Dreamsnake

I really enjoyed this book, for all sorts of reasons. The heroine was everything you could want, brave, tenacious, compassionate, loyal, couteous, and longsuffering. Her love for her snakes even mollified me a bit, and I am so not a snakeloving person. I also found the world fascinating, so beautifully described. Unlike others who were disatisfied with the vagueness about what had caused the worldwide catastrophe, what were these alien artifaccts, cratures and fauna, it just added a pleasant sense of mystery and depth. No long historical explanations or exxpositions on the setting, just fascinating glimpses. (I rarely read historical crime fiction because the tale is slowed down enormously by descriptions of the protagonist's clothing, means of transport, food etc. We wouldnt put up with such masses of detail in a contemporary nove, where such things are taken for grantedl.)

I also liked the touching little romance theme, the interestingly diverse communities with their alternatively set up cultures, from bedouin tribesmen to technologically advanced cities, but again, for the most part descibed only as much as is necessary for the plot. Quirky non stereotypical characters, however lightly sketched, and beautiful depictions of landscape also add to a staisfying read, and I wish McIntye had written more books in this intriguing world. 4 stars