The Habitation of the Blessed by Catherynne M. Valente
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Yet another wonderful read from Catherynne Valente, this time the first volume of a trilogy dedicated to the mythical Prester John, fabled king of the three Indies. Once more Valente recounts the story through the words of many characters: John, the befuddled but not so innocent priest; Hagia, the blemmye and his future wife; Imtithal, the panoti, who told tales to three children in a distant past; and brother Hiob who, centuries later, will transcribe these stories from books borne from a tree.
It is with them that we learn of the land and people of Pentexore, of their discovery of immortality, and how to survive in the land of eternal life. It is with them that we learn of lies and broken truths, of deceit in a land that knew none, and the lengths a man will go for his faith.