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As far as I recall, Cnauir's obsession with Serwe is not straightforwards. For one, she reminds him of his first wife (whom he genuinely loved) and at first he wanted someone else on the journey (besides Kellhus). She was, traditionally, his prize, his spoils of war, if you like. Added to this was the fact she was supposed to be really beautiful and he is, at the heart, a man after all
. There was also something near the end about his long history in the Utemot of shame and weeping and whisperings to which he was suddenly realising he was not a traitor after all, and Serwe was his proof (somehow) but I cannot quite grasp that bit either. I am sure I am missing something but it eludes me.Overall, a very enjoyable read, and all the more so because it is a rarity in fantasy because I could not predict the twists and turns of the plot. Things occurred and people died unexpectedly and I love that in a book (I recall the Stark Boy and the Red Wedding as another moment that was powerful because it was unexpected).
While I was reading about the siege of Caraskand I was thinking that another author would have had the Fleets of Ce Tydonn or Conriya or the Mandate charging to their rescue but Bakker avoided this and used the characters and slow-burning plot elements to achieve their victory. Well done.
Looking forwards to book three.
