July Book Reviews: Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden
Picked up this book from my long term tbr on Libby. In Stealing Thunder, Razia fled her life as a crown prince and deep bond with her dragon-like zahakk in order to live as a trans woman in a different country. While living as a courtesan, she crosses paths with Prince Arjun, plunging her into a world of war and court politics.
The introduction mentions that this novel, published in 2020, was the first traditionally published fantasy novel featuring a trans woman main character, and it does show a bit. For instance, the introduction also takes the time to define the word "cisgender." Razia's transness, if not her years-earlier transition, is a major part of the plot. Other characters frequently treat her with sneering contempt because of who she is, and she generally has to forgive them instead of EXPLODING them with her DRAGON. But she does have consistent support from her fellow courtesans, who she views as her beloved sisters. Interestingly, the love interest Prince Arjun is not always supportive. Boyden takes a novel approach to the romance--Razia is excruciatingly aware that he's her path to better life, and that he could discard her at any time. Even as she's telling herself that she loves him, she's carefully building up a power base so she has something to fall back on if he leaves her. A nuanced, bittersweet approach compared to the usual youthful instalove I'd expect from the characterization style.
Razia herself is headstrong and a touch spoilt. She was raised as a crown prince of a powerful kingdom, and it shows. While she has genuinely suffered, she also tends make comments along the lines of that she only survived a FATE worse than DEATH (doing chores) due to the loving support of her sisters. Her world is a vaguely fantasy South Asia that isn't particularly elaborated, but is significantly more interesting than setting it in fantasy Europe (again). I did like the inclusion of the feathery, dragon-like zahakk, but I would have appreciated a touch more worldbuilding than their depiction as a combination of beloved flying horse and state-hoarded war airplane.
A solidly middle-of-the-road fantasy novel distinguished by its trans protagonist, which still isn't common even five years later. I liked this book well enough, but I'm not sure I was compelled enough to pick up the sequel.
