Another story about gods meddling with the people's lives, for one reason or another. Or (ab)using people for their own ends (like inter-divine quarrels). It's of a similar sort as [b:The Nalendar|24901153|The Nalendar|Ann Leckie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1423580461s/24901153.jpg|44551061] and [b:Beloved of the Sun|22857545|Beloved of the Sun|Ann Leckie|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|42424069]. It can be read for free at Ann Leckie's website.

The kings of Therete are cursed by Artau Ehat, Lord of the Sky and protector of Therete. The curse - the king can't deal with the gods in a direct way, has to communicate through priests - can only be lifted when the heir to the throne (prince Atehatsqe) has a son. In fact, each first son (prince) had to have a son for the curse to die out, to be lifted in the long run. For that, the current prince must marry a certain girl. When the prince comes to collect his princess, things don't go as planned, despite generosity from his part (gold, jewels, ...).

Leckie took a different approach here, with a eunuch - reading that part, I could imagine what the lad Yrau had to go through - and gay relationships. And not only in the royal area. But it seems that here too, the gods had a hand in the events.

Like in one of the other stories, the agreements between gods and people don't always turn out well; neither for the gods nor for the people. What goes around, comes around. In this case, there are no winners. In the other stories, there was a bit of a positive ending or turnaround, but here it's actually quite sad, at least for Yrau, who had to undergo grave experiences, had in a way found peace with it, but was afterwards obliged to leave it all behind - because he realised that he was (ab)used by the gods - and on his own again.

All in all, another very good story, in my humble opinion. ( )