Dragon's Treasure by Elizabeth A. Lynn

Originally published 2003; this edition 2004

Publisher: Tor

MA15+

(V, S, L, D, N)

Some strong violence

Sexual references / A sex scene

Coarse language

Mild drug use

Some nudity

Representations

Gender:

Easy Bechdel pass. Although only one of the major viewpoint characters is a woman, her scenes frequently feature conversation with other women about matters of daily life. Sexism is primarily displayed by characters we are not intended to sympathise with.

Sex:

One of the main characters is bisexual, carries on a relationship with a man and a woman in parallel, and expresses an intention not to choose between lovers.

Race & Ethnicity:

The kingdom represented in this novel contains a variety of ethnic groups, some with tension between them. A month after reading I don't recall any specific racial representation, which suggests everyone may have been white. A major region within the story felt coded Italian to me.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

One character is mute and communicates by signing. Some other characters suffer PTSD and / or continuing effects of injuries sustained in the previous novel (which I have not read). One character loses an arm and gets on with eir life.

Awards

19th place: Locus Poll Award, Best Fantasy Novel 2005

I don't think there was anything epic going on in this book, and I quite liked that. Much of this novel featured the characters going about their daily lives with sides of intrigue and relatively ordinary personal drama. It made a nice change from just about everything else I read, a pleasant surprise. There was no incest in this book, maybe in the next one, if ever that is published?