She is also a major character of the novel. Savendra Severos, also a main character is the hirja bodyguard for Prince Nikos and Princess Ashlin, the daughter of Sevastian and Nadesda, and a close acquaintance of Isyllt Nikos is the “peacock like” crowned prince of Erisin whose main motive is to protect his kingdom. He is married to Ashlin and has an ongoing affair with Savendra. Kiril also known as Kirilos is the former spymaster of King Mathiros and mentor of his former lover and apprentice Isyllt Iskladur. Sorceress Phaedra is the ex-lover of King Mathiros whose main motive is to seek revenge and take over Erisin. Varis Severos is Savendra’s sorcerer uncle who is in love with Phaedra. King Mathrios is the father of Prince Nikos and former lover of Phaedra. Mathrios’s main motive throughout the novel is to protect his family and the kingdom of Erisin. Dahlia is a hirja sorceress who’s main motive of the novel is to track down the individual who murdered Forsythia. Ciaran, another former lover and close friend of Isyllt, is a musician who works closely with Isyllt in solving the murder of Forsythia.

Summary

 * Isyllt Iskladur: Erisin’s Crown Investigator who is also a sorceress who apprenticed under her former lover Kirilos.
 * Savendra Severos: the hirja bodyguard and mistress of Prince Nikos.
 * Nikos: the “peacock like” crowned prince of Erisin whose main motive is to protect his kingdom.
 * Kiril (Kirilos): former spymaster of King Mathiros and mentor of Isyllt Iskladur.
 * Phaedra: the ex-lover of King Mathiros whose main motive is to seek revenge and take over Erisin.
 * Varis Severos: Savendra’s sorcerer uncle, is in love with Phaedra.
 * King Mathrios: the father of Prince Nikos and former lover of Phaedra.
 * Dahlia: a hirja sorceress who’s wants to track down the individual who murdered Forsythia.
 * Ciaran: musician and former lover and close friend of Isyllt.

Synthesis
The Bone Palace takes place in the royal city of Erisin. This “capital city is reminiscent of Rome during the Enlightenment”. The city is made up of “the high class lives and intrigues of the wealthy and aristocratic families of wealthy and aristocratic families”, but also “poor and lower-classes.” Prostitution is very common and is what most girls are forced to turn too. The plague has spread through the city and continues to lurk through the streets. Corpses are not a rare occurrence due to the plague and murders. Erisin was literally “built on bones.” This city is also haunted and filled with magical sorcerers. Vrykoloi, or vampires, live underneath the city . in their “bone chilling vampire lairs”, and the streets are haunted with demons. “The taverns and gardens of plague-ridden Erisin and the titular ruined palace at its center make a dark and richly detailed background for this complex and bloody tale of sorcery, madness, and intrigue” .

Setting
The Bone Palace takes place in the royal city of Erisin. This “capital city is reminiscent of Rome during the Enlightenment”. The city is made up of “the high class lives and intrigues of the wealthy and aristocratic families of wealthy and aristocratic families”, but also “poor and lower-classes”. The plague has spread through the city and continues to lurk through the streets. Corpses are not a rare occurrence due to the plague and murders. This city is also haunted and filled with magical sorcerers. “Vampiric vrykoli” live underneath of the city in their “bone chilling vampire lairs”, and “demons stalk the streets”. “The taverns and gardens of plague-ridden Erisin and the titular ruined palace at its center make a dark and richly detailed background for this complex and bloody tale of sorcery, madness, and intrigue” .

Summary
A major theme expressed in Downum’s novel is gender roles along with sexual identity. The Bone Palace has a cast of strong female characters. Even when we find strong female characters, there are often only a few of them against an army of male characters. The Bone Palace upends that convention . Downum also makes a point to victimize the male characters of the story rather than make him a hero. It’s been an uphill slog to get equal representation of sexes in the genre, let alone representations that don’t reduce female characters to damsels in distress . Gender roles aren’t just emphasized through Downum’s utilization of a female lead but the sheer number of female characters compared to that of male characters. Working women, poor women, rich women, many women of color, women in positions of power, women with physical prowess, disabled women, secondary and even background characters who are women .    Sexual identity is expressed through the exploration of transsexualism. The Bone Palace reads as a very trans-positive novel with an excellent, honest, empathetic, and thoughtful depiction of transexual life . Transsexualism is not the only way that the theme of sexual identity is explored throughout the novel. A fine example of this is Isyllt Iskaldur who has multiple relationships at any given time, including one with a vampire of Erisin. They are to most people, monstrous and strange, but Isyllt isn’t one to let societal expectations determine who she wants . This all goes back to gender roles and societal norms addressed in the novel.

Summary
Critical Reception for The Bone Palace

Many Critics thought that the novel was well written and it captured different points that are relevant to society like Sexuality, Homosexuality, Feminism, and Trans-Gender Women. As a whole many critics thought that the book was fascinating and had a good storyline. Isyllt Iskaldur is the main character of the novel and she was portrayed as being open about her sexuality. The topic of Trans-Gender Women and Feminism played a big role in the novel, many critics thought that Isyllt and Savedra were two main characters that were strong and independent women, they were presumed to display Feminism throughout the book because Downum created a fantasy world in which women were more prominent in the world then in society, the different roles females played in the novel was found to be refreshing and enlightening because women as a whole are typically perceived as “A damsel in distress or typically waiting for prince charming to save them". Savedra was known in society’s term as a “Trans-Gender” because she was a female but had a “penis”. Savedra’s role was acclaimed by many critics because they like how Downum was able to portray Savedra’s struggles as a “Trans-Gender” and show that she is a regular person with feelings and emotions. 1."http://www.cheryl-morgan.com/?page_id=10825/''The Bone Palace"/ Cheryl/ Mewings/ October 16, 2014 2.http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-b-reviews/b-reviews/review-the-bone-palace-by-amanda-downum/ REVIEW: "The Bone Palace" By Amanda Downum/ Jia/ December 16, 2010/ October 16, 2014 3. http://darkwolfsfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/bone-palace-by-amanda-downum.html/ "The Bone Palace" By Amanda Downum/ Mihai/ A/ April 11, 2012/ October 16, 2014 4. http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/01/queering-sff-the-bone-palace-by-amanda-downum/ "Queering SFF: " The Bone Palace" by Amanda Downum/ Britt/ Mandelo/ January 10, 2010/ October 16, 2014