Cabaret in Flames

It’s been years since Erik disappeared, leaving Ariadne to inherit his small clinic. She doesn’t mind the work, at least the gul’s she treats are predictable in their violence, unlike the growing political turbulence. But her scrap of normalcy is shattered when an old friend of Erik’s comes knocking at her door looking for him. Quaint isn’t like anyone she’s met, gul or human. They begin the search for Erik, because it turns out he may not have simply packed his bags and walked out the door, and he may be in a lot of trouble. It would be easy to let Quaint do the investigating, but Ariadne wants answers, and if she’s to go into the lion’s den, she might as well go with the lion.

This novella is character-driven, with rich personalities and a small cast that’s easy to keep track of who is who. Ariadne has her secrets, and they are hinted at and drawn out until revealed at the right time. The setting isn’t neglected, it’s vast and real, even if it isn’t explored more than it needs to be. The plot is a little boring, but the characters and their journey make up for that.