In the sequel to the successful first book in The Tithenai Chronicles, Foz Meadows once again flexes their literary muscles, showing readers just how much they can juggle, all of it seamless, elegant, riveting, and of course, beautiful. In All the Hidden Paths, Meadows brings us back to the new marriage of Velasin vin Aaro of Ralia and Caetheri Aeduria of Tithena, forged in the fires of A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. At the end of book one, Cae lost both his father and his sister, as the latter killed the former while attempting to gain the power and favor denied to her all her life; Laecicia was killed in the conflict that followed as she threatened Velasin and Cae with her growing magic.
As this sequel begins, it has not been very long at all since Cae lost these people so dear to him, and his heart is a mess. Not only is he mourning the loss of his father, grappling with the actions of his sister and his love for her at the same time, but he has been declared the heir to his grandmother’s title, lands, seat, and power within the empire. On top of all of that, he is hopelessly in love with Velasin, which wouldn’t be a problem, save that Vel does not quite share those same feelings yet. Meanwhile, Vel feels responsible for the deaths brought into Cae’s life, feels adrift in a country he knows looks on his countrymen with suspicion, and has no idea how to navigate a life where he need not hide his sexuality, nor for that matter, how to maintain a relationship for longer than a few months. When a call comes from the imperial Asa, ruler of Tithena, to meet them, both men must fjord their future together, rapids, rocks, storms and all, if they’re to survive the capital of Qi-Xihan, multiple assassination attempts, and forces in both Tithena and Ralia that hope to see their glowing ember of a relationship snuffed before it can catch aflame.
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All the Hidden Paths
I continue to have nothing but admiration and respect for Meadows, who proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, just how capable and talented a writer they are within this book. There is not a misstep amongst the tumult of balancing plot, character, worldbuilding, romance, and much more, every little gear and cog within the great machine of narrative tended to with care. Most deftly handled, I felt, was the growing complication of Velasin and Cae’s marriage; there is tremendous care infused into each man’s complex web of emotions, needs, desires, and fears.
Velasin finds himself adrift, wondering who he is and what he wants now that he is openly married to a man; now that he’s out in a country that doesn’t care, how does he find a way forward and build a relationship he’s not just free to have, but encouraged to develop? Meanwhile, Cae is spinning out, his grief and loss at war with his newfound love, a passion he desperately wishes he could lose himself in to escape not just his sadness but the declaration of his future responsibilities. Watching Meadows meticulously move both men in a dance that is at times hot, body against body while minds race, and cold, hands inches apart while hearts despair, is poetry on the page. Their relationship is the core of this book, and if it was half as good as it is, Meadows would have succeeded; that they excel to the heights that they do in All the Hidden Paths is a testament to their strength as a writer, pure and simple.
Meadows does not leave anything else half-baked, I promise you. The life and beauty and complexity of culture within the capital of Qi-Xihan, whether it be the mysterious but intelligent Asa Ivadi or the determined, brutal, and clever General Naza, Meadows provides many lenses through which to view the capital and the perspectives on Velasin and Cae’s marriage. Meanwhile, Velasin’s best friend and confidante, the mute Markel, continues to charm and delight, providing Velasin and Cae much needed humor and relief, as well as proving an invaluable asset within an unfamiliar city. And a new perspective, Asrien, must not be forgotten; a young, gay man from Ralia press-ganged into service by the royal spymaster to break Velasin and Cae’s marriage for the Ralian crown or risk harm to his mother, Meadows offers readers a different but just as valuable perspective on the lonely, and at times dangerous life many closeted peoples are forced to live in Velasin’s old homeland.
All the Hidden Paths continues Meadows’ true hot streak (and I don’t just mean the steamy moments between Velasin and Cae!). An epic and intimate fantasy that balances deep characterization with sprawling moments of worldbuilding, court intrigue with conflict of various calibers, and pairs plot and poetry side by side in a truly unique and engaging way, I could read a dozen more novels of Velasin and Cae adventuring together, discovering their love along the way. And if I’m a lucky reader, and Meadows has the same inclination, I will get to do exactly that.
All the Hidden Paths is published by Tor Books.
Read an excerpt.
