Review: The Birthgrave by Tanith Lee (The Birthgrave Trilogy, Book I)

Synopsis: A mysterious woman awakens in the heart of a dormant volcano. She comes forth into a brutal ancient world transformed by genocidal pestilence, fierce beauty, and cultural devastation. She has no memory of herself, and she could be anyone—mortal woman, demoness lover, last living heir to a long-gone race, or a goddess of destruction. Compelled by the terrifying Karrakaz to search for the mysterious Jade that is the answer to her secret self, she embarks on a journey of timeless wonder. (from the online description)

Review:I read this as part of First Author Contact hosted by Red StarReviews and MillieBot Reads on Instagram. I have read Tanith Lee before, but it was a collection of short stories. This was my first exposure to a novel by her. 

It was good - different than my normal reading - which I appreciated. Her characters were complex and terrifying in their realness, and the twist and turns of the plot kept me hooked. Lee explored gender and relationship issues, but not in an overt way. It was more part of the overarching exploration of the main character, and her search for self.

The ending was weird and I am still not sure what I think about it. It was incongruous with the rest of the novel, but it also connected.

I'm thankful for the exposure and the expansion of my reading habits. I will be purchasing, at some point, the sequel. 

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: Nominated, Nebula Award, 1975

ISBN: N/A
Year Published: 1975
Date Finished: 10-31-2016
Pages: 408