This is a fabulous fantasy read! I love that the creatures are not human. There don't seem to be any humans in Clarke's fantastic world and it really works. Yes, there were a few inconsistencies which are mainly a result of the limitations of a human language to describe something so alien, but Clarke really did a fabulous job of the descriptions and characterisation. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
One of the things that stood out with The Moon Rogue is the constant social critique Clarke weaves into her tale. A passing mention or a knowing wink will bring us face to face with situations that are contentious in our society, but completely resolved in one or other of the cultures Clarke has created. I also love the depth of Clarke's culture-building. This is an aspect many authors of fantasy worlds fail with and it is truly pleasurable to experience a fantasy world with several, different cultures, where things are plausible, well-thought-out and cleverly constructed.
Another really important factor that makes this particular book (and series as a whole) stand out from the crowd is the fact we get the perspective from opposing sides. Although it is clear that one of the parties is in the wrong and is working for the powers of evil, Clarke succeeds in presenting that character's case in a convincing and thought-provoking way, which allows us to truly immerse ourselves in the opportunity of seeing the events described from all points of view. That is rare, and I really appreciate it.
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