Great continuation to an excellent series. As the character grows and situations become more complicated and dangerous (the character usually doesn't realize, but I was tense!), relationships between characters develop in interesting ways and the plot continues just as good as in the first book.

The Tamir Triad isn't necessarily a transgender story, but it is a story of gender, transition, and coming out. At the time it was published, it was the only mass market fantasy novel I'd ever encountered that made me feel seen, that hit me so hard, I remember how a pivotal moment left me shaking to the point where I had to take a long, late night walk to calm myself.

The Bone Doll's Twin sets-up the story and sends us on our way. In an age of plague and war, a girl child is destined to take her place as the rightful Queen, to reunite the people, and to bring peace back to the land. To thwart this prophecy and ensure his continued rule, the King carefully monitors all noble births and arranges to have the female children murdered.

When a daughter is born into the king's family, the odds of her escaping notice (much less death) are decidedly bleak. However, there is another child - a boy - sharing their mother's womb. Sadly, for one to live (and rule), the other must die. An act of darkest magic binds the twins together, concealing Tobin's true gender with that of her brother. Fittingly, for a night of such dark magic, events do not go as planned. The boy child, who was to be declared stillborn, draws a single breath before his life is cut short.

That bleak mistake leaves the future queen tormented by the angry ghost of her death brother, drives their father into near-exile, and sets their unwitting mother on the path to madness and death. This is a dark, creepy, and deeply unsettling story that will have you questioning whether the end can possibly justify the means. Prince Tobin is brought up believing herself to be a boy, with only her father, her nanny, and a trio of wizards privy to the truth of her gender. We watch as she grows up, alone, isolated from the world, trapped as much in the confines of a gothic castle as in an ill-fitting body.

Perhaps not surprisingly for an author who so tenderly dealt with the intricacies of bisexual romance in her Nightrunner Series, Lynn Flewelling does an absolutely masterful job of handling Tobin's growing gender conflict. As readers who know the secret, the very subtle cues as to Tobin's true gender are as clear as they are heartbreaking, even while it remains completely conceivable how others can remain oblivious. Transgender, genderfluid, and nonbinary readers especially will sympathise with Tobin's plight. For us, the cure may be surgical rather than magical, but that feeling of being trapped in a body that doesn't fit, doesn't reflect who we are inside, is all-too familiar.


https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/03/24/review-the-tamir-trilogy-by-lynn-flewelling/

This book picks up right after the events in book one. Tobin has found out the truth. But he can't tell anyone, not even his best friend, Ki.
Ki is hurt. Tobin is confused and lost. How will he reveal to his cousin and the King that she is the rightful ruler of Skala? Needless to say, that information will not go over well with some people.

Tobin and Ki head back to the city and palace. Korin has found a girl he likes, he has gotten a few servants pregnant, but they have gone missing. However now he has gotten a noble girl pregnant. Korin is ecstatic! He's and his royal companions are ready to go into battle. Korin needs to be blooded in battle before he can marry. It has to be done hastily as Aleah is already pregnant.
The battle doesn't go well. Can't say more (spoilers)

There are executions held in the city. Skalan citizens, Priests of Afra, and now wizards are being burned alive.

Also while this is going on with Tobin coming to terms with the truth, the Plenimarans decide to attack the city. All chaos breaks loose.

Tobin has to reveal the truth in this book.
So much has happened.

I could not put this book down. And I've picked it up many times to re-read the trilogy. I love the character, and the story.

*13th time, still enjoy the story.

Not quite as good as [b:The Bone Doll's Twin|671560|The Bone Doll's Twin (The Tamír Triad, #1)|Lynn Flewelling|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GJ54FBYFL._SL75_.jpg|71863], but still engrossing.

In some ways, the book feels like a YA novel because of the age of many of the central characters. I had trouble remembering Tobin's age at some points. I also felt that Tobin's revealing of her true self seemed to be accepted a bit too readily by some people. I understand the whole horror pushes belief forward, but more illustration of the horrors even day people saw would have helped.

Still, the book does have its good complex moments. Tobin's reaction to her true state, his embarassment when he looks at women's clothes are all nicely done.

Hidden Warrior was a lot better than The Bone Doll's Twin. For one, the story picked up considerably - I finally felt like we were out of the introductions stage and the real plot started happening. With Tobin finally aware of his rather special circumstances, there is also more room for explorations of gender and identity (though not quite as much as I would've liked).

However, I still have a bone to pick with this book. Because it needed a much better editor. There were several continuity errors with the previous installment. There were also a lot of scenes where the action needed cleared descriptions, because even after rereading a paragraph I was confused about what was happening exactly. It's a shame, because these factors, for me, really took away from what could've been a much better novel.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy it. Flewelling does have a knack for creating loveable characters, and I will be reading the third book in order to find out what happens to Tobin, Ki and Tharin.

I enjoyed this heads and tails above The Bone Doll's Twin! It really felt like it was ramping up to something good and it had a very satisfying conclusion. It was also quite a bit less dower than the first which I appreciated :)