I like to watch Deadliest Catch. True, the basic plot is catching crab, which is repeatitive, but there is something about the show. Maybe, it's because everyone is so normal. I don't know. But what it is, I don't think any other reality show has it.Neither does Naamah's Curse. Sadly.I skimmed large portions of this book. It is Carey's weakest novel. I use to think that her two books Godslayer and Banewreaker (together being The Sundering) were her weakest, but at least there she is trying something new.The first 136 pages were straight romance novel. Any reader of this book knows how Moirin's main quest is going to end. The unsure quality and feeling of danger that was present in the other Kushiel books is lacking here. This is true for most of the book, and there might be something to say for it except in the first 136 pages, nothing really happens that the reader can't guess, except maybe one thing but even that doesn't quite surprise.Like in romance novels that influence the series, there is something really annoying going on.Everyone loves Moirin, unless they're really evil, and even then they might. It's true that Carey doesn't fully use the romance heroine convention (not many romance novels have female/female pairings), and Moirin is blessed by Naamah so that might explain it. But when nothing is happening, it made me very bored. Additionally, this likabilty factor doesn't even make sense in one of the plot points. Really, after one talk with Moirin, Erlene suddenly feels better? Really, truly?Yeah, right, and peace in the Middle East is right around the corner.Luckily, something finally happens. The twist involes a religious sect that seems to be a blend of the worse aspects of Christinity, Islam, and Judism. This twist is interesting, for in this section of the novel, Carey examines the differences of religion, the idea of conversion, the fact that religion should not be judged on its most frantical elements. While the plot here is somewhat predictable, the exploration of idea is interesting and not the clear cut "all established religion (read Christianity/Islam/Judism) is bad". Carey doesn't take that route. I liked that. In many ways, this theme continues to the third part of the book.The third part of the book is stronger than the first part, but weaker than the second. Part of this problem is once again Moirin. As other reveiws have pointed out, Moirin is written as an Anti-Phedre, and so she doesn't seem to be her own character. The romance conventions don't help. Moirin is particularly perfect; people look at her and want to help. She is wise and understanding. She is par excellence with a bow. She call twilight. She is beloved by two gods. Yada, yada yada. It is true that Phedre was somewhat like this, but Carey wrote that aspect of Phedre's character as too much pride, as a flaw. That's not the case here. Moirin doesn't have a flaw, unless you count her self claimed lack of patience, a flaw that is undermined by the fact that she has patience thoroughout the whole book. It is true most of Moirin's traits were laid out in the first book, but the reader is constantly, too constantly, reminded of them here.This is compounded by the fact that outside of the religious twist, every single point plot was used in another Carey book. Many writers and television shows do this. One critic pointed out that many of Hans Christian Andersen's stories are the same plot presented or reinvented different ways. Carey doesn't reinvent enough. Look there is Phedre! Look there is Melusine! Look there is Josecelin. Look it's that plot idea from book 6. It's not changed enough. You've seen it before, and if you wanted the repeat you would simply re-read those books. (And you should, their good).What prevents this book from being one or two stars are a couple of things, in addition to the religious theme. The first is that while everyone loves Moirin, the everyone includes women. Moirin makes several female friends in the course of the novel. What is more, with one understandable exception, are not jealous of each other. They are different, but respect and like each other. There isn't enough of that in a great many books, and it is nice to see that here. The second is that Carey's world building is well done. It is an interesting world. The third is that in addition to examining religion, Carey takes a look at caste systems as well as the idea of love (the second is an on going theme of these novels). It is a true look and not a sub-standard examination. I just wish the plot of the novel held up to the complexity of the ideas.
