Rasmussen, Alis A. - The Labyrinth Gate

[oyceter]

Newlyweds Chryse and Sanjay Mukerji are on their way to their honeymoon suite when a mysterious tarot deck included in their wedding gifts transports them to an alternate Regency England. In order to get back home, they have to help a host of characters excavate a legendary city.

I got this as a rec when I asked for fun, banter-y romance, and it fits the bill quite well. The dialogue isn't quite as snappy as I would have liked, and all the romances are not particularly in depth, but this book is good, fluffy fun. The alternate Regency is particularly interesting, as many of the important male personages are now female (the Regent is female, as is the heiress Princess Georgiana, and many other random mentions).

Much of the book is spent deciphering an ancient religion in Anglia prior to the coming of the Christianity-analogue. As noted, there are several romances in the book, but none of the characters are fully fleshed out. Instead, there's just enough of them to carry the plot. On the other hand, I really liked that Chryse and Sanjay were happily married and did things like talk to each other fondly. Also, POC! In fantasy of manners! I like that he's just casually Indian and there's nothing made of how misogynistic POC culture has to be (I hate that!). On the other hand, I felt some of his off-the-cuff comments referring back to being Indian didn't quite ring right to me, but then again, the book was published in 1988. Still, I did want just a bit more about the Indian-ness, especially given the setting and the fact that Anglia and an analogue of the East India company are already in Indhya.

I am also not fully bought into the resolution of one of the romances, given when one of the characters attempts to do in the book. And yet, even then there's some interesting genderbending going on. Unlike Maretha, I have not yet forgive the Earl of Elen for trying to strangle her! On the other hand, I like that he derived his power from virginity, which is a nice flip, as is the emphasis on the virginity of Lucias. That said, I was still put off by the broad characterization of the Regent as evil, especially with her being an older woman using her sexuality.

I did like Rasmussen's inclusion of various labor movements instead of completely ignoring class issues.

Overall, not deep, but this is a fun, light read that has more going on under the surface than it initially seems like.

Comments

[inkstone]

Huh. I had no idea these were the kind of books she wrote under that name. Cold Magic makes a lot more sense then, since I thought that was a little different from her other Kate Elliott books.

[oyceter]

I have no idea! I have only read this one, although I found the Highroad Trilogy in a UBS, so it is currently sitting on my shelves right now. This was the first book of hers I've read (under either name), so I had no prior expectations.

[dichroic]

I have to confess I still don't understand the bit with wossname's daughters and why they shade from Chryse's coloring to Sanjay's. (And I had *no idea* that was Kate Elliott. And here was me thinking I hadn't read any of hers, though I do have Cold Magic on the virtual TBR pile.

[oyceter]

Heh, me neither!

This is the first book I've read of hers under either name, though I've been meaning to get around to her Spirit series now that I have plot brain back.

[oracne]

I always wanted more with these characters.

[oyceter]

Me too! I feel I especially want more with characters from our world going to another world... I am glad they had a letter, but I always feel there is more!

[lnhammer]

I should reread this -- it's been quite a while, and I have fond memories. (And I regret having sold off the Highroad trilogy lo these many moves ago.)

---L.

[oyceter]

Like I said, not deep, but definitely fun and entertaining. I managed to find the Highroad trilogy at a UBS... I gather worth reading?

[lnhammer]

FWIW, I remember less about the Highroad trilogy, aside from the opening line, than The Labyrinth Gate. It was a solid space opera adventure, but aside from that, I can say very little.

---L.

[al_zorra]

Alis's books all have a strong, successful romantic marriage or two in them. The Crown of Stars series is the most exceptional to that, it seems to me, since the married couple spend so little time together. But the husband-father-warrior takes care of the super child.

I think this might be her first novel; it's been such a long time since I read it, though it is on the shelves at home, somewhere. (If you ever saw the book over-run apt., you'd get that 'somewhere!')

Love, C.

[oyceter]

Huh, sounds interesting! Will be picking up more of her books eventually.