I loved every moment of this incredible novel. This one continues on from the previous one with the points of view of Princess Bashalis, Prince Chysh, and their servant "Hatch". As always, Gabriel's focus on overcoming trauma and interpersonal relationships is spot on and brings so much to the story.
Bashalis has always been a very interesting character, and she really comes into her own in this novel. It was a wonderful experience to see her overcoming all her hardships and at last find her brand of peace. Truly uplifting and empowering. I was also really impressed with how much the author used the character's albinism to show up cultural variations in how this condition is viewed in different societies. There were some wonderful plot points derived from this that made the story quite intense.
When I finished The Throne of Cerecia I didn't think Chysh would be redeemable as a character, but I stand corrected. In The Princess of Everywhere Gabriel looks at the possibility of redemption when an individual is taken out of the situation where they abused power, have all power except their own agency taken from them, and find a way to seek out purpose despite "losing everything" they considered important before. It's a powerful message about the right conditions being a great way to propel people away from evil and towards their true purpose.
I really appreciate the messages this author has woven through the entire series and how they keep recurring in a gentle ebb and flow throughout these interconnected stories. Although the first three books can be read as standalones, I feel In Search of Magic Fire, The Throne of Cerecia and The Princess of Everywhere are all part of the same story and should be viewed as a trilogy.
I absolutely love this series, especially how unexpected a lot of the psychological explorations are, and highly recommend this to anyone who'd like something deeper and more profound than most reads.
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